Re-published by Persephone Press, 'Doreen' by Barbara Noble was first published in 1946. Doreen Rawlings is a child whose mother refuses to allow her to be evacuated out of the East End of London at the start of the Second World War. When Doreen is sent to Geoffrey and Francie, a middle-class couple in the countryside, we see her pulled between her love and loyalty towards her mother, and her fascination with a new life and a new set of values. This moving, thoughtful and sensitive novel explores the challenges faced by child evacuees and their carers during the war.
The London Archives Book Group, an online discussion group, meets monthly and welcomes all even if you haven’t read the book - although spoilers may arise! We have a broad remit, covering fiction and non-fiction for all periods in London history. Each session focuses on a different book and includes an online presentation of original archive material to enrich the discussion.
Find all our upcoming Book Group events in our Book Group Collection.
