GI Brides

The Wartime Girls Who Crossed the Atlantic for Love

By: Duncan Barrett, Nuala Calvi

Narrated by: Tania Rodrigues

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.

Great Insight

GI Brides gave a lot of insight into a common practice during WWII. Some of the marriages were perfect, but often they just didn't work out as well as the "bride" had hoped. She often had to be shamed and go back to her homeland, or put up with a drunk in one example, as these husbands could be abusive, etc. Very informative and thought provoking!

Compelling stories

This is a very well-written book with compelling stories of WW2 War Brides. Heartbreaking, but triumphant, these true stories will stay with you for a long time.

Great case study of a moment in time

I loved the stories and looked forward to listening every day. However, each time the narrator tries and American or Italian accent made me cringe. You'd think someone would have said something during recording. It's sooooo distracting when the rest of the story reading is smooth and wonderful.

Fascinating stories

Fascinating wartime and postwar stories of four Englishwomen who took U.S. GI husbands. Many tribulations, but happy times as well. Some marriages failed, but each woman eventually found her way forward. Excellent narration as well.

A terrific case study

I loved this book, it provided an interesting look at the lives and loves, the joys and sorrows of war brides just after WWII.
It is not a happy book in many ways, but the culture differences from England to the US, strained, broken, and repaired relationships with husbands and in-laws... I read this book months ago, and it still haunts me. I'll read it again and recommend it to anyone I know who enjoys such things.