Even though one can be well-versed in a subject, one can always learn more, which is why I'm glad I read Women in the Great War. This little book reads quickly and packs more of a punch than you might initially think-- and the illustrations add icing to the cake.
Although it does concentrate on British women, the book does cover the incredible accomplishments of women in other countries, and I'd never heard of these women before so I really appreciated their inclusion. Outlining how women's lives in Britain were before World War I, Women in the Great War then moves on to each organization that played an important role in the war effort. Toward the end, the book turns into a roll call of those women who lost their lives in service to their country. Some might consider this roll call boring, but I found it touching. It's probably the first time most of these women's names (and what they did) have ever been mentioned.
My favorite parts in this book occurred whenever the British government finally began to learn that women could do more than cook, clean, and give birth. More than one women's organization asked for the British government to sanction their work and they were turned down. Countries like France and Belgium had no such silly scruples and welcomed the women to do their part-- and they all made a huge difference. The British government finally began to learn a lesson, and it's one that they would unfortunately have to remember in just twenty years' time.
Women in the Great War by Stephen Wynn & Tanya Wynn
eISBN: 9781473865419
Pen & Sword Books © 2017
eBook, 189 pages
Non-Fiction, Standalone
Rating: B+
Source: Purchased from Amazon.
Very interesting description. It's so amazing that here were women offering their skills and being turned down.
ReplyDeleteEven now, many people, even men, are commenting on the disdain and rudeness shown to a particular candidate to a woman, who was outstanding.
The tide is slowly turning. So many women in political life are telling of their experiences of being ignored and interrupted when they are speaking.
I'm sure that-- like me-- you've suffered through some of the same crap as they have. But as you said, the tide is slowly turning.
DeleteOh, this sounds interesting, Cathy! It's a topic that a lot of people don't know enough about. It's fascinating and at the same time disheartening how little of this history goes into the history books, as the saying goes. And it sounds like it's quite readable, too, without too much 'information dump.'
ReplyDeleteYes, it is quite readable, and you don't feel as though you're being buried under all the authors' research.
DeleteThank you for the review. I like the WWI and II settings myself.
ReplyDeleteI've liked WWI settings for years, but I'm warming up to WW2 settings now that the women's history aspect is finally coming to light.
DeleteInteresting the way much of what they learned had to be relearned twenty years later. I love reading about how women, who were often quickly forgotten, are being rediscovered for their efforts in all fields.
ReplyDeleteI love reading about this, too.
DeleteI don't think it took them very long to remember the lessons learned about women's abilities during WWI. That's something Churchill, who was deeply involved in both wars, would not forget.