Product Description

Three very different women work together at Cadbury's Bournville factory, and their lives become entwined by war and work - and a child called David.

Edie, the main character, marries young to escape her unhappy family home. Widowed at 19 and, after losing her child from the marriage, she faces the war grieving and lonely. Then one night during the Blitz, an infant mysteriously abandoned during the bombing is handed into her care...

Ruby, meanwhile, doesn't want to be left behind in the wedding stakes and settles for marriage with Frank.

Finally there's Janet, kind-hearted and susceptible to male charm, who is hurt desperately by an affair with a married man.

David, the child who steals Edie's heart as she brings him up through a time none of them will ever forget, is the love of all their lives. And when David is old enough to wonder who he really is, he leads Edie through struggle and heartache to a life and love she would never have dreamed of...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17449 in Books
• Published on: 2008-05-02
• Format: Unabridged
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

Western Mail Magazine, May 2003
Delightfully innocent, filled with tenderness, perception and drama.

From the Author
I think I have receeived more letters about this book than any other I have written. It seems that the experiences of the characters strike a chord with all sorts of people for various reasons. It has been so interesting reading some of the things people have told me about their time working at Cadburys, about their war or family experiences or that of being a refugee, or of Israel. Thank you to those of you who have taken the trouble to write.
I hope those of you about to read the story will enjoy it. And it does not end there, as the sequel to it is shortly to be published. For those of you who would like to find out what happens next, it is called 'The Bells of Bournville Green.' It continues the story of the Cadbury Girls and their children, their joys,loves and sorrows - mainly in Birmingham, but also in Israel - as life continues on into the 1960s and early '70s.

About the Author

Annie Murray was born in Berkshire and read English at St John’s College, Oxford. Her first ‘Birmingham’ novel, Birmingham Rose, hit The Times bestseller list when it was published in 1995. She has subsequently written nine other successful novels, including, most recently, Where Earth Meets Sky. Annie Murray has four children and lives in Reading.

Customer Reviews

FANTASTIC STORY + BRILLIANTLY WRITTEN
I picked up this book from a random pile at work; wanting something to read on the train. This is not a book I would usually select but I must say that I was completely enthralled - not only by the characters, the experiences of wartime, the brilliant descriptions but mainly the realism and the way the author does not just concentrate on one element (like I find with my usual crime thrillers where the author only researches one or two topics well).

Annie Murray writes intelligently about Birmingham, Cadbury's/Bournville, WWII, life on the home front, emotions of men after returning from war, the issues of pregnancy and infidelity in the 30s-50s, Judaism, Israel, the effects of the Holocaust on the survivors, adoption and she has also created 3-dimensional characters who are flawed but who you feel you understand (even if you don't always like them, esp. where Ruby or Edie's mum is concerned!)

This was a VERY pleasant surprise! I'd recommend it to anyone wanting a captivating story. Highly recommended; I will be reading more of Annie Murray!!!

First Class Read
A really interesting and well researched book made all the more readable as I worked in the Bournville/Stirchley area in the late 1950's/60's. It took me back to the streets I walked on and place I recognized at one of the happiest periods of my life. Annie Murray has created some wonderful characters and a book well worth a read.
What I do admire about her books are she does not centre each book on the same area as some authors do Annie takes you all around the city and sets her books on different estates etc. so in fact despite being an enjoyable read you learn more about the city's history. An added bonus but by no means boring. In fact despite living in Birmingham until 1969 I feel Annie Murray knows the city and it's history far more than I do and I look forward as ever to the next book.

BOURNVILLE REVISITED
I LOVED THIS BOOK ABOUT 3 GIRLS LIVING IN BOURNVILLE BIRMINGHAM AND WORKING AT CADBURY'S DURING THE 2ND WORLD WAR, AND THEIR SUBSEQUENT LIVES.

IT WAS SPECIAL TO ME AS I WAS BORN AND BRED IN BOURNVILLE, IN THE 1940'S, MY MOTHER HAVING WORKED AT CADBURY'S ALL HER LIFE.

THE BOOK WAS VERY ACCURATE ABOUT BOURNVILLE AND CADBURY LIFE AS
I KNEW IT. ONE OF THE GIRLS EVEN LIVED IN THE ROAD I LIVED IN, AND IT BROUGHT BACK MANY PERSONAL MEMORIES HAVING GONE TO THE JUNIOR SCHOOL, SANG IN THE CHURCH CHOIR ON THE GREEN, AND ALSO
MARRIED IN ST FRANCIS CHURCH ON THE GREEN

I FEEL THE AUTHOR DID MUCH RESEARCH AND THE BOOK IS ALSO A GOOD READ. I WAS INTERESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 3 GIRLS.