Women’s Barracks

Femmes Fatales

By: Tereska Torres

Narrated by: Heather Wilds

Length: 6 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Originally published in 1950, this account of life among female Free French soldiers in a London barracks during World War II sold four million copies in the United States alone and many more millions worldwide. The novel is based on the real-life experiences of the author, Tereska Torres, who escaped from occupied France. She arrived as a refugee in London and joined other exiles enlisting in Charles de Gaulle’s army, then stationed in Britain awaiting an invasion of their homeland by Allied forces. But Women’s Barracks is no ordinary war story.

As the Blitz rains down over London, taboos are broken, affairs start and stop and hearts are won and lost. Women’s Barracks was banned for obscenity in several states. It was also denounced by the House Select Committee on Current Pornographic Materials in 1952 as an example of how the paperback industry was promoting "moral degeneracy". But in spite of such efforts - or perhaps, in part, because of them - the novel became a record-breaking best seller and inspired a whole new genre: lesbian pulp.

©2005 Tereska Torres (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

A Frank Portrait of Women's Wartime

Tremendously engaging as a novel and informative as a picture of WWII among military women. This was the best selling lesbian novel ever.

Women's Barracks gives a portrait of the many experiences and relationships that form among the women of the free French army. Like Band of Brothers with French sisters.

The lack of "pulp" is what struck me. The Lesbian relationships are not presented with any raised eyebrows, or winks. Not common in the Fifties. It's not nearly as sensational as the cover would have you believe.

A story important today, just like when it was written.

Well written, personal, and important. Should be read by anyone who forgets the lessons of history.

This is not Erotica

Would you try another book from Tereska Torres and/or Heather Wilds?

No This book was more like a diary from a straight woman with no erotic moments anywhere in the story. It was just a history of time served in the woman's French army corp. With the author talking about relationships she see.But no actual erotica is involved I really felt it was an ok story but should be listed as a historical novel not an erotic one. They only mention very lightly on lesbianism.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The ending was kind of sad but then again had nothing to do with erotica

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

It was a history of French women serving in England to help support the resistance. That is really about it. It also goes into some personal relationships but NOT HOT and HEAVY

Any additional comments?

I'm requesting my money back because it was not as advertised, and it was boring.