Full Hearts and Empty Bellies A 1920s Childhood from the Forest of Dean to the Streets of London by Winifred Foley

I was putting in order my numerous books days ago when I spotted this one: Full Hearts and Empty Bellies

A 1920s Childhood from the Forest of Dean to the Streets of London by Winifred Foley. I ordered this book years ago and then I put it aside. As I do often I post-poned for a reason or another the reading.

Reading this book days ago meant to remember again what my dad told to me, about the 1920s. Years of great poverty, where their bellies weren't plenty at all but where there were great sentiments and people were much more connected with everyone else. There wasn't anything, money didn't exist and just few families had that; people simply loved to staying together, enjoying the company of neighbors. If they needed something, they exchanged for example eggs with flour. 

The story of ms Foley is similar. She grew up in a numerous family, where birthdays didn't have any kind of importance, (I know people in their 80s that don't know exactly the day they were born for example; it was common) and where birthday dates were just three: iconics passages of the existence; once arrived at 14 years for a girl meant  leaving the house for becoming an housemaid somewhere in London for example.

There wasn't sufficient food for all that children but no one would have shared this information to their neighbors (although I guess that they knew that) and when their mother was in grade of feeding them abundantly and with something delicious, this fact was seen as a miracle and a great feast.

The village was divided in sections; the richest and the poorest part.

School, during that hard years was helpful because everyday they passed to all children something to eat and it meant, in particular to the children of the poorest part of the town a big and appreciated novelty because that food was delicious and robust.

Also the chapel where they loved to share their times tried to help little children, feeding them.

Memories of Winifred speaks also of her times to school; her friends, people she appreciated the most and the ones she disliked for a reason or another; her passion for religion at some point; there are beautiful chapters, real portraits in words of her mother, her dad, her beloved great-aunt Lizzie, with a personal history that is simply incredible and fantastic. The story touched me the most was the part when Lizzie died.

Winifred Foley shared with us the story of Nancy, their little pig, killed later for being eaten. Considering that was part of their family, sometimes she had the impression of eating the meat of a real family-member.

The second part is dedicated to London, the arrival in the city, various difficulties experienced. It's a real life, a real story and a portrait of a generation of people that trust me, I adore so badly, because opened, generous, wonderfully kind and plenty of good and important values.

Anna Maria Polidori