A Sisterhood of Suffering and Service

"The First World War demanded sacrifice from all levels of society, and the degree to which citizens at home were expected to "do their bit" was made explicit in national propaganda. Women and girls in Canada and Newfoundland were indelibly affected by, and were integral parts of, their countries' war efforts. Yet their varied responses and myriad activities are not recognized in our memory of the war. A Sisterhood of Suffering and Service actively engages in redressing that absence and in exploring why the retelling of women's stories meets such resistance. Drawing upon a multidisciplinary spectrum of recent work -- studies on mobilizing women, paid and volunteer employment at home and overseas, grief, childhood, family life, and literary representations -- this collection brings Canadian and Newfoundland women and girls into the history of the First World War and marks their place in the narrative of national transformation. Recognizing women's active and emotional responses to the First World War is a crucial step towards understanding how that war shaped Newfoundland and Canada both during and after the conflict. This volume is therefore essential reading for anyone interested in the history of women, the First World War, Newfoundland, or Canada."--pub. desc.