Call the Midwife is a memoir by Jennifer Worth, first published in 2002. It recounts Worth's experiences as a young midwife working in the poverty-stricken East End of London during the 1950s. The book is the first in a trilogy of memoirs, followed by Shadows of the Workhouse and Farewell to the East End.
The memoir vividly portrays the harsh living conditions of post-war Poplar, where families often lived in overcrowded tenements without basic amenities. Worth describes her work alongside the nuns of the Community of St. John the Divine, an Anglican religious order dedicated to nursing the poor. The book blends medical detail with deeply personal stories of the women she cared for, capturing moments of tragedy, resilience, and joy.
Upon its release, the book was praised for its compassionate and unsentimental depiction of a vanished world. It became a bestseller and brought renewed attention to the history of midwifery and community nursing in Britain. Worth's writing is notable for its warmth, humor, and unflinching honesty about the challenges faced by both midwives and their patients.
The success of the memoir led to its adaptation into a long-running television series, which has introduced Worth's stories to a global audience. The book remains a beloved piece of social history, offering a rare first-hand account of a pivotal era in British healthcare and working-class life.