by Duncan Barrett (Author), Nuala Calvi (Author)
For readers enchanted by the bestsellers The Astronaut Wives Club, The Girls of Atomic City, and Summer at Tiffany's, an absorbing tale of romance and resilience--the true story of four British women who crossed the Atlantic for love, coming to America at the end of World War II to make a new life with the American servicemen they married.
The "friendly invasion" of Britain by over a million American G.I.s bewitched a generation of young women deprived of male company during the Second World War. With their exotic accents, smart uniforms, and aura of Hollywood glamour, the G.I.s easily conquered their hearts, leaving British boys fighting abroad green with envy. But for girls like Sylvia, Margaret, Gwendolyn, and even the skeptical Rae, American soldiers offered something even more tantalizing than chocolate, chewing gum, and nylon stockings: an escape route from Blitz-ravaged Britain, an opportunity for a new life in affluent, modern America.
Through the stories of these four women, G.I. Brides illuminates the experiences of war brides who found themselves in a foreign culture thousands of miles away from family and friends, with men they hardly knew. Some struggled with the isolation of life in rural America, or found their soldier less than heroic in civilian life. But most persevered, determined to turn their wartime romance into a lifelong love affair, and prove to those back home that a Hollywood ending of their own was possible.
G.I. Brides includes an eight-pages insert that features 45-black-and-white photos.
Front Jacket
They left everything behind to follow their hearts . . .
Enthralling true stories that illuminate the experiences of British war brides in America after World War II
American soldiers stationed in Britain came away winning more than just a war; they also won the hearts of young women across the country. At the end of World War II, more than 70,000 GI brides followed the men they'd married--men they barely knew--to begin a new life in the United States. Meet four of these women:
Sylvia Bradley, a loyal, bright-eyed optimist
Rae Brewer, a resourceful quick-witted tomboy
Margaret Boyle, an English beauty who faced down every challenge
Gwendolyn Rowe, a brave woman ahead of her time
Though all made the bold choice to leave family and the world they knew, the journey each experienced was unique--ranging from romantic to heartbreaking. Fascinating and unforgettable, GI Brides pays homage to these brave women, propelled by love and hope, who embarked on an adventure that would change their lives.
--Erika Robuck, bestselling author of FALLEN BEAUTYBack Jacket
They left everything behind to follow their hearts . . .
Enthralling true stories that illuminate the experiences of British war brides in America after World War II
American soldiers stationed in Britain came away winning more than just a war; they also won the hearts of young women across the country. At the end of World War II, more than 70,000 GI brides followed the men they'd married--men they barely knew--to begin a new life in the United States. Meet four of these women:
Sylvia Bradley, a loyal, bright-eyed optimist
Rae Brewer, a resourceful quick-witted tomboy
Margaret Boyle, an English beauty who faced down every challenge
Gwendolyn Rowe, a brave woman ahead of her time
Though all made the bold choice to leave family and the world they knew, the journey each experienced was unique--ranging from romantic to heartbreaking. Fascinating and unforgettable, GI Brides pays homage to these brave women, propelled by love and hope, who embarked on an adventure that would change their lives.