The Canary Girls

A Novel

By: Jennifer Chiaverini

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

Length: 13 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

Rosie the Riveter meets A League of Their Own in New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini’s lively and illuminating novel about the “munitionettes” who built bombs in Britain’s arsenals during World War I, risking their lives for the war effort and discovering camaraderie and courage on the football pitch.

Early in the Great War, men left Britain’s factories in droves to enlist. Struggling to keep up production, arsenals hired women to build the weapons the military urgently needed. “Be the Girl Behind the Man Behind the Gun,” the recruitment posters beckoned.

Thousands of women—cooks, maids, shopgirls, and housewives—answered their nation’s call. These “munitionettes” worked grueling shifts often seven days a week, handling TNT and other explosives with little protective gear.

Among them is nineteen-year-old former housemaid April Tipton. Impressed by her friend Marjorie’s descriptions of higher wages, plentiful meals, and comfortable lodgings, she takes a job at Thornshire Arsenal near London, filling shells in the Danger Building—difficult, dangerous, and absolutely essential work.

Joining them is Lucy Dempsey, wife of Daniel Dempsey, Olympic gold medalist and star forward of Tottenham Hotspur. With Daniel away serving in the Footballers’ Battalion, Lucy resolves to do her bit to hasten the end of the war. When her coworkers learn she is a footballer’s wife, they invite her to join the arsenal ladies’ football club, the Thornshire Canaries.

The Canaries soon acquire an unexpected fan in the boss’s wife, Helen Purcell, who is deeply troubled by reports that Danger Building workers suffer from serious, unexplained illnesses. One common symptom, the lurid yellow hue of their skin, earns them the nickname “canary girls.” Suspecting a connection between the canary girls’ maladies and the chemicals they handle, Helen joins the arsenal administration as their staunchest, though often unappreciated, advocate.

The football pitch is the one place where class distinctions and fears for their men fall away. As the war grinds on and tragedy takes its toll, the Canary Girls persist despite the dangers, proud to serve, determined to outlive the war and rejoice in victory and peace.

©2023 Jennifer Chiaverini (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

Excellent, Reed

This book was very well written, and I was very impressed with all of the good information I got on the history of World War I, which I didn’t know very much about. Especially with the munitions workers, and their exposure to TNT, and all that they went through.

Interesting vantage point from WWI

I usually go for WWII over the first war but i really enjoyed this. It’s an interesting story that holds your attention but there’s definitely no big story arch or anything like. It’s a good book, interesting story.

Interesting

Interesting story about a little known piece of history and the role of women in WWI.

Excellent novel

Jennifer China drink has done it again by writing an historical fiction novel to impart many historical events but also inserting Victorian characters so believeable with the events.

A part of history I had not been aware of

Well written. Historical fiction with information about women’s history that has not had much light shed on it. I enjoyed the portrayal of the characters who brought this aspect of World War I to light.

Great historical fiction

This book would make an interesting movie.
I had never heard of the munitions workers who helped win WWI.
I enjoyed the pace of the book, all the characters, and the historical perspective.
I gave 4/5 stars for the narrator because even though she did an amazing job in Diamond Eye, for example, I would have preferred a British narrator.

Loved the history!

This book is full of historical information about WWI. My 93 year old mother- in- law, husband and I loved listening to this book on our long road trip. I had to Google for more information on tnt and the canary women.

Wonderful weaving of historical fact and fiction

Excellent research and realistic story lines tell the story of a group of women who have not received enough credit for their efforts during WWI.

WWI women supporting the fight

Brave historical English women that I had not known about brought to life. The author connected us to their daily lives as WWI changed everything around them and changed their role in society.

Wonderful story

Jennifer Chiaverini, once again, introduces me to a part of women’s history of which I was not aware. Her books are wonderfully written and well researched. Highly recommend!