Nella Last's Peace: The Post-War Diaries of Housewife, 49

by Mass Observation Archives and Nella Last

Outwardly Nella's life was probably seen as ordinary; but behind this mask were a lively mind and a persistent pen - a pen that never gave up over almost three decades, reporting, describing, pondering, and disclosing. Nella, 55 when the war ends, writes of what ordinary people felt during those years of privation, hope and the re-building of Britain, providing a moving and inspiring account of the years that shaped the society we live in today. Her...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1846680743
• ISBN13: 9781846680748
• Release Date: March 2009
• Publisher: Ips - Profile Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.0" x 7.7"

Customer Reviews

A most evocative book

This book takes you right back, to what people were concerned with in their everyday lives, a detailed description of what Nella fixed for meals and what it cost, money, time and effort wise to do so, and a more intimate look at her marriage. You really get a picture of life in the years the book portrays, and get to know her better than before. Loved how she is standing up for herself more, and speaking her mind with sometimes surprising results. But the food----just putting meals on the table at this time of severe rationing and shortages,the relief of getting some food packages after her son moves to Australia, this is the most real look you get inside a home and a life. Great book!

Wonderful Diary

I love Nella. Her observations and descriptions have given me a very real sense of what it was like to live in Barrow during that period of time. Also, she is someone I would like to know.

You feel you know her

This is the sequel to Nella Last's War. Both were written for the Mass Observation Project which was started in England during WWII. This diary of Nella's written in the years just after war ended is excellent. One feels one is there in Barrow-in-Furness with her. You feel you know her. You want to talk to her about her life. It is written in a diary format and is one of the best books of this type I have read. One thing I particularly like about this book (and other diaries put out by the Mass observation Project) is that the author is an ordinary lower middle class person; so many published diaries are by the famous or the priviledged or the rich. So it is refreshing to have the view of a person with whom most of us can identify. I recommend it without reservation.