Full Hearts & Empty Bellies

by Winifred Foley

Publisher: Abacus 2009

This book describes the hardship and abject poverty the author, a miner's daughter, endured the 1920's in a small mining village in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. She was the yougest of four children and, at the age of fourteen, had to leave her much loved Forest of Dean for a life in service in London. She married, had four children and, after living in London for many years, moved back to the Forest of Dean when the children were still young. She stayed there until her demise in 2009.

She describes in great detail the various chapters in her life with such humour and honesty. I really enjoyed reading this book as it gives a clear insight into a forgotten age.

5*

Jean Lyons