WHAT YOU DO IN WAR,MUMMY

by Mavis Nicholson

What Did You Do in the War, Mummy?: Women in World War II Nicholson, Mavis

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Historical, World War II

1 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Victoria]

A wonderfully varied collection of women talk to Mavis Nicholson about their lives during the second world war. Their frank and vivid stories reveal intimate details of how they lived, worked, loved and coped in those years.

They discuss the new freedoms, the make-do and mend, the hopes and the fears, as well as the post-war adjustments they had to make. Their lives were turned upside down as they worked in munitions factories or on the land, were part of civil defence or the domestic war effort generally, or were members of the armed services. Occasionally they undertook something more exotic, as entertainers, artists, writers and even spies - the book includes the only interview given by the remarkable resistance fighter, Odette Hallows.

I have been to see Mavis Nicholson read and she is so intriguing, I believe she is at the Hay Festival this year (2011).

[AT]

An illuminating book of women's oral history of the Second World War, throwing up significant detail which has escaped main stream history. A fascinating book, which should be on every school and university syllabus which studies World War II.

[Katie]

What an amazing book! It was wonderful reading the different experiences of women throughout the war, their enjoyments, their heartbreaks, their courage and their strength. Real stories from real people. Love it.