Customer Reviews

Good-bye, Piccadilly: BRITISH WAR BRIDES IN AMERICA (Statue of Liberty Ellis Island)

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The British war brides, some 70,000 strong, occupy a special place in American military and immigration history.
The majority of war brides of World War II GI's, they represented a significant administrative and logistical problem to an officialdom (of both countries) which hoped in vain that the problem would go away. They persevered, despite hardships, intentional obstacles, and ill-concealed suspicions about their motives, and while most regard themselves as inevitably hyphenated Americans, the vast majority would do it all again.
Their story is well told here, shedding light on a little-known corner of World War II history and, incidentally, revealing much about life and love in the two countries.

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Fantastic book, I bought another copy to send to my best friend who was like me aBritish War Bride, I only wishI had know of the survays being done at that time, I would have loved to have participated in its information,

This is a great book for anyone interested in the lifes of GI war brides as well as anyone else who has moved from one country to another in order to follow one's heart.

Jenel Virden, the author, is my aunt. I have read the book twice. The most enjoyable parts are the quotes from my late grandmother, Peggy (Hunt) Virden. When I read them, I can hear her voice, and the quotes sound exactly like what she would have said. It's almost as good as a recording. I can only imagine it's the same for the other children and grandchildren of the women she interviewed and quoted. I may be a little biased, but I think that my aunt did a very good job of bringing together a variety of voices. It's also well written.