Sunday, June 10, 2012

Millions Like Us by Virginia Nicholson

This is an excellent book.  It took me a good long while to get through it but there is so much to be done outside this time of year so needs must.  But, each woman's story is gripping and Virginia Nicholson has done a superb job of collecting these vignettes and along with her own meticulous research of the era has produced a quintessential book of its kind.

I soaked up every word and detail about the daily life of women during World War II whether she be up to her elbows in diapers, farmer's fields, blood and guts or tea bags.  Against a backdrop of the current political and economic situations of this era are the thoughts and writings of a group of women who share their personal stories of striving for independence, meeting their first love, travel beyond their home county and all while the prospect of losing everything but the clothes on their back, as well as their lives, in the blink of an eye is a reality.  What I didn't expect was that once the final all-clear had been sounded and life went back to some semblance of what it was like before 1939, most of the women missed the excitement of it all.  Not the wondering if each day would be their last but the feeling of respect, pride and accomplishment that comes with position and purpose.

In the early days of World War II, some young women chose the service to join based on the cut of the uniform or even the hat.  Women appearing at airplane factories in baggy overalls were called all sorts of names by the men still employed there.  So prejudiced was the thinking that women should remain by the cooker that even the sight of Princess Elizabeth in her armed forces attire had people tsk tsking.  But once the bombs started to fall the allure of a sharp uniform quickly fell away leaving these young women to get on with the task at hand and to deal with situations that months before would have seemed impossible.  I will never forget the story of one women who knew German and was employed to listen to enemy airmen as they flew in air raids.  The German pilots knew they were being listened in on and would openly flirt over the air waves.  During one mission a familiar pilot was shot down but as his plane spiralled and burned he cried out for his mother before finally crashing.  Facing death while in the capacity of their job was difficult enough but then some of those women would wait on the tarmac until dawn for sight of their lover's plane, long overdue from a mission.  In too many cases the wait was in vain.

Reading Marghanita Laski's To Bed with Grand Music I thought that the adultery and amount of time focused on sex by the characters must have been exaggerated.  Let me tell you, after reading Millions Like Us...it was not!  Not only was there a massive explosion of sexual awakening amongst a group of young women who normally wouldn't have dreamt of being sexually active before marriage but adultery was also extremely common.  So common in fact that people were writing to their spouses about their love lives with their latest partners.  My girlfriend is pregnant or there will be an extra toddler at home when you arrive back were often paragraphs in letters sent home or to soldiers' bases.  One that did make me laugh though was a telegram sent to a husband who had been away for two years saying 'son born stop mother and baby doing well stop'.  Thinking his wife had been having an affair left the soldier feeling despondent but he soon found out his wife was sending word about his mother!

There are so many stories from this book that I could share but I need to get out and enjoy the day.  I know that summertime isn't typically when most people turn their bookish eye to non-fiction but believe me, this book will educate and entertain you with every page.  For those interested in literature from this era you will find quotes and anecdotes from such authors as Barbara Pym, Mollie Panter-Downes, Vera Brittain, Nella Last, Marguerite Patten, Nina Bawden and Helen Forrester.  Need I say more?

21 comments:

  1. I once met the man who taught Princess Elizabeth to drive when she was in the ATS. Although it was many years later, he was most discreet and her
    skill (or not) as a learner driver remains a state secret.

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    1. So many secrets! This weekend I was reading the June issue of Tatler...Jubilee issue, no less...and Her Majesty's hair stylist was interviewed. He would not answer any questions about the royal 'do'! Anway, what a fascinating conversation it would have been to learn what it was like to teach the Princess how to drive. No doubt she was a quick study.

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  2. This is definitely a book I must look out for in the shop or library. Thank you for the interesting snippets you have shared with us.

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    1. And don't be tempted to just dip in and out of it as you really get to know the ladies along the way and everything comes together in a sort of epilogue at the end. Enjoy!

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  3. I've just picked up a copy from the library, but as there is so much there and it looks so interesting I think I must order a copy of my own, to keep.

    It's long story, but I wouldn't have Briar today if a certain lady who loved border terriers hadn't come down to Cornwall to be a coordinator or land girls and made friends with my grandmother ...

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    1. Oh Jane, if I could I would love to have you over for a cup of tea so you could tell me all about that story! If you ever feel like writing about it in one of Briar's posts there would be plenty who feel like I do, I'm sure of it.

      Buy the book, it definitely is one to keep.

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  4. I love reading about women on the homefront. My library doesn't carry any books by Nicholson so I might have to buy this one for myself.
    Enjoy your time in the sun!

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    1. Those women are inspiring beyond belief. They had to deal with death and destruction...and then try to put a decent meal on the table while knitting up baby clothes! Reminds me not to moan if I have to change the bag in the milk jug. This is most definitely a book for you, Anbolyn!

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  5. I really want to read this. It sounds so interesting, and seems to have good reviews.

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    1. Run, don't walk, to your local library or bookshop, Christine!

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  6. This sounds like a book I would definitely enjoy! Thanks for the review.

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    1. Hi JoAnn! You must be having the BEST evenings sitting out by the lake and enjoying the breeze. Phew, it has been muggy lately.

      Excellent book! It must be given your full attention though, dipping in and out won't give you the full impact of really getting to know the women involved properly. It's a gem, I promise you!

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  7. Oooh, I already thought I should buy it rather than wait for the library hold, so I could dip into it as I chose over an extended period of time, rather than face a due date deadline.

    However, I'll pay attention to your warning, Darlene. No dipping.

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    1. It's for the best, Susan. When you start at the beginning with these women it enhances your reading experience to be cheering them along as they mature or start new relationships. At the end there is a bit of an epilogue for the women which just won't read the same if you haven't travelled their journey with them. Trust me!

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  8. A book I will be looking out for! I've read Nella Last as well as Vera Brittain and enjoyed them tremendously.

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    1. Oh Mystica, then you will really enjoy this one. I have a book home from the library full of letters between Vera, her fiance and brothers. And wasn't Nella's husband a right useless twit?

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  9. I have been very interested in this book and now can't wait to read it. The writers you mentioned are some of my favorites. And Virginia Nicholson is Quentin Bell's daughter, and granddaughter of Vanessa Bell. I have been very curious about her books. Thanks for the recommendation!

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    1. That's news to me, Sunday! No prizes for guessing who she is named after then, thanks so much for sharing that with me.

      Get your hands on this book, start at the beginning and don't miss a single page! You will love the women's stories, I promise you!

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  10. Thank you for posting about this. Any review that starts with "This is an excellent book", specially when on your blog, automatically has the book added to my list!

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  11. Ugh Darlene, this sounds perfect. I am adding it to my amazon basket right now. I will say this again - you must read Singled Out as you will adore that just as much as this, I am sure.

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  12. I second bookssnob's recommendation. I first read Singled Out several years ago and really enjoyed it. It gave an insight into the tremendous change women experienced after WWI. And then this book. I was lucky enough to attend a talk Nicholson gave last year and she's a wonderful speaker. I also recommend Bright Young People by D.J. Taylor about the roaring twenties in London!

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