Wave Me Goodbye: Stories of the Second World War

by Anne Boston

This collection of short stories written by women when war was a way of life includes some of the finest women writers of that generation. War had traditionally been seen as a masculine occupation but these stories show how women were equal if different participants. Here, war is less about progress on the frontline of battle than about the daily struggle to keep homes, families and relationships alive; to snatch pleasure from danger, and strength from shared experience. The stories are about saying goodbye to husbands, lovers, brothers and sons -- and sometimes years later trying to remake their lives anew. By turn comical, stoical, compassionate, angry and subversive these intensely individual voices bring a human dimension to the momentous events that reverberated around them and each opens a window on to a hidden landscape of war.

Writers include: Jean Rhys, Elizabeth Bowen, Elizabeth Taylor, Stevie Smith, Rosamond Lehmann, Barbara Pym, Sylvia Townsend Warner, Dorothy Parker, Doris Lessing, Olivia Manning, Rose Macaulay and Stevie Smith

Genres: Short Stories, World War II, Historical Fiction, Fiction, British Literature, Short Story Collection

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[iana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, I enjoyed this short story collection so much! Second World War-themed, it consists of stories by many great female writers I really love or been keen on for a long time. The range of authors is a typical Virago/Persephone one: Elizabeth Bowen, Diana Gardner, Elizabeth Taylor, Barbara Pym, Rosamond Lehmann, Rose Macaulay etc.
The book is full of snippets of ordinary people’s lives during the wretched years of the war or right after it. Women were to stay home and live like everything was normal: cook dinners, bring up kids and work (even if their work routine switched to building planes, assembling bombs or putting out fires). Though many of them kept their lives and limbs about them, their minds were terribly affected by incessant dangers of bombing, lack of food or shelter and fear for their beloved ones.
By keeping their countries running, doing war work and, in spite of everything, keeping strong and optimistic, women did as much as their husbands to win the war. Their battles were not in the least heartbreaking, not less than those at the forefront. Their sacrifices were as important.
Anne Boston gathered a collection of real gems, tragic and beautiful stories, many authors of which are hardly remembered nowadays.
Highly recommend.

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is a collection of short stories written by women during WW2. They are arranged chronologically, so one of the first is about collecting gas masks, they then take us right through to the end, with one of my favourites being 'According to the Directive' by Inez Holden , about how where to return the prisoners of war to. Most of the Authors you'd expect from a Virago anthology are represented here, so many of my favourite authors. The tone of them are wide ranging, some being quite light-hearted, all things considered, the Margery Sharp one particularly, some being rather brutal, but most fell in between. All in all, a good collection to dip in and out of.

[JacquiWine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating anthology of stories by women writers, most of whom were writing during the Second World War (or the years immediately following its end).

Viewed as a whole, this collection offers a rich tapestry depicting the different facets of women’s lives during this period – from stoic mother and caregiver, to headstrong Land Girl or factory worker, to intrepid journalist or correspondent. We see individuals anxiously awaiting the return of loved ones; women grieving for lives that have been lost, and marriages that have faded or turned sour. The mood and atmosphere on the Home Front are vividly conveyed, through stories of nights in the air raid shelters and the emotional impact of the Blitz. Plus, there are glimpses of Europe too, from the ravages of war-torn France to the tensions in Romania as the conflict edges ever closer.

To read my full reviews, please visit:

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[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to follow.

[Jenn Estepp · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent short story collection, with contributions by a number of favorite authors. And the many of those represented that I didn't already love were ones that I've been meaning to read and the samples offered here make me even more determined to get to them soon. I loved the range represented and even the weakest ones were memorable in their own way. It's been on the proverbial tbr for a while, so I'm glad I finally ordered it and made time for it.

[Greta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to sit on this one for a bit before reviewing because it’s HARD to review things that are two types of history. But for a book on women’s stuff that pre-dates several waves of feminism I was pleasantly surprised by how little I winced (I winced much more on some of the race stuff but there was less of it than I thought which was… good? Probably should have expected more winces about Eastern Europe but that’s on me tbh). But an interesting trip into an era of writing that I’ve never really delved into before, and some authors I will probably read more of in future.

My highlight stories were:

Goodbye, my love - mollie panter-downes
Grandma isn’t playing - Edna Ferber
Mysterious kôr - Elizabeth Bowen
The bomb - pat frank
The mandoline - Malachi Whitaker

[Susan Kavanagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone interested in how women writers depicted the role of women World War Two. Fans of Virago and Persephone will love it.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice collection of British and American women's short stories about World War II. The standouts for me were:

- Goodbye, My Love by Mollie Panter-Downes
- The Lovely Leave by Dorothy Parker
- Night Engagement by Margery Sharp

Other highlights include:

- Gas Masks by Jan Struther
- Defeat by Kay Boyle
- Night in the Front Line by Molly Lefebure
- Miss Anstruther's Letters by Rose Macaulay
- Goodbye Balkan Capital by Barbara Pym
- I Spy a Stranger by Jean Rhys
- The Bomb by Pat Frank
- Sweethearts and Wives by Sylvia Townsend Warner

This was a great way to dip into the work of authors I have wanted to read, including Elizabeth Taylor, Dorothy Parker, Rose Macaulay, and Jean Stafford.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit disappointed. Earlier stories were better than the later ones.They were arranged chronologically based on what phase of the war they took place in period. Obviously I prefor stories about people living those terrible days of the Blitz and rationing. Some almost didn't seem like war time stories at all. Oh well, I'm still glad I read it even though bits were not what I had hoped for.

[Margaret Conmey · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with short story collections some excellent tales and some not so good but a good variety of writing styles, mostly covering aspects of the war that tend to be neglected
eg what it felt like to be bombed out , or what it felt like to be unable to obtain lodgings where your partner was stationed

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for the virago group. Useful as part of the WEA wartime writers course. Difficult to actors as 28 stories but all well written and follow the rubric for short stories. Difficult to discuss each one here but all were about the Second World War and I think the editor chose well

[Hilary Tesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5* really, because, as with all short story collections, there were some I enjoyed much more than others. The authors were a range of esteemed female writers and, for me, the better stories were written from the woman’s perspective about their involvement, whether voluntary or not, in the war.

[Helena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was interesting enough, but depressing. Some other collections of stories I've read from WWII at least touch on funny things that happen, even in the midst of war, but these...not so much. I read them in fits and starts because I couldn't take more than a couple at a time. Not to say they weren't well written, although I do quibble with some of the selections made. For example, the "Mrs. Miniver" story included was not, I thought, one of the better ones.

All in all, I'm glad I read it but it's probably not one I'll revisit.

[Dark-Draco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at a local library sale to put in my short story bookbox, but didn't get round to reading it in time. But now I've read it and was suitably impressed by how different the stories are. Although they tend to be from the women's point of view, they varied so much that I didn't get bored. Face of My People was good, as was The Black Madonna and The Iconoclasts, but my favourite was Mysterious Kor by Elizabeth Bowen, mainly as it invoked a sense of mystery and supernatural otherness!!

[Bette · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are very readable stories that give women's perspectives on WWII. I enjoyed reading war stories that weren't about battles. The stories about the London Blitz were particularly interesting.

[Tolkien InMySleep · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favourites were Rosamond Oppersdorff "I Was Too Ignorant" and Malachi Whitaker "The Mandoline"