I've already written about Nella's war diary. This book is about her life immediately at the end of WWII. It was not as wonderful a time as we might imagine, looking back after 60+ years. The fear of another war was quite apparent in much of Nella's writings and the shortages that seemed a necessity during wartime continued after peace finally arrived.
Nella continued to "make-do" and maintain her new-found independence while wishing for another project like her beloved Red Cross shop or the Canteen. Nella's energy and creativity needed an outlet, more than her little "dollies". And her diary served part of that.
Sometimes I think she died with only half her life realized - that she could have been so much more.
And then again, who am I to judge?
With her millions of words, with her diary - one of the longest continuous diaries in history, she did so much more than I have.
At this point, after reading her intimate thoughts, I almost consider Nella a friend.
I have Nella Last in the 1950s to read next.
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