Shadows of the Workhouse

Shadows of the Workhouse is the second book in The Midwife Trilogy by Jennifer Worth. In this follow-up to “Call the Midwife”, Worth shares poignant stories from her work in the docklands area of East London during the 1950s. Through her patients’ experiences, she sheds light on the harsh realities of the workhouse—a Dickensian institution that persisted into the mid-20th century. From orphaned siblings Peggy and Frank to the eccentric ninety-year-old nun Sister Monica Joan, these accounts reveal resilience, spirit, and triumph over adversity.