Smile Though Your Heart Is Breaking

the long version

"Pauline Prescott's life story reads like a novel. From the death of her father to her brother's life-threatening illness, little 'Tilly' Tilston experienced much sadness in her teenage years. THen, at sixteen, she found herself pregnant, Pauline gave birth to a son, Paul, and three years later she finally made the difficult decision to give him up for adoption, but with characteristic optimism and verve she hoped for a brigher future, never imagining that one day she's be married to the Deputy Prime Minister. On their wedding day John promised Pauline that she'd never be bored - and he was right"--Publisher's description.