The men of the small Hungararian village in which this story takes place are suddenly called to fight During World War I. The women of this village do anything but mourn their absense. It is rude awakening when the men return and the women who had a taste of freedom start taking things into their own hands. The term angle maker in Eastern Europe is a euphemism for abortionist. The angel makers in Gregson's book are midwives and herbalists and Sari the protangist of the novel is called upon to help these women, but not for her abortonist skills. Gregson takes is a true story and creates a captivating piece of historical fiction. I've waited well over a year to read The Angel Makers by Jessica Gregson which was based on the true story of a group of women in Nagyrev, Hungary during and just after WWI. It's been lingering on my wish list; the read was well worth the wait and my enthusiasm didn't dim due to the delay. When the men of the remote Hungarian farming village go off to war in 1916, the women left behind realize their lives are much better. Most of these women were teenage brides in arranged marriages. Suddenly they discover that with no men in town they are no longer being beaten; they have time for friendships; and they find kindness, affection and romance with the injured Italian soldiers in the prison camp just outside of town.With the war over and the Italians released to go home, the women of the village find their readjustment to their spouses is as difficult as the adjustment the men are trying to make (or not) to civilian life with shell shock, illnesses and injuries. The rages, beatings, mental and emotional abuse, control and trepidation return with the husbands -- but not all of the women are willing to resume living in fear and slavery. After Sari realizes her only chance to survive is to make sure her husband no longer can hurt her, she finds her mentor, the village healer/midwife has a distasteful but effective solution -- arsenic harvested from fly paper strips. It is an idea whose time has come -- and it works, well, until...
What do You think about The Angel Makers (2011)?
Good book, great story....I think it would have been an even better book if the writing was better.
—lillyzo123
Fascinating historical fiction that could have been good but the character development was weak.
—iasmina
Fun book to read as it dives deeply into the complicated lives of women during war and after
—babyducky
Quick compelling read based on a true story with great, strong female lead characters.
—shasford
This is one of the most unusual stories I have read in a long time.
—Kathy
