The People's War
Last updated: 26.02.22
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Printed: 1969 Author: Angus Calder
Publisher: Panther Books Ltd ISBN: 0224616536
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Britain Under Siege
Publisher's blurb
The People's War is at once a brilliant evocation, a nostalgic re-discovery and an acute analysis of life in Britain during the struggle against Nazi Germany. The 1939-45 conflict was for Britain, a 'total war': no section of society remained untouched by military conscription, air raids, the shipping crisis and the war economy. Angus Calder's carefully researched and comprehensive narrative presents, as well as the great events and the leading figures, a telling panorama of everyday life and in particular the parts played by ordinary people: air raid wardens and Home Guards, factory workers and farmers, housewives and pacifists. Above all, The People's War reveals as never before how, in those six years, the British people came nearer to discarding their most rigid constitutions and social conventions than at any other time since the English Civil War.
Personal remarks:
A most excellent read. Whilst the title emphasises Britain, the book's content is mostly concerned with England where the greater part of the action took place. As a child born in May 1941, my own wartime memories are of course extremely limited the most dramatic however, for me personally as a 4-year old in the arms of my parents, was seeing for the first time in my young life - coloured stars. The "stars" were aircraft navigation lights which first came back into use in May 1945. Of the post-war period however, with its rationing, hunger and deprivation - there was no Marshall Plan for Britain - there are countless memories and this book brings them all back - even now in 2006. This book well covers the arts and makes fascinating reading through its many references to radio transmissions of comedy programmes and all types of music.