This book is probably the first major account of the experience of women who had to cope with the death of their husbands during the war, and then attempt to rebuild their lives.
The author had a particular interest in the social consequences of the war. We find it somewhat strange that this particular subject has not been addressed very much so far. But Hetherington has written a very comprehensive account of the subject, including discussions of some otherwise strange aspects - the turning to spiritualism, the fight for pensions, and so on.