We came from over the Sea: British War Brides in Newfoundland. By Barbara B. Barrett c.m., Eileen Dicks, Isobel Brown, Hilda Chaulk Murray, and Helen Fogwill Porter, editors. (British War Brides Association of NL. Portugal Cove: ESPress, 1996. Official letters and photos, 131p., ISBN 0-968 1156-0-8) The Women of Fogo Island: Hear them speak. By: Sonya M. Foley, editor. (Fogo Island Literacy Association, Gander: Economy Printing, 2001. 270 p., ISBN 0-9689407-0-6)

There is a growing interest in collecting women’s personal experience stories, in particular, those which range from the early to the mid 1900’s. We come from over the Sea: British War Brides in Newfoundland and The Women of Fogo Island: Hear them speak are two prime examples. These richly textured books give voice to women’s experiences from their time and place in history which until recently, have been either overlooked or overshadowed. Due to the common nature of this book as well as its brevity, it primarily deals with stories of positive outcomes, and negative things were not emphasized. To further ensure the preservation of the stories of war brides in Newfoundland in their totality, a next step would be to have researchers preform detailed interviews. In conclusion, as these texts illustrate, women enjoyed and endured life, demonstrated resilience in the face of difficulty, and rose to the challenge of what needed to be done. It is refreshing to see this kind of grassroots effort to publish women’s stories; for it definitely raises the profile and the awareness of women’s personal experience narratives. These wonderful renditions of women’s experiences do not fall into the trap of glorifying the past. Instead, they are symbolic of that which is intangible, and of that which will surely fade from view if more in depth studies are not soon undertaken.