From the Publisher
"Jennifer Worth's memories of her years as a midwife were at once hilarious and tremendously moving." -Ayelet Waldman, author of Love and Other Impossible Pursuits
"Worth is indeed a natural storyteller. . . . Her detailed account of being a midwife in London's East End is gripping, moving, and convincing from beginning to end." -Literary Review
"I loved the people, the nuns, the tough dockers, the prostitutes and pimps, seen with the fresh eyes of youth." -The Guardian
"Readers will fall in love with Call the Midwife . . . an affirmation of life during the best and worst of times." -Elizabeth Brundage, author of The Doctor's Wife
Literary Hoarders
[Narrator] Barber is brilliant. She slips into every accent effortlessly, and her Cockney accent is particularly charming. She carries the weight of the stories with ease and affection, and embodies the characters beautifully. ”
—Literary Hoarders
Library Journal - Audio
This memoir, the inspiration for BBC's popular series of the same name, chronicles Worth's experiences as a midwife in London during the 1950s. The story, enhanced by amazingly vivid imagery, brings to life the horror of the living conditions in the slums of the London's Docklands, the sadness of mothers who have lost their babies, and the joy of first- or 24th-time mothers as they meet their children. Narrator Nicola Barber, winner of two Earphone Awards, does an excellent job of portraying both seasoned and inexperienced midwives as well as the wide variety of British accents. VERDICT Fans of the BBC series will enjoy this audiobook, as will anyone interested in the history of midwifery. [The Penguin hc was a New York Times best seller.—Ed.]—Jessi Brown, Huntington City-Twp. P.L., IN
SEPTEMBER 2012 - AudioFile
Nicola Barber uses a rich Cockney accent to deliver an insightful portrayal of Jennifer Worth’s memoir of nursing and midwifery in the East End of London in the 1950s. There she worked alongside an order of long-established nuns, a surprising calling given her sheltered background. Barber captures the tension and pain of women giving birth, as well as their grim surroundings. Her tone changes to bittersweet whenever Jennifer meets with kindness, understanding, and even humor in the midst of the difficult environment. Her depiction of birthing a premature baby at 28 weeks and the mother’s care of the baby at home is poignant and vivid. Graphic descriptions of sex, prostitution, and a brothel leave nothing to the imagination. Still, this is a rare and moving listening experience. G.D.W. 2013 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine
