In 1935, a young woman wrote a letter to the women's magazine Nursery World, expressing her feelings of isolation and loneliness. 'Can any mother help me? I live a very lonely life as I have no near neighbours. I cannot afford to buy a wireless. I adore reading, but with no library am very limited with books . . .

Can any reader suggest an occupation that will intrigue me and exclude "thinking" and cost nothing!'

Women from all over the country wrote back expressing similar frustrations. They were full of ideas and opinions but had nowhere to express them. So they decided to start a private magazine.

In Can Any Mother Help Me? Jenna Bailey presents the extraordinary group of wives and mothers whose lives connected through a magazine.

Her book is an intimate and moving collection of personal stories and, above all, a portrait of inseparable friendships.

Check out an extract from Can Any Mother Help Me? taken from newbooks issue 44.