War Brides: A Play in One Act (WWI Centenary Series)

Marion Craig Wentworth

• Publisher: Last Post Press
• Year: 2016
• ISBN:
  9781473367333
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: World War I
• Index: History

This early work by Marion Craig Wentworth was originally published in 1915 and we are now republishing it as part of our WWI Centenary Series. 'War Brides: A Play in One Act' is a drama about a young woman whose husband is killed in the fighting of the First World War. She contemplates suicide but she is pregnant and her prospective motherhood gives causes her to realise her new responsibilities. A plan by the military authorities to encourage the women of the country to marry returning soldiers causes her to organise women to march in protest of the war and leads her to a face-to-face encounter with the nation's monarch. This book is part of the World War One Centenary series; creating, collating and reprinting new and old works of poetry, fiction, autobiography and analysis. The series forms a commemorative tribute to mark the passing of one of the world's bloodiest wars, offering new perspectives on this tragic yet fascinating period of human history. Each publication also includes brand new introductory essays and a timeline to help the reader place the work in its historical context.

WAR BRIDES

The war brides were cheered with enthusiasm and the churches were crowded when the wedding parties spoke the ceremony in concert.—PRESS CLIPPING.

SCENE: A room in a peasant’s cottage in a war-ridden country. A large fireplace at the right. Near it a high-backed settle. On the left a heavy oak table and benches. Woven mats on the floor. A door at left leads into a bedroom. In the corner a cupboard. At the back a wide window with scarlet geraniums and an open door. A few firearms are stacked near the fireplace. There is an air of homely color and neatness about the room.

Through the open door may be seen women stacking grain. Others go by carrying huge baskets of grapes or loads of wood, and gradually it penetrates the mind that all these workers are women, aristocrats and peasants side by side. Now and then a bugle blows or a drum beats in the distance. A squad of soldiers marches quickly by. There is everywhere the tense atmosphere of unusual circumstance, the anxiety and excitement of war.

Amelia, a slight, flaxen-haired girl of nineteen, comes in. She brushes off the hay with which she is covered, and goes to packing a bag with a secret, but determined, air. The Mother passes the window and appears in the doorway. She is old and work-worn, but sturdy and stoical. Now she carries a heavy load of wood, and is weary. She casts a sharp eye at Amelia.

Mother:

What are you doing, girl? [Amelia starts and puts the bag in the cupboard.] Who’s going away? They haven’t sent for Arno?

Amelia:

No.

Aye, that is good. Has any one asked you, Amelia? [Amelia looks embarrassed.] Some one should ask you. You are a good-looking girl.

Amelia: [In a low voice.]

Hans Hoffman asked me last night.

Mother:

The young and handsome lieutenant? You are lucky. You said yes?

Amelia: [Shakes her head.]

No.

Mother:

Ah, well.

Amelia:

I hardly know him. I’ve only spoken to him once before. O Mother—that isn’t what I want to do.

Mother:

What did you tell him?

Amelia: [Timidly.]

That I was going away to join the Red Cross.

Mother:

Amelia!

Amelia:

He didn’t believe me. He kissed me—and I ran away.

Mother:

The Red Cross!

Amelia: [Eagerly.]

Yes; that is what I was going to tell you just now. That is why I was packing the bag. [Gets it.] I...

Table of contents

• Introduction to the World War One Centenary Series
• A Timeline of the Major Events of World War One in Europe
• World War One in Literature
• In Flanders Fields
• WAR BRIDES