War Brides: The Stories of the Women Who Left Everything Behind to Follow the Men They Loved

By Melynda Jarratt

Book Overview

For thousands of young British girls, the influx of Canadian soldiers conscripted to Britain during the Second World War meant throngs of handsome young men. The result was over 48,000 marriages to Canadian soldiers alone, and a mass emigration of British women to North America and around the world in the 1940's.

For many brides, the decision to leave their family and home to move to a country thousands of miles away with a man they hardly knew brought forth ensuing happiness. For others, the outcome was much different, and the darker side of the story reveals the infidelity, domestic violence, poverty, alcoholism and divorce that many lived through.

War Brides draws on original archival documents, personal correspondence, and key first hand accounts to tell the amazing story of the War Brides in their own words-and shows the love, passion, tragedy and spirit of adventure of thousand of British women.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1554883865
• ISBN13: 9781554883868
• Release Date: May 2009
• Publisher: Dundurn Press
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

compelling read!

the book is fascinating to read, and the love stories are happy endings for some. the brides escaped the bombings in europe but some had severe culture adjustments. no running water, outdoor latrines and some were not always welcomed to Canada. i love to read history about World War II because it really wasn’t covered in school.