Nella Last
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Nella Last (October 4, 1889 - 1968) was a housewife who lived in Barrow-in-Furness, England. She wrote a diary for the Mass-Observation Archive from 1939 until 1965, covering World War II and beyond. Her pseudonym was “Housewife, 49”, which reflected the age at which she started writing. Nella Last’s diaries exceeded two million words, making it one of the fullest diaries during WW2.
Nella was married (on May 17, 1911) and had two sons, Arthur and Cliff. Her diaries have been published as "Nella Last's War: A Mother's Diary, 1939-45" and "Nella Last's War: The Second World War Diaries of 'Housewife 49'".
Her diaries were dramatised by Victoria Wood for ITV in 2006 as Housewife, 49.
