Our Family Book

The minute Letty Edginton becomes a munitionette in the Royal Woolwich Arsenal her life changes for ever. From the misery of her family home in well-to-do Islington, she finds herself part of a world where girls wear make-up, boys whistle and Friday night means stewed eels, mash and perhaps a trip down the Finsbury Park Empire. And when Vi Hobbs, self styled queen of the shell-filling shop, introduces her to her wounded brother Ollie, even the loss of Letty's own soldier-brother seems a little less hard to bear. Before long Letty and Ollie have fallen hopelessly for each other and, despite the fury of Letty's family, the fact that Ollie seems unlikely ever to achieve his ambition to become a ticket collector on the Underground, and a secret burden he can't bring himself to share, they marry and make their home in north London. Before them lie years of happiness and struggle: another dreadful war, the bringing up of three sons, family tragedy and, for some, undreamt of success.And through it all Letty's unswerving love drives them forward, through all the bitterness, hardship and heartfelt joy that make up family life in our changing times.Read More