The Woman Who Saved the Children: A Biography of Eglantyne Jebb: Founder of Save the Children

(Paperback)

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Save the Childrens original founder was a remarkable spinster in a brown cardigan whose most famous line, I dont care for children makes hers a most unconventional story. Clare Mulleys sensitive, entertaining, and beautifully written biography reveals a life full of humour and tragedy, passion and pain, and casts an enlightening insight into the development of the charity we know today.

Reviews

"Here is the story of one of the great women of the world who made a real difference to the lives of the most needy children. Told with Clare Mulleys sure instinct for the lives of others, this is an extraordinary book about a unique woman, a woman for our times."

* Michael Morpurgo *

An insightful biography of a truly remarkable woman. This portrait is especially poignant 100 years on when Eglantynes mission remains as relevant and urgent as ever. We must not forget this womans determination, and what she set out to achieve. Her vision serves as an inspiration as we each do our bit for children less fortunate than our own.

* Natasha Kaplinsky *

"A pleasure to read...a combination of Jebb's own mischievous attitude and Mulley's lively style."

* The Times Literary Supplement *

"A very good read, telling an extraordinary story."

* The Guardian *

"Unusual and perceptive...all credit to Clare Mulley, a past winner of the Daily Mail Biographers' Club prize."

* Daily Mail *

This centenary edition celebrates the life of an indomitable woman. Compellingly written and meticulously researched, this biography is a monument to extraordinary perseverance. Eglantyne Jebb, without any children herself, actually gave her life to stop children being the innocent victims of adult war. I wish she were here today!

* Joely Richardson *

"Brings to life the world of clever and conscientious upper-middle-class women... A valuable account of a forgotten life."

* The Sunday Times *

"Eglantyne Jebb completely revolutionised public perceptions of charity and our collective responsibility towards children. This excellent book makes plain that Eglantyne's vision is just as powerful - and relevant - today as it was then... Those who read this book will be inspired - as I am - by a woman who dared to think the impossible and turn it into reality. Her example lays down a challenge to us all."

* Jasmine Whitbread , former CEO of Save the Children UK *

"Wonderful, clever and funny, Clare Mulley's lively and intimate biography brings out the humour, inconsistency, willfullness and just excellent energy of Eglantyne."

* Alexander Masters, author of Stuart: A Life Backwards *

This is a truly brilliant book, about a woman who changed the world for the better and forever."

* Gordon Brown *

"Kept me up half the night - really fascinating and moving - beautifully written and pacedwonderful."

* Richard Holmes, prize-winning biographer and author of The Age of Wonder *

"A wonderful biography... All of us who continue to build on Eglantynes vision are in your debt for giving us the real human being who inspires our work."

* Charlie MacCormack, former CEO of Save the Children USA *

"This book tells the tale of one of the twentieth century's most inspirational women... I'd urge anyone to pick up this book and be inspired."

* Paul O'Grady *

"Beautifully constructed and passionately written...evocative, funny and poignant."

* Big Issue *

"A crisp, masterly biography."

* The Good Book Guide *

"An interesting biography of a fascinating person who deserves to be better known and appreciated for her work."

* Oxford Times *

"This biography of Eglantyne Jebb, who established the charity to look after children in the chaos that followed the end of the First World War, brings to life a charismatic woman who changed the way the world treats children."

* Waterstone's Books Quarterly *

"Sensitive, entertaining and beautifully written, The Woman Who Saved the Children is an absorbing exploration of a life filled with achievement... A sparkling biography of a fascinating woman."

* Kate Williams, author of Englands Mistress and Becoming Queen *

"Meticulously researched...a testimony to Jebb's remarkable humanitarianism."

* Oxford Today *

"A very readable story which will strike a chord for many."

* The Times *

"A fascinating new book."

* Western Mail Series *

"A most interesting account of a life full of colour and curiosity."

* Bury Free Press series *

"Admirably researched... Clare Mulley has done Eglantyne proud. Her informative and sensitively written biography will put SCF's founder, and through her SCF itself, well and truly on the global map."

* Church Times *

Author Bio

Clare Mulley joined Save the Children as a corporate fundraiser in the 1990s. She is the mother of three daughters and currently lives in Essex, UK. While working as a fundraiser at Save the Children Clare Mulley came across a note written eighty years earlier by the organisations founder: the world is not ungenerous, but unimaginative, and very busy. She has since been fascinated by Eglantyne, sleeping in her childhood nursery, rifling through her journals, and even buying her signature on eBay.