{"product_id":"9781837052776-madam-v-virginia-vernons-war-battling-to-bring-ensa-entertainment-to-the-british-troops","title":"Madam V - Virginia Vernon’s War","description":"\u003cmeta content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBattling to Bring (ENSA) Entertainment to the British Troops\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe story of Madam V (Virginia Vernon), ENSA’s Chief Welfare Officer, boosting the morale of troops and factory workers around the world in the Second World War\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVirginia Vernon was responsible for the welfare of ENSA performers around the world during the Second World War.\u003c\/strong\u003e Her fluent French, a result of studying in Paris as a teenager, and her understanding of theatre after a successful career on Broadway made her an ideal candidate, so in 1939, the 46-year-old was recruited to bring morale-boosting entertainment to British troops in France. She soon discovered that “welfare” was a catch-all for many activities; much more than simply arranging accommodation for artistes and meeting performers on arrival.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBattling grief after the loss of her husband, contending with male chauvinism in the Army, and travelling through the most inhospitable places, along the way \u003cem\u003eMadam V\u003c\/em\u003e won the support and admiration of royalty, the military, and the stars of stage and screen, gaining a fearsome reputation for achieving the impossible. This new study tells the story of her wartime journey, from Arras in 1939 to V.J. Day in Rangoon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rarewaves","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57229233553782,"sku":"9781837052776","price":16.98,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0092\/7504\/8033\/files\/orig_39939332.jpg?v=1770827053","url":"https:\/\/www.rarewaves.com\/products\/9781837052776-madam-v-virginia-vernons-war-battling-to-bring-ensa-entertainment-to-the-british-troops","provider":"Rarewaves.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}