A "Y" Girl in France: Letters of Katherine Shortall

"A 'Y' Girl in France: Letters of Katherine Shortall" by Katherine Shortall is a series of intimate letters chronicling the author's time assisting the Y.M.C.A. after World War I in France. Katherine recounts her voyage to a recovering nation, forging bonds with fellow Y.M.C.A. volunteers and encountering soldiers. The collection begins with Katherine's departure for France, as she contemplates new friendships with her fellow Y.M.C.A. staff and the emotional state of returning soldiers. Her early correspondence vividly depicts shipboard life, blending anticipation with trepidation, vividly recounts a shared Christmas at sea, her encounters with soldiers, and others amid the uncertainty of post-war Europe.