Coronation Street The War Years SagaBy Katherine Hardy
In Part I, 'Coronation Street at War', it is September 1939 and 16 year-old Elsie Tanner walks into Coronation Street. Newly married, pregnant and full of hopes and dreams, she has little idea of the difficult times ahead. But within days her husband has enlisted, leaving his teenage bride to face the neighbours alone: snotty Annie Walker; shy Esther Hayes; cocky Jim Todd and Ena Sharples. With their menfolk overseas, the women of Coronation Street are forced to make do, supporting each other through the tragedies of the War. In Part II 'The Way to Victory' the German bombing continues, the Yanks have been posted overseas and, for Elsie Tanner, the world seems to be a colourless place of dreary munitions work and the restrictions of rationing...But all this is about to change as the end of the war draws nearer. Coronation Street: The War Years Saga tells the story of the enduring resilience of the plucky residents of Weatherfield, as they struggle through hardship, absent sweethearts and loss, to emerge as the more mature characters that formed the backbone of the longest-running serial drama. on TV.
ReviewsThis book was brilliant, compelling reading. Although you think you know the charecters from tv, it was enthralling to read about their lives before during the first world war. I would love the next installment, about Ena, Minnie, Martha and Albert and co. coped with the depression, but I have not seen one like this yet. First book far better-should be televised.Potential "teenage Elsies"would have included Sally Ann Matthews(Jenny Bradley)and Jane Danson(Leanne Battersby).Seemed inconsistent between books-Dot Todd going from not being interested in Walt Greenhalgh to marrying him with no explanation. Keeping the Home Fires Burning was an interesting read. Anyone who has followed Coronation Street from the beginning will find the tales of Ena Sharples early days both humerous and sad. The book also give an insight into what made Ena into the person we knew when Coronation Street came on the air. It explains a lot about her attitudes and those of her friends Martha and Minnie. It also tells of her long friendship which could have been more with Albert Tatlock. As well as telling the story of well know Coronation Street characters it gives us some inisight into what it was like for the women left at home in the dark days of world war 1. I will definitely be looking for other books in this vane. | ||||
Coronation Street © Granada Television Ltd. |
