Call the Midwife: A Labour of Love: Ten Years of Life, Love and Laughter
Call the Midwife: A Labour of Love: Ten Years of Life, Love and Laughter book cover

Call the Midwife: A Labour of Love: Ten Years of Life, Love and Laughter

Hardcover – February 15, 2022

Price
$23.75
Format
Hardcover
Pages
416
Publisher
Weldon Owen
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1681888033
Dimensions
7.44 x 1.6 x 9.69 inches
Weight
3.9 pounds

Description

About the Author Stephen McGann is a leading British actor, who began his professional career at nineteen, starring in the West End musical Yakety Yak . He has since worked extensively in British theatre and on screen, and can currently be seen starring as Dr. Turner in Call the Midwife . In addition to acting, Stephen has written scripts for peak-time television drama and has also been a recording artist for Chrysalis Records and Warner Brothers. In January 2016 McGann published Doctor Turner’s Casebook , a companion book to Call the Midwife , in which he revisits medical cases featured in the TV series to discuss their historical and social context. His critically acclaimed second book, Flesh and Blood: A History of My Family in Seven Maladies , was published in 2017.

Features & Highlights

  • An intimate and engrossing celebration of the first ten years of the international smash-hit TV series
  • Call the Midwife
  • .
  • Learn the up-close and personal story of
  • Call the Midwife
  • as told by the cast and crew.
  • A Labour of Love
  • is a moving journey through beloved series and features personal reflections, stills of fan-favorite moments, and anecdotes and insights from co-stars, producers, technical crew, and guests. Each chapter, spanning each of the ten years of
  • Call the Midwife
  • —set from 1957–1966 and filmed from 2011–2021—takes a deep dive into the themes, locations, fun times and technical challenges from each season. Author Stephen McGann, who plays the indefatigable Dr. Turner, intersperses personal interviews with key cast and crew about their feelings, thoughts, and memories of filming key moments of the drama.
  • MUST-HAVE FOR ALL FANS:
  • From Trixie’s mod outfits to The Buckle’s courtship to Sister Monica Julienne’s wise words, fans of Call the Midwife will revel in favorite moments, images, stories and quotes.
  • EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS:
  • Includes original interviews and reflections from the cast and crew.
  • LAVISHLY ILLUSTRATED:
  • With stunning photos from both behind and in front of the camera,
  • Labor of Love
  • reveals rare behind-the-scenes moments and captures favorite scenes.
  • SIGNS OF THE TIMES:
  • Like the series it commemorates,
  • Labor of Love
  • explores the changing attitudes of the late 50s to the mid-60s and the impact on women’s health, family life, and British culture and the realities working-class women’s life in mid-century England.
  • FROM THE DESK OF DR. TURNER:
  • Author and actor Stephen McCann has played beloved Dr. Patrick Turner on all nine seasons of
  • Call the Midwife
  • and offers an insiders’ perspective and unprecedented access to the cast and creators.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(471)
★★★★
25%
(196)
★★★
15%
(118)
★★
7%
(55)
-7%
(-55)

Most Helpful Reviews

✓ Verified Purchase

Beware the Binding

I hate to give this book anything but five stars, but the two stars taken off are for the binding. I got my first one of these under two heavy bags of dog food. I thought that is what destroyed the binding. The pages were far detached from the spine of the book. The front cover was held on by only a glued piece of paper. I could put my finger between the pages and the spine, so it wasn't even possible to try and reinforce it with glue myself.

I decided to return it and get another, and lo and behold the second one, sent properly in a box by itself, was worse than the first. I have barely looked at it because it is a very thick heavy set of pages and I fear the cover will tear off at any minute. This was a big purchase for me on disability, using gift money I usually would have used for bills because it was so special for me. I am very disappointed to say the least.
5 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

A Truly Lovely Book and a Treasure for Fans

I just finished reading--and I feel the same way I do after watching an episode of the series. Stephen McGann (our beloved Dr. Turner) has done a marvelous job of assembling thoughts and comments from his co-stars and a number of the behind-the-scenes personnel, along with a huge number of beautiful photos. The synopses of all the episodes are great to read through, refreshing your memory about the various episodes. But what made the book truly special for me were Mr. McGann's own thoughts, insights and evaluation of the series, going all the way back to the beginning. I truly got the sense that the show is as special and unforgettable to him as it is to all the fans, and his words felt like a love letter to the CTM community.

As others have said, it's a very heavyweight book, and the binding is a little less than up to the task of holding it together. I was aware as I was reading that I had to be very careful how I was holding it. But that's a minor consideration. If you're a devoted Call the Midwife fan, this is a book you'll definitely want to add to your collection, one that you'll probably go back and re-read over and over again. Five stars, and a million thumbs up!
5 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Book is fabulous but spine is not.

I absolutely adore this book. But the spine is damaged. I’m not sending it back because I can’t bear to let it go. I wish it had fared better in transit. You’ll love this book if you love CTM!
5 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

The binding SUCKS

In spite of the constant complaints about the dreadful binding, the problem remains: Mine arrived today with the book completely detached from the binding.

I ordered a replacement, but I am not optimistic.

(The binding is the reason for the three stars. I feel sure I'll like the book when I get a chance to read it *with the binding,* but that has not yet happened.)

FIX THE BINDING PROBLEM, WELDON OWEN/SIMON & SCHUSTER.
4 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Great addition to series

I love this book. The pages are thick, the photographs are amazing. It’s a great addition to my library. However, I must take off one star fir it’s quality. It a very heavy book abd the binding is good but the way the cover is attached is a little not so sturdy. With the book being so heavy and apt to be handled a lot, this may prove problematic.
4 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Have to return and reorder

Really looking forward to finally receiving this book and this is what I received. Damaged on front cover too. Just wondering how this got by any quality inspections.

I will revisit my rating when I receive my replacement copy.

In less than 24 hours, I received my replacement which is amazing customer service. Thank you Amazon!

Now to actually review the book itself. At first glance this book is well worth the money for fans of this tv show. A lot of really good pictures along with so much info. So happy with this purchase
4 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Lovely

A truly labor of love!
Warm, moving and funny just like the tv show!
2 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Nice coffee table book

Bigger than we thought ,filled with pictures and behind the scenes stories . Page count says 416 but actually has about 407 pages . Would buy again
2 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

Outstanding 408 Pages of Pure Bliss

Thick, glossy pages & a bountiful amount of pictures - this book is extraordinary! An Introduction, followed by a brief synopsis of each episode S1-10. Additionally, each main “character” tells of their experiences joining the cast and how their character fits into this magnificent story. This is followed by acknowledgments … Stephen McGann truly has written a Labour of Love.

This book was delivered in tact, solid binding and covers.
1 people found this helpful
✓ Verified Purchase

A wonderful journey through the series

I really enjoy the series and I treasure this book.
1 people found this helpful