Orphan Mabel Court's dreams come true when she enters the Booth Street Poor Law Infirmary as a probationer nurse. As war rages across Europe, they try to keep their spirits up but when Mabel's fiance Harry Drover is wounded at the battle of the Somme, Mabel realises that the life she and Harry had always hoped for is now an impossibility.
Exploring themes of identity and self-perception, this book delves into the complexities of how individuals view themselves versus how they are perceived by others. Through a series of interconnected stories, characters grapple with their inner struggles and the societal pressures that distort their self-image. The narrative challenges readers to reflect on the nature of authenticity and the impact of external judgments, ultimately prompting a deeper understanding of what it means to truly know oneself.
So at twenty-one she escapes to London to train as a nurse, where she gathers many admirers - none more dashing than RAF officer Sandy Redfern, with whom she falls in love. Then further changes in circumstances bring her to a busy RAF hospital in Hampshire, where a faithful childhood sweetheart persuades her to become engaged to him.