THE COMPLETE GUIDE FOR THE SERVICEMAN'S WIFE

by ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 22, 1956

For the women behind the men behind the guns here is an extensive gathering of information and pointers for all aspects of service life from pouring tea to living in Timbucktoo, whether their men are wearing Army khaki, Marine olive or Navy blue, neatly pressed. The range of material is substantially wide. There are chapters on a definition of the services and what they should mean to wives (a man's first duty is to his country, a woman's to her family); family finances (benefits, insurance, budgets, etc); moving (in the U.S. and overseas); life on bases at home and abroad (when in Rome do as the Romans but remember you have a country to represent); and other ""private"" concerns such as etiquette, jobs for wives (see whether the CO is amenable to the idea or not), schooling , medical care, etc. But the tone of the book is juvenile, as if it were being addressed to very young women and there are puzzling inconsistencies. The principle that the service wife must subordinate her own interests to those of husband, family, service, etc., rather than develop her own personality so that she can complement them in a healthier way, would seem to undermine the book's intent to make a happy, intelligent group of our military personnel.

Pub Date: Oct. 22, 1956

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Houghton, Mifflin

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1956

Categories: NONFICTION