The Century Girls: The Final Word from the Women Who've Lived the Past Hundred Years of British History

(Paperback)

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THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
'Tessa Dunlop...succeeds in weaving a rich tapestry of experiences.'Independent
Awarm-hearted and engagingread,The Century Girlsis replete withwonderful characters.Sunday Express
'Adelightfulbook... all about women and women's lives.' Jane Garvey, Radio 4 Woman's Hour
'Its a brilliant bookIts fantastic!' Chris Evans, Radio 2 Breakfast Show

A celebration of the one-hundred years since British women got the vote, told, in their own voices, by six centenarians: Helena, Olive, Edna, Joyce, Ann and Phyllis The Century Girls

In 2018, Britain celebrated the centenary of some women getting the vote. The intervening ten decades have witnessed staggering change, and The Century Girls features six women born in 1918 or before who havent just witnessed that change, theyve lived it. Empire shrank, war came and went, and modern society demanded continual readjustment.... the Century Girlslasted the course, and this book weaves together their lifetimes adventures what they were taught, how they were treated, who they loved, what they did and where they are now.

With stories that are intimately knitted into the history of the British Isles, this is a time-travel epic featuring our oldest, most precious national treasures. Edna, 102, was a domestic servant born in Lincolnshire. Helena is 101 years old and the eldest of eight born into a Welsh farming family. Olive, 102, began life as a child of empire in British Guiana and was one of the first women to migrate to London after the war. Theres Ann, a 103-year-London bohemian; 100-year-old Phyllis, daughter of the British Raj, who has called Edinburgh home for nearly eighty years; and finally young Joyce a 99-year-old Cambridge classicist whos still at work.

It is through the prism of these womens very long lives that The Century Girls provides a deeply personal account of British history over the past one hundred years. Their story is our story too.

Reviews

'Tessa Dunlop made pains to select women from broad walks of life and succeeds in weaving a rich tapestry of experiences. Dunlop is playful and probing in her questioning, covering everything from sex and relationships to feminism and its clear she formed a lasting friendship with each of the women they interviewed.' * The Independent *
'Its a brilliant book Its fantastic!' -- Chris Evans, Radio 2 Breakfast Show
'A delightful book... all about women and women's lives.' -- Jane Garvey, Radio 4 Woman's Hour
'It features among others my teacher and mate, 99 year old Joyce Reynolds, going super strong and still a stern and helpful critic.' -- Mary Beard
A deeply personal and moving account of the last 100 years of British history. * The Bookseller *
A warm-hearted and engaging read, The Century Girls is replete withwonderful characters. * Sunday Express *
'The book offers a highly personal insight into British society overthe past century... The frank, probing style of Dunlops interview technique allows us access to a series of revealing and enlighteningstories which would otherwise have been lost... Dunlop manages tocapture these unique personalities in her book with a touchingintimacy that never strays into sentimentality.' * The Scotsman *
'Tessa Dunlop has found a uniquely personal touch Dunlop has pulled off an impressive feat of oral history, weaving the womens memories of their long lives into a coherent narrative and setting it in the context of events at the time They recount their memoriesin incredible detail, creating a moving portrait of a world that is now lost forever. If you have older female relatives this book will inspire you to capture their stories.' * Who Do You Think You Are *
This year is the centenary of women getting the vote inBritain... Tessa Dunlop has had one of those ideas that belong firmlyin the simple-but-brilliant category: speaking to six women whovebeen alive for all those hundred years...The result is a wonderfulblend of British history with individual stories and for any readerunder about 90, an often startling reminder of how much things havechanged. * Readers Digest *
What better way to mark the centenary of some British women getting the vote than to read about inspirational women who witness revolutionary changes Six centenarians reminisce on their incredible century. A history lesson to savour. * The Lady *
'The book's atmosphere of intimacy, enhanced by a generous selection of evocative photographs, is compelling and Dunlop's attention to her subjects' day-to-day lives renders this an absorbing alternative to grander views of recent history.' * TLS *
'Fascinating... a deeply personal account of British history over the past 100 years.' * Countryside Magazine, BOOK of the MONTH *

Author Bio

Tessa Dunlop is a broadcaster, writer and historian. She is best known for her work on BBC2s Bafta award-winning series Coast and has just been selected by the channel to double-head a new Coast Archive series with Neil Oliver to celebrate the programmes tenth anniversary. She is also the author of The Bletchley Girls (Hodder, 2014).