A Brave New World

Nurse Kitty: After The War by Maggie Campbell is a terrific historical novel. It is the final book in the Nurse Kitty Trilogy but can be read as a stand-alone.

The novel opens in 1950 in Manchester’s flagship hospital. It is the dawn of a new era as the NHS is in its infancy. Times are changing with free health care for all.

As we enter the modern era of medicine, there are still challenges. Polio is widespread. Children are not all recovering and some have died. The iron lung helps but is not pleasant. A new vaccine and treatment are being developed.

Previously, married women had to give up work. Now, some souls who love their jobs are standing up for the rights of women as they want to be wed and work. It is frustrating to see how the old guard treat women in the workplace. Women are good for making cups of tea but not taken seriously by all.

After World War II the world is opening up as we see nurses from the colonies answer the call to work in the newly formed NHS. Unfortunately, they still face prejudice, even from child patients.

There is turmoil on the streets too, with racial prejudice and unrest. Jewish refugees from Europe still find themselves shunned by some but helped by others.