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harmonyln7's review against another edition
5.0
I have so often heard of the WI and was interested to learn more.
littlefish's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
4.0
gill's review against another edition
4.0
The truly inspirational story of the Women's Institute and the part they played in the second World War. Researched using minutes, diaries and interviews with women and their families, this book tells the story of how the war affected all aspects of life especially village life. The nation-wide network of Institutes was utilised by the government to mobilise women across the country to help with evacuees, food shortages, making garments for soldiers and prisoners of war as well as providing much needed light relief for the women left to deal with farms and families when their men went to war.
The Women's Institute is ubiquitous with British village life, however how many of us think of 'Jam and Jerusalem', 'Calendar Girls' and old ladies knitting in the church hall? After reading this book, I'll never think of the WI the same again, they are an inspiration to the rest of us and served their country gloriously during the second World War.
The National Chairman of the WI during the war, Lady Denman, was invited to be the Director of the Women's Land Army by the Agricultural minister and so had great connections with government. This enabled the WI to be very influential in policies during the war regarding food, women and village life in general. They had an efficient network of thousands of Institutes which the government used for communication, they had over 300,000 members who could be turned to one task en mass to great effect.
It was the WI who the government turned to to help find homes for hundreds of thousands of evacuees (not just children, but their mothers and teachers too) when they fled the bombing in the towns and cities. It was the WI who looked after the land girls and made sure they were included in village life, the WI who turned gardens into vegetable patches, the WI who turned the hundreds of tonnes of fruit left unharvested into jam and preserves to feed the nation. The WI made millions of knitted garments for soldiers on the front line, fur lined clothes for the people of Russia and the WI who visited Germany in the months after the war ended to help the devastated women and children put their lives back together.
The WI are so much more then singing and baking, they have a history to be proud of and still number over 210,000 members in 6,600 Institutes.
Although this book is a little dry in places, the author focusses on several women to tell the story of war so I felt I got to know them throughout the book. Nella Last (played by Victoria Wood in 'Housewife 49') is featured as well as some of the more 'individual' characters who typify the WI. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in that period of history or any woman who wants to feel proud of her gender and what they are capable of.
The Women's Institute is ubiquitous with British village life, however how many of us think of 'Jam and Jerusalem', 'Calendar Girls' and old ladies knitting in the church hall? After reading this book, I'll never think of the WI the same again, they are an inspiration to the rest of us and served their country gloriously during the second World War.
The National Chairman of the WI during the war, Lady Denman, was invited to be the Director of the Women's Land Army by the Agricultural minister and so had great connections with government. This enabled the WI to be very influential in policies during the war regarding food, women and village life in general. They had an efficient network of thousands of Institutes which the government used for communication, they had over 300,000 members who could be turned to one task en mass to great effect.
It was the WI who the government turned to to help find homes for hundreds of thousands of evacuees (not just children, but their mothers and teachers too) when they fled the bombing in the towns and cities. It was the WI who looked after the land girls and made sure they were included in village life, the WI who turned gardens into vegetable patches, the WI who turned the hundreds of tonnes of fruit left unharvested into jam and preserves to feed the nation. The WI made millions of knitted garments for soldiers on the front line, fur lined clothes for the people of Russia and the WI who visited Germany in the months after the war ended to help the devastated women and children put their lives back together.
The WI are so much more then singing and baking, they have a history to be proud of and still number over 210,000 members in 6,600 Institutes.
Although this book is a little dry in places, the author focusses on several women to tell the story of war so I felt I got to know them throughout the book. Nella Last (played by Victoria Wood in 'Housewife 49') is featured as well as some of the more 'individual' characters who typify the WI. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in that period of history or any woman who wants to feel proud of her gender and what they are capable of.
jeansbookbag's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
3.0
I watched the show Home Fires a number of years ago and really enjoyed it, so was excited to learn more about the Women's Institute. The book was quite readable and full of great information about the history of the organization and its members.
aleatoirefrancais's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
thehlb's review against another edition
3.0
Not the breeziest read, but I did enjoy learning more about the Women's Institute, as well as the war work done by the women left at home.
Those looking to expand upon the Home Fires TV series, however, will be disappointed. The series seems to be based very generally upon the book, not on specific people or events.
Those looking to expand upon the Home Fires TV series, however, will be disappointed. The series seems to be based very generally upon the book, not on specific people or events.
mugglemom's review against another edition
5.0
This novel of history is supersaturated with WWII details for the British Women’s Institute. It was almost like a farmer’s almanac because it covers everything from the growing, making and selling of jam to the # of ration coupons for clothing based on gender, size and age. It’s also peppered with many personal accounts of everyday life in the days leading up to the war in the UK as well after. The number of facts, figures, and news are astounding.
ITV (UK) made the material into a mini-series (Home Fires) – next on my MUST watch list.
Highly recommend for history or WWII geeks.
ITV (UK) made the material into a mini-series (Home Fires) – next on my MUST watch list.
Highly recommend for history or WWII geeks.