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Alice in France

Alice in France: The World War I Letters of Alice M. O’Brien, Edited by Nancy O’Brien Wagner

My grandaunt Alice M. O’Brien volunteered with the Red Cross during World War 1 and wrote letters home detailing her experiences building a car, serving in canteens, driving for supplies, and caring for wounded soldiers in the hospitals. She reports regularly of the bombs flying overhead and the courage of the allied troops in vivid, telling prose.

My sister, historian Nancy O’Brien Wagner, has edited Alice’s letters, annotated them with pertinent historical facts, and placed them in context that brings the story of her era to life. Furthermore, Nancy tracked down rare photos from private archives that perfectly compliment the letters. The resulting book, Alice in France, is a phenomenal, gripping read!

For readers living in the Twin Cities area, Nancy is giving a talk at the Minnesota History Center tomorrow night, Tuesday, April 11 at 7 pm. It’s free and open to the public. I’m flying back to attend because I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

The book is available at Common Good Books in St. Paul, online at Barnes & Noble, and Amazon, and directly through Minnesota Historical Society. There is also a giveaway for a free copy of the book running on Goodreads through April 20th. It is available on request at your local library, too.

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