'On a crisp September day in 1944; Ethel Alleyne stood outside Tate Lyle's factory at Plaistow Wharf; on the shining curve of the Thames. Looking up at the giant gate; Ethel felt as if she'd been preparing for this moment all her life. She drew herself up to her full height and did her best to hide her nerves as she headed into the factory.
#182135 in Books Harper 2012-03-29 2012-03-29Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x 1.10 x 5.00l; .70 #File Name: 0007448473352 pagesHarper
Review
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful. A fascinating storyBy Laura A. CellaI was assigned a social history project when I was studying at Oxford and completing it left me with a residual respect for and fascination with domestic history; the lives of ordinary people; especially women; and this book amazed me.Growing up in the prewar East End of London offered few options for women and this book examines and celebrates one of the popular ones. Tate Lyle's Sugar Girls were admired and envied and I can see why. Each woman is fascinating in her own way. Each woman's story is uniquely her own yet there exists a series of delicate gossamer threads joining them all throughout their entire lives.Social histories like this are especially important as society moves further - geographically; educationally; technologically; financially - away from our past and we will never understand who we are as a society unless we know where we came from. This well-researched; well-written book helps us understand just those things.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. DisappointingBy KarenThe stories are interesting; but I don't like the way the book is written. The timelines are not at all clear and a lot of it is summarized - more "telling" than "showing." It was also really hard at first to keep the girls' stories straight. With some rearranging; it would be much better. I read it for my book club and probably wouldn't have finished it otherwise. I usually like social history; but this was disappointing.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. TrueStoryBy Susan GershmanInteresting story about the lives and careers of women working at Lyle and Tate. A sugar packaging factory on the docks in London's East End. Every chapter gives us a peek as the teenagers make lifelong friends; grow up; Very well written; brings you into the factory with them.
