The Scarlet Sisters: My nanna’s story of secrets and heartache on the banks of the River Thames

by Helen Batten

‘Oh my goodness – another girl Mrs Swain!’ Clara’s normal iron composure broke and she screamed, ‘No! That’s not the bloody deal!’And that is how my nanna, Bertha Swain, entered the world.When Helen Batten’s marriage breaks down, she starts on a journey of discovery into her family’s past and the mysteries surrounding her enigmatic nanna’s early life. What she unearths is a tale of five feisty red heads struggling to climb out of poverty and find love through two world wars. It’s a story full of surprises and scandal – a death in a workhouse, a son kept in a box, a shameful war record, a clandestine marriage and children taken far too soon. It’s as if there is a family curse. But Helen also finds love, resilience and hope – crazy wagers, late night Charlestons and stolen kisses. As she unravels the story of Nanna and her scarlet sisters, Helen starts to break the spell of the past, and sees a way she might herself find love again.

Genres: Nonfiction, Book Club, Biography, Biography Memoir

386 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 16, 2015

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars: I liked it. I actually loved the "historical" parts, in which the author describes the family lives of her grandmother, great-aunts and great-grandparents, spanning from the end of the 19th century to World War II. I am particularly interested because I, too, have been trying to build a picture of the lives of my own ancestors in Hackney during that period, and some of the comments on social history were fascinating. Differences especially in the attitudes of others at that time, illnesses and healthcare. Helen Batten has put some flesh on the bones of her long-lost relatives, a sort of mix of fiction and non-fiction, I suppose, and it works well.

However, I didn't really enjoy the more contemporary narrative interspersed among the old family stories. The author is trying to determine if there is a logical pattern (fate or coincidences?) among generations and whether that pattern can be broken. And since she is a psychotherapist, this means indulging in quite a bit of self-analysis which I personally found exceedingly disconcerting.

The audiobook was performed by Annie Aldington, who is a professional voice and brought warmth and variety to the narration.

[Lynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting historical story of the sisters learning to make their own way within a family during challenging times! A great insight

[Carola · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book, but found it a bit lacking.
It is very much centred on the concept of fate and about the journey of the author haunted/blessed into following the same drama as her ancestors. The characters are interesting and well described, but it is very much a story of family heartache closed behind the door of their house. I felt the world outside was only superficially pictured and at the end I still didn't know much about the life of women in the twenties and forties, which was what I was most interested in.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whilst this book was very interesting and well written, I found that it didn't really seem to be going anywhere, it lacked purpose, I'm not sure if it was more of a tribute of memories from the author to her family or whether the idea was to let everyone see the changes in Britain at the time of the era her Nan was around. I doubt deny that, this book gives great interest and insight into what life in London would have been like back then, I just didn't really feel the purpose it was written for was for me.

[Linda Hardy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helen tells the story of her nanna and her sisters and the struggles they all had in their lives whilst growing up in London and on the outskirts of London, I found the book really interesting to begin with, but I reached about 80% of the way through it and the story just started to get a bit all the same and seemed to be dragging on.

[Sally Dalman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was going to be another romantised biography, I only bought it as I needed cheap holiday read style books for a very long journey, that needed low concentration levels.
I was wrong. It was one of the best books I've 'read in a while.
Coming from a family with a history of maternal depression spanning several generations, this book made me see their struggles in a different light. I can see that some of the traits I recognise from my mother's illness now being replicated in my sister's; whether they're learned behaviours being passed down the generations or not, I don't know, but I have passed this book to them both.

[BarbaraJean Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart rending and captivating.

I was hooked from the first page . It was almost like being in two time zones at once . I lost my Mother when I was 5 yrs old 1950, so I was able to live like part of your Ancestors Family. ! Thanks for an incredible journey. Thanks also for bringing many of my memories to the fore. Also Helen Batten - YOU look like Alice! Hope people read this account of your Nana’s Life as I did . I too had an amazing Nana Jinny. She died age 94 ,SO SHE SAID ! I’ve found out on my journey she was actually about 100 ! Little 4ft. 9 inch ex bare back rider in a travelling show ! !

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Historical Family Story

This is a.good book for feminine support and encouragement. The story of the sisters learning to make their own way, but stay close to their family as well is a great self help for today's young girls to learn growing up. This was surprising in that it didn't have as much of the story of the girls growing years as I thought it would but it had a good lesson to learn of survival; strength, hard work, love, endurance, and learning from the past and using those lessons to make the future better.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever concept, well written, had me in tears several times.

As it was the authors interpretation of what happened to her ancestors using photos and memories from relatives, there was no shocking twist and it didn't end, but that's the point, life doesn't end, which the author captured in her summizing paragraphs.

I'm giving it 4 stars as there were parts towards the end where it got a bit dull with not a lot happening and I felt these bits could have been told in a lot less words. It also got confusing, the more generations were added.

[chlorinda naish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sisters

Lovely story of love between the five sisters the ups and downs love threw at them,, the heartache 's but the love shone through, their families their husbands none apart from Alice, married again, but Alice's first husband died after less than a year of marriage.
Told us as a narrative, but involving all the family as the narrator is a granddaughter of one of the five sisters.

[Janet Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A family story

Loved the historical detail and the interplay of relationships between the sisters . But , particularly when just listening on Audible , I found it difficult to keep track of the relationships and histories of the various siblings in each sister’s family . Might well have been just a failing peculiar to me , but the ability to consult a pictorial family tree would have made the various family stories easier to follow and the whole book even more enjoyable .

[Emma Summers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure if this was 3*or 4 so maybe 3.5? I am fascinated with tracing my family tree so found this book very interesting. Helen is research her family tree and unearths some fascinating stories from her great, great grandparents lives. Obviously some of the stories are her interpretation of facts she found but a lot were drawn from memories of older relatives. Helen compares life from before the war to her own experiences.

[dorothy cannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable book but very jumbled up!!

This book is very readable however I have only given it 3 stars as its layout is terrible.
It tells the story of the authors great grandmother grandmother mother and herself. The author starts to tell one tale then jumps onto someone else.
The book is interesting and heartbreaking at times but the structure leaves a lot to be desired.

[Marsha Potter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed stories about real people. The Swains lived tough and sometimes sad lives but endured, illustrating the true resiliency of people. It was a touching story. I enjoyed the author’s psychological perspectives on her own and her relatives’ lives. It’s an interesting theory that one experiences the trauma of ancestors as an egg in the womb. The author also offered good wisdom to live by. Overall, it was a good read. I wish she had included more photographs.

[Ingrid Self · Rating 4 out of 5]

had doubts about this to begin with but they soon melted away. This is a well-written narrative and you get a clear idea of the whole family dynamic. There's a family tree to help. From the beginning of the 20th century to today, the family of women are strong, loyal and interesting. Recommended.

[Wayne Inkster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intergenerational trauma, genetics, timing and wars all overlapped and created the Scarlett sisters. Reading this in present day gives me a reminder of how lives were so different in the past; societal expectations and personal values were both held so close to heart.

A very interesting and personal read.

[c m bolton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Scarlet sisters

This book gave you lots of history and lots of wonderful people. How the Scarlet sisters enjoyed their many different lives. I enjoyed this book and I'm sure others will.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great read


It was nice recollection of years gone by and how women were perceived. It was a very different world back then and times were hard but a lovely recollection of family life.

[Sharon Shelor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the stories about the sisters & hearing the historical part of it. I have to admit though she goes into detail of her life. It was ok @ first but I started feeling it as filler. Toward the end I just wanted to read about the sisters.

[Dom · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely read, very sedate compared to my usual choices. Quite heartwarming with present day interludes from the author. Very interesting from an historical viewpoint giving the reader a real sense of times gone by and how people lived and loved.

[Aaron Selley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book

I do not normally write a review but I loved the way Helen intertwined the generations stories connecting them her own experiences. I am now going to investigate the similarities in my past.

[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good true story.

[margaret truman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping

Have absolutely enjoyed this book. The story of the sister's was amazing. It being true was the icing on the cake.

[Mrs D L Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Very interesting read about the sisters and their lives and all the rest of the family.
Read if you are interested in the war days

[Pat McNay · Rating 1 out of 5]

A nannas story

I have always read a book to the end but I could not with this book. It was very few nannas secrets n more about the author. Very disappointed

[alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

well researched, found i could relate to characters and places, even though I have never been to London. Recommend for anyone who likes historical novels

[Adele King · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Rosetta D'Emilio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable book

Good family history book taking in the changing roles of women some very sad stories as well as happy ones.

[Beverley Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting

God interesting read very enjoyable err book spanning the generations of families from their perspective. Can be a bit slow in places but stay e with it

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved following the lives of The Scarlet Sisters. A must for anyone who loves family history