leahmouse's review against another edition
5.0
Fascinating book about the author's life as a midwife and district nurse in 1950s east London. Through the stories of the people she meets, she draws a vivid picture of life in east London from the 1890s onwards. I found the stories about the workhouses particularly compelling, putting an historical complexion on current debates about "the undeserving poor" and cultures of worklessness. Genuinely moving, informative and humorous in places. Written with a light touch but encompassing some heavy subjects.
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