Call the Midwife

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. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

April 15, 2013

This memoir, the inspiration for BBC's popular series of the same name, chronicles Worth's experiences as a midwife in London during the 1950s. The story, enhanced by amazingly vivid imagery, brings to life the horror of the living conditions in the slums of the London's Docklands, the sadness of mothers who have lost their babies, and the joy of first- or 24th-time mothers as they meet their children. Narrator Nicola Barber, winner of two Earphone Awards, does an excellent job of portraying both seasoned and inexperienced midwives as well as the wide variety of British accents. VERDICT Fans of the BBC series will enjoy this audiobook, as will anyone interested in the history of midwifery. [The Penguin hc was a New York Times best seller.--Ed.]--Jessi Brown, Huntington City-Twp. P.L., IN

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Nicola Barber's rich English accent captivates from the opening lines of Worth's second memoir of life in London's slums just after WWII. Listeners familiar with the popular PBS series of the same name will recognize people and events--and with plenty of extra detail, this audiobook offers wide appeal to newcomers as well. Barber delivers all the author's compassion, frustration, and humor in a genuine, convincing manner. She effectively differentiates characters through shifts in diction and tone, a highlight being her delivery of the Cockney speech unique to this area. There's less about midwifery here than in the televised version,but this is still a moving and memorable account of a special time and place. M.O.B. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine