I was born in London, England, in 1938, a few months before the war, and spent the first years of my life there, although I was evacuated a couple of times for short periods. My schooling was very interrupted, both by frequent moves and by ill health.

In this quote, Anne Perry reflects on the early years of her life, providing insight into the challenges she faced growing up during a tumultuous time in history. Born in London, England, in 1938, she was just a few months old when World War II began. This period of her life was marked by uncertainty and disruption, with the war casting a shadow over her formative years.

Perry mentions being evacuated a couple of times, which was a common practice during the war, as many children were sent away from cities to protect them from bombings and other dangers. These frequent evacuations, along with ill health, led to a disrupted schooling experience. Her education was not consistent, and the instability of her early years left a lasting impact on her personal development.

The mention of frequent moves also suggests the instability and displacement caused by the war. Moving from place to place likely disrupted her sense of permanence and contributed to the challenges she faced in establishing a solid educational foundation. This experience highlights the difficulties children faced during wartime, as their normal lives were often upended by external events beyond their control.

In essence, Perry’s quote gives a glimpse into her early life during World War II, illustrating how historical events can shape an individual’s experiences. The combination of wartime disruption, evacuation, and health issues created a challenging childhood that had a profound influence on her later life and work as a writer. Despite these hardships, Perry’s resilience and ability to reflect on her past shaped her into the storyteller she would become.