The British Are Coming!

Welcome back to Warren Central/Walker Career Center after our extended Spring Break! It’s great to be here in the MediaPlex working with students and staff. As you might have surmised from the title of this post, there are Brits all around us. Well, OK, books about Brits abound. April is a great month to read British-themed material. It is NOT the cruelest month! (OK, literature students, do you get the allusion?) 

If you cannot get enough of British TV, why not read some of the books affiliated with your favorite programs from across the pond? Jennifer Worth’s memoir, Call the Midwife, is available in our biography section. This book inspired the recent program of the same name available for viewing at PBS. Learn about post-World War II London through the eyes of a young woman who became a midwife. Yes, babies abound in the book and the show, but it is much more. Learn about the friendship and camaraderie the young midwives had with each other and how they came to care deeply for their patients who often lived in abysmal conditions in London’s impoverished East End.

Another popular series, Downton Abbey, has several books to accompany the show. Written by Jessica Fellowes (niece of the creator of the series), The World of Downton Abbey and The Chronicles of Downton Abbey give insight into the life and times of the fictional Crawley family and their servants. By interspersing historical information with the fictional stories, we gain a greater insight into the world of Edwardian Britain as it was rapidly changing during the early years of the 20^th Century. Another book to consider is Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: the Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle. Highclere Castle is the inspiration for the show Downtown Abbey and this book describes the real life and times of Lady Almina, who lived in the castle where much of the series is now filmed.

For those who are fans of the Fab Four, check out Baby’s In Black: Astrid Kirchherr, Stuart Sutcliffe, and the Beatles. This biography, in graphic novel format, describes the early years of the Beatles before the Fab Four became the sensation of the sixties.

And finally fans of Doctor Who, we have several graphic novels about the time traveling Doctor.

Come to the MediaPlex this month to check out these and other titles. We’re always glad to help you find the right book for the right time! Happy Reading!