The Canary Girls

A Novel

By: Jennifer Chiaverini

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

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

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.

This historical fiction novel rocks

Knowing now what we do and looking back to England during WWI helps to understand the challenges of life there during “The Great War”. And seeing how people coped with tragedies as well as aspects of life that we now take for granted does help understand and appreciate the challenges. Add in women’s part in winning the war and how women’s soccer helped overcome these challenges and you have the perfect story. A great read with superb narration withe a myriad of voices, too.

Interesting story!

I loved this story, I just wish at the end it was more detailed and drawn out about how everyone ended up. Throughout the story there was great details about specific characters, and building them, but the last hour just seemed rushed. Still great book though, I enjoy this author a lot!

Characters in the book

I really enjoyed this book and the depth of the characters in this story
She brought them to life along with their struggles

Canary Girls -- A Great Read

The trouble with Jennifer Chiaverini is that she sets the bar high for other authors who have primarily a female audience. Each time a new Chiaverini books comes out, I hope it's an Elm Creek book, and I'm always disappointed when its not. However, this book can hold its own with any of them. Very well done. I learned a lot. Her fiction inspires me to reach out and do a bit of research on the subjects she writes about. I highly recommend.

The bravery of the women

The unfairness women endure, and how men accepted, how females were t were tread as a second grade citizens

women's comraderie

women's sport and work conditions side by side in WWI Britain. marvelously written and performed !!!

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.

Wholesome

Great story but at least 3 hours could be cut and not miss any necessary dialogue.