Shadows of the Workhouse

In April I read and reviewed Call the Midwife, the memoirs of Midwife Jenny Lee and her work in the East End of London. I wasn't really intending on reading any of the other books in the series but when we were at the outlet centre last week I noticed that they were on 2 for £5. I dithered for a good while whether or not to get them and in the end my lovely husband picked them up and went to the counter and bought me the next two books in the series. I'm so glad he did!

In Shadows of the Workhouse Jenny steps back from talking about Midwifery in the East End and talks more about life there in a by-gone era. We meet a variety of individuals who all have stories to tell, who have all been dramatically shaped by their past.

We hear stories from the workhouse and we see how cruelty was a predominant feature of these institutions. However, the author is  balanced, she recognises that although these institutions were cruel and unloving, they saved many children from a life of starvation on the streets. We see individuals at the end of their lives, having lost everything but still being thankful for what they have. We hear stories of the war and the devastating impact this had on so may families. This is the story of people from the East End of London, so at times it is gritty and there are a few bits which are inappropriate, however I felt that this book had less unsavoury elements that Call the Midwife.

What struck me time and time again was how many of the stories recorded happened only about 100 years ago. Families were separated and criminalised just for being poor. Old men were allowed to die, with no concern for their health. It was a reminder about how blessed we are in this country today and how we have very little reason to complain. The book also left me pondering a number of different issues, such as feminism, dementia and incest. I most definitely did not agree with the author on all these issues but it certainly made me recap why I believe what I believe and  look again to scripture to defend it. It also reminded me that issues such as these are not new phenomenons but have been around for a long, long time.

Perhaps, it's because I did History at University but I feel that it's important to look back at times. To look at our history, at what shaped us, as Cicero said:

"To know nothing of what happened before you were born is to remain forever a child."