I've read all sorts, but never a full on 'nurse' drama, so why not start with the best?
Lucy Agnes Hancock was considered the Queen of hospital romance with titles like Community Nurse, District Nurse, Graduate Nurse, Hospital Nurse, Nurse In White, Nurses Are People, Resident Nurse, Special Nurse, Staff Nurse, West End Nurse, and of course Student Nurse's Lover to name a few. My expectations were dashed however, when I found in Student Nurse an interesting plot, devoid of hospital drama, and full of wartime intrigue and sabotage. You can't judge a book by its cover.
Nursing student Gail Weston returns home to rest after the flu. Her parents deceased, the house is kept up by a couple so long term she calls them Aunt Annie and Uncle Adam. The town is glad to see her again, especially young Peter Rand, her childhood friend who now runs the Rand Tool Plant producing parts for the government. It's 1944 and his war service has been deferred due to his necessity at the plant. Gail and Peter spend all their time together and wonder aloud if they still have that spark. Pursuing Peter is Jo, whose father secretly plans on taking over the plant if he can get them to marry. Tension increases when there is an explosion at the plant, sabotage is suspected. Joining active service is Alec, a head doctor at Gail's hospital who visits her before flying overseas as he is also in love with Gail, naturally. He quickly figures out she is not available, and helps Peter by pointing out some known spies in the employ of Hitler hiding out in the town as Austrian refugees - but not before a devastating explosion destroys a warehouse.
The fascinating thing for me was the wartime detail - victory gardens, food shortages (eating butter sandwiches and making your own teabags), even getting chastised for driving too fast and wasting precious gas rations. There is a shortage of doctors and nurses who have gone into active service, and there is an importance to Peter's plant meeting the demand for parts - he is about to receive the Army & Navy 'E' certificate for it. There isn't even the prerequisite happy ending, in uncertain war time.
I love the 1940's and for this 'nurse' novel to actually be a wartime intrigue novel was a pleasant surprise.
My copy of Student Nurse is a Triangle Books hardcover. I have a growing collection of Triangle Books, a reprint company offering unabridged editions of bestsellers in many genres printed on cheaper pulp paper. Whenever I see one, especially with a nice dust jacket, I pick it up, such as this novel I found in Ponoka, Alberta for $1.00
1944 / Hardcover / 250 pages
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