Full Hearts and Empty Bellies: A 1920s Childhood from the Forest of Dean to the Streets of London
Foley's vivid yet low-key reminiscences (first presented on a BBC radio series) tell of her childhood as a coal miner's daughter in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire and her teenage years in domestic service in London and the Cotswalds. Born in 1914 in a geographically isolated part of England, she re-creates details of a seemingly timeless way of life: poverty warmed by close family relationships, village school, chapel, Sunday-school excursions, and the matter-of-fact awareness that by 14 a girl must leave home to earn her keep. Despite the attractive illustrations, the book is not intended for children, though it should be enjoyed by young adults and general readers and provides primary material for social historians. Sally Mitchell, English Dept., Temple Univ., PhiladelphiaCopyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.