CALL THE MIDWIFE A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times

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 [Published: SEPTEMBER 2012]