The Empress of Australia: A Post-War Memoir

The Empress of Australia: A Post-War Memoir

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Harry Leslie Smith

Return to Book Page. The Empress of Australia: In the winter of , a post-war darkness felled Britain and happiness, like sweets, was tightly rationed. The Empress of Australia which depicts life in post-war Yorkshire. Recently demobbed from the RAF, Smith and his German war bride must try to adjust to a civilian society that is scarred from not only the war but th In the winter of , a post-war darkness felled Britain and happiness, like sweets, was tightly rationed.

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Recently demobbed from the RAF, Smith and his German war bride must try to adjust to a civilian society that is scarred from not only the war but the harsh reality of living in peacetime Britain. At first, Harry Leslie Smith finds himself ill equipped for this brave new world where Britain has lost its empire and is bankrupt. Harry Leslie Smith sketches a real, sometimes amusing and sometimes melancholic portrait of Britain in the late s. In his book, Smith speaks for all generations who have faced untold hardships in their quest for dignity and purpose during times of financial, political and familial upheaval.

Sometimes, after the war, peace is the hardest battle to survive. Paperback , First , pages. Published December 12th by Barley Hole first published December 10th To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about The Empress of Australia , please sign up.

Be the first to ask a question about The Empress of Australia. Lists with This Book. Jan 28, Hannah Frey rated it it was amazing. This is the third in a series of memoirs.

The books weave together Harry's personal experience with history as we know it today. He was born in in England and lived in complete poverty growing up. His family situation was incredibly difficult his whole childhood.

It was fascinating to see how people lived in Germany after the war--this was something I had absolutely never thought of. He als This is the third in a series of memoirs. He also did a wonderful job of bringing the difficulties of the lower classes in England to light, and bringing us into the mindset of these people and to really understand their struggles and challenges.

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Harry had so many hardships in his life, but managed to keep hopeful that life would get better. Harry is just a likable guy. I found myself rooting for him at every turn. He met and fell in love with a German woman in Hamburg and had many ups and downs in their relationship, from courtship, to marriage, to moving back to Halifax, England, and finally emigrating to Canada that's where the story ends The author is working on the next volume! I couldn't put my kindle down while I was reading these three books!

It's funny, because I'm a huge fan of Downton Abbey, and I kept thinking about the fact that Downton Abbey is set during the same time period that Harry was born and was growing up. Now yes, I know Downton Abbey is fictional, but it is based on real people--Here some people are living in such incredible luxury, and others are barely surviving. I guess the world today is much the same though. It's just amazing to think about sometimes. Jan 05, Terry Tyler rated it it was amazing.

I was lucky enough to get this when it was on Amazon for free, but I would have bought it anyway, having read the two other books in the series, A Memoir and Hamburg Harry Smith is back from the second world war, and brings his German bride over to live in darkest working class Halifax - a bit of a shock for her! The book documents not only the ups and downs of Harry and Friede's relationship, but also tells much about how people felt after the war, in both Germany and England, about I was lucky enough to get this when it was on Amazon for free, but I would have bought it anyway, having read the two other books in the series, The book documents not only the ups and downs of Harry and Friede's relationship, but also tells much about how people felt after the war, in both Germany and England, about the increased desire for sociological change, everwhere, and about the dissatisfaction felt by so many people.

Just like the other two books in the series this is completely unputdownable - I started reading this the minute I'd finished the last one. It's not only fascinating because of the personal way it relates the history of the time, but it's just so well written, really engaging.

I read it when I shouldn't be reading it; I kept sneaking my Kindle out - yes, it's one of those books! I highly recommend all three of these books - well done, Harry Smith! Jan 30, Lucinda rated it really liked it Shelves: Beautifully atmospheric, stunning and heart-wrenchingly candid this melancholic portrait, is a nostalgic tale of time past. War-related literature seems to hold sway during the events of World War one or the Second World War, but rarely one is able to glimpse what it was like after this catastrophically consequential moment within history.

Peace may have been sought, but livin Beautifully atmospheric, stunning and heart-wrenchingly candid this melancholic portrait, is a nostalgic tale of time past. Peace may have been sought, but living within destructions wake is another matter, as injustice and deprivation ensues. A personal journey of self-discovery, freedom fighting and a quest for dignity, this memorable memoir is greatly significant and touching… Winter, is brought vividly to life through detailed description and vision, which only a painter could capture.

This is a book which indents your inner core, as you reflect upon the brutality of war and all that is left behind in its path of eternal cataclysmic destruction. However, amid the disarray and dissonance is some humor and dry wit that adds a touch of lightness to the sincerity, as your perception and understanding of events is heightened. Acutely thought-provoking and truth-drawing in essence, this is a must-read for all interested in well-written literature and in-depth character-study. This beautiful book is a delight to behold and something distinctly original, which stands-out from other fictional works that focus on WW2 itself rather than the aftereffects.

Intensely gripping and fascinating, I was enthralled by this captivating read which was most enjoyable. Laying emphasis on those strong political, social and economic issues at the time as well as observing what life was like for soldiers coming home to a broken but not beaten Britain is really interesting; as the pieces fall back into place bit-by-bit, slowly.

Mar 24, Jeff Dawson rated it really liked it. If your part of the upper-crust, yes! If not, the future is not bright. Smith has done it again. In the vein of Dickens, Mr. Smith paints a realistic picture of post war Great Britain. I have studied the topic for over thirty years, but something was missing in the accolades that were lavished on the Allies total victory over the Axis powers. Russia revealed in their new territorial acquisitions.

The US flexed its power as a new Super power. But what of England?

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She too was Jolly old England? She too was part of the victory. She stood side-by-side with her brothers in arms, but the spoils were not to be. Instead of riding an economic high, she was stuck in the pre-war depression, at least for the common blue collar worker; nothing had changed. Smith paints a very detailed look at the lives of the locals.

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Nothing has changed for the masses. In fact, it seems worse for all than before the war started. He resigns from the R. F in hopes of starting fresh and bringing his German war bride Friede, back to his home country for a new start. Job opportunities are thin and few. Housing options are bleak at best.

Smith was also active in support of refugees during the European migrant crisis. Smith and Howard also discussed the NHS , with Smith reflecting on the accessibility of medical care with a family story.

I am one of the last few remaining voices left from a generation of men and women who built a better society for our children and grandchildren out of the horrors of the second world war, as well as the hunger of the Great Depression. Today, the western world stands at its most dangerous juncture since the s. On 20 November , Smith was admitted to Belleville General Hospital in critical condition after contracting pneumonia.

His hospital stay prompted an international cyber-vigil on Twitter and an outpouring of support from well-wishers from around the world; including Leader of the Labour Party , Jeremy Corbyn , of whom Smith was a major supporter. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

British writer and political commentator. Elfriede Gisela "Friede" Edelmann [4] m. Love among the ruins. Barley Hole ebook format by Kobo. The Barley Hole Chronicles: From Hell to Hamburg. The Empress of Australia: Retrieved 7 May Retrieved 20 November She was the illegitimate daughter of a Berlin socialist trade unionist and a Bohemian hotel manager who lived on the outskirts of the Reeperbahn. Retrieved 14 March I'm 94, and I won't spend my last years in fear of the Tories".

Retrieved 13 August Retrieved 28 November Retrieved 2 January Retrieved 25 February The Globe and Mail , Toronto. Retrieved 23 November The NHS is turning into a two-tier health care system". Channel 5 Broadcasting Ltd. I didn't have a childhood". Bristol Festival of Ideas. Archived from the original on 2 January Retrieved 15 July

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