When the CALL THE MIDWIFE books became bestsellers, Jennifer Worth was inundated with correspondence. People felt moved to write to her because the books had touched them, and because they wanted to share memories of the world her books described, the East End of London in the late 1940s and early 1950s. LETTERS TO THE MIDWIFE is a collection of the correspondence she received offering a fascinating glimpse into a long-lost world. Along with readers' responses and personal histories, it is filled with heartwarming gems such as letters and drawings sent by one of the nuns featured in Call the Midwife and a curious list of the things Jennifer would need to become a missionary, Containing previously unpublished photos and journal entries, this is also a portrait of Jennifer, complete with a moving introduction by her family about the Jennifer Worth they knew and loved.
Jennifer Worth was a nurse, midwife, ward sister and night sister from 1953 until 1973. Her Call the Midwife trilogy comprises Call the Midwife, first published by W&N in 2007, as well as Shadow of the Workhouse and Farewell to the East End. The books were based on Worth's experiences as a midwife in London's East End in the 1950s, and have sold almost a million copies in the UK, according to the publisher.
Call the Midwife has been made into a major television series for the BBC, produced by Neal Street Productions and scripted by Heidi Thomas, who also wrote the screenplay for "Cranford". The series runs for 6 weeks from 15th January 2012.
Jennifer Worth died on 31st May 2011 and is survived by her husband Philip Worth, their two daughters and three grandchildren.
