 | The Day Peace Broke Out - The VE-Day Experience
Indidually signed by the author.
This excellent book is illustrated with photographs, adverts, posters and cartoons, describing the celebrations in Britain and accross the world.
Mike Brown, an authority on the British Home Front, charts the nations progressive change of heart from defeatism to growing confidance of certain victory. He looks at the post-VE-Day period, the victory over Japan in August 1945 and concludes with the harsh realisation of post war austerity that led many britains to conclude that they had won the war but lost the peace.
Each book has been individually signed by the Author - An ideal gift!!
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Price: £11.95
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 | The 1940s Look - Recreating the Fashions, Hairstyles and Make-up of World War Two. SPECIAL OFFER
At last the book we've been waiting for. The 1940s Look by historian and author Mike Brown, tells you everything you need to know about the fashions of wartime and the impact that rationing, the Utility scheme, changing tastes and the demands of everyday life had on the styles people wore. Covering Men, Women, Children, Accessories, Hair Styles, Make-up, and much more, its a must have book.
Comprehensively illustrated throughout in colour, this large format, 280x229mm 144 page book is an ideal reference for re-enactors, fashion students or anyone interested in the 1940s
Make Do And Mend - FREE BONUS BOOK OFFER
Receive a FREE copy of the 1943 booklet "Make Do And Mend" with every copy of "The 1940s Look" ordered. (RRP £4.99)
Also available seperately from the wartime booklets section.
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Price: £16.99
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 | 101 Things to do in War Time - 1940
This original 1940 publication has 101 suggestions for things to do during Britain's darkest hour. It reveals a practicality and ingenuity that we hope lives on...With dozens of diagrams, patterns and instructions, this book is not only a delightful look at the past but can be used for reference even now: very much the intention of the authors more than 60 years ago. The suggestions are, by turn, funny, charming and useful, but are a fantastic insight into a nation's psyche.
(Hardback)
JUST PUBLISHED
NOW IN STOCK
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Price: £7.99
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 | Eating For Victory: Healthy Home Front Cooking on War Rations
A collection of Home Front Ministry of Information leafets that have been reproduced and put into book form.
Many of the well known leaflets are here including how to use your dried egg, making the most of your meat ration, plus many more. Also includes short foreward by Jill Norman.
Hardback, RRP 9.99
JUST PUBLISHED
NOW IN STOCK
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Price: £8.99
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 | Make Do and Mend: Keeping Family and Home Afloat on War Rations
A collection of Home Front Ministry of Information leafets that have been reproduced and put into book form.
This selection of leaflets cover clothing and how to repair, look after and recycle. A fascinating selection. Also includes short foreward by Jill Norman.
Hardback, RRP 9.99
JUST PUBLISHED
NOW IN STOCK
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Price: £8.99
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 | Eating For Victory & Make Do and Mend: Combined Special Offer
An opportunity to buy both these books at a very special combined price of £15.99.
Hardback, RRP 9.99 Each
JUST PUBLISHED
NOW IN STOCK
Price: £15.99
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 | Hair & Wiggs for the Stage
The only reason I have a stock of this book is because I get so many enquiries about hair. This book is very multi-period but does have a couple of good general sections and some nice bits specifically about 1930s and 1940s hairstyles. If you have an interest in hairstyles then you'll find this book of interest.
(Hardback, RRP 14.99)
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Price: £7.99
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 | Gas Masks for Goal Posts - Football in Britain during the Second World War
Football became hugely important to Britain during WW2. This book captures the atmosphere of the time and tells the story of a unique period in football’s history.
Hardback, RRP £16.99
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Price: £7.99
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 | Soccer at War, 1939 - 45
No books on wartime football, then two come along at the same time (see above). I'm not much of a football fan so can't judge but my football friends tell me both are really good. My advice then is to buy both while I have them available!!
"Thunderingly good" Frank Keating, Punch
"An absolute must for anyone with an interest in football history or for that matter war history" Cliff Butler, Manchester United Review
"The best football book I've ever read" Tom Watt
Hardback, RRP £25.00
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Price: £12.99
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 | War of the Unknown Warriors - Memories of Britain 1939-45
The title of this book from the National Trust is perhaps misleading and refers to a broadcast by Winston Churchill on 14 July 1940. It is in fact a very nice collection of photographs and memories from staff and members of the National Trust between 1939-45. As you would expect, many of the photographs are of National Trust properties being put to wartime use and the quality of the photographs are to the high standard you would expect. The text also makes for a fascinating read. A nice book or even a good birthday gift idea for that awkward aunt or uncle.
(Hardback, RRP £17.99)
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Price: £8.99
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 | Missing - Believed Killed
Glenn Miller (1944), Amy Johnson (1941), The Duke of Kent (1942), all dissapeared in mysterious circumstances. Roy Conyers Nesbit produces startling new evidence to shed light on these and other aviation mysteries
Hardback, RRP £19.99
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Price: £7.99
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 | Voices frome the HOME FRONT - Personal Experiances of Wartime Britain 1939-45
The people of Britain knitted for victory, dug for victory, opened their hearts and homes to refugees, evacuees and American GIs, and threw themselves into six exhausting years of 'War Work'. This is the story of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.
Hardback, RRP £19.99
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Price: £7.99
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 | Hollywood Goes To War
Patriotism, Movies and the Second World War from "Ninotchka" to "Mrs Miniver"
A fascinating look at the 1940s Hollywood war-effort entertainment, some of which - like 'Casablanca' - have achieved classic status, despite the blatant propaganda messages that lie scarcely concealed below their surface.
New Stock purchase - REDUCED PRICE - while stocks last!
(pb RRP 14.99)
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Price: £4.79
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 | Station X - The Codebreakers of Bletchley Park
Station X by Michael Smith tells the true story, as it has never been told before, of the amazing achievements of the codebreakers working at Bletchley Park in the Second World War.
Sunday Times Bestseller, (pb, RRP £7.99)
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Price: £4.99
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 | Spies and Espionage
In World War II good intelligence, or the lack of it, led to success at D-Day and disaster at Pearl Harbor. This book demonstrates the invaluable role of deception and espionage throughout the war, and explains the methods and strategies of organizations from the Red Orchestra to the SIS. (Hardback)
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Price: £4.99
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 | The Shelter of the Tubes
The story of the extraordinary community that developed underground during the long nights of the Blitz is told in full for the first time, often using previously unpublished diary entries and government papers. Contains some great photographs. (Hardback RRP 16.99)
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Price: £6.99
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 | The World War ll - 100
A Ranking of the Most Influential Figures of the Second World War
by Howard J. Langer
The heroes and the villains. The famous and infamous. Well known and totally unknown. All can be found in this single, richly illustrated volume that is a must-read for every World War ll buff.
(Hardback RRP 14.99)
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Price: £5.99
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 | Identity Cards, Permits and Passes - Within The Island Fortress - The uniforms, Insignia & Ephemera of the Home Front in Britain 1939-1945,
by Jon Mills.
Everyone in Britain during the Second World War had to have the correct identification documents and there were a huge number and variety depending on who you were. Civilians, Children, Policeman, War Workers, Army, Navy, RAF, Allied servicemen of every nation (US, Polish, French etc.), and many more, each differant.
Never before has such a superb guide been put together in one book. Jon Mills has once again put together THE essential guide for collectors, historians, re-enactors or anyone interested in Britains Homefront.
SPECIAL OFFER
FREE with every copy ordered from the 1940s Society.
A blank reproduction identity card.
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Price: £14.00
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 | The Women's Voluntary Services (WVS) 1939-45 Within The Island Fortress - The uniforms, Insignia & Ephemera of the Home Front in Britain 1939-1945,
by Jon Mills.
This is the definative reference work for the 'ladies in green' featuring superb photographs of original uniforms, badges and ephemera worn during WW2. An essential guide for re-enactors and collectors, this excellent book is the first in a series on Home Front organisations. Lady Reading formed the WVS in 1938 and the service saw front line action throughout WW2. As with Jon's other reference works on the ARP and The Home Guard, meticulous attention to detail and focus on important facts give the historian and collector a real checklist with background to support the findings. Illustrated throughout with black and white as well as colour photographs.
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Price: £9.50
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 | Wild Blue Yonder - Glory days of the US Eighth Air Force in England
by Martin W. Bowman
How American airmen based in England won through against the German air force - and British plumbing.
These personal stories from American airmen and the friends they made in Britain during the Second World War reveal what happened when quiet corners of the English countryside were overrun with thousands of 'Yanks' and their gleaming aircraft.
From hilarious 'culture clashes' in rural pubs to braving the 'Piccadilly commandos' in London, airmen from the greatest generation describe their experiences in wartime Britain and in the deadly skies above Germany.
This is a large hardback book which normally sells for 20.00 and is full of photographs and illustrations as well as informative and amusing text.
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Price: £7.99
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 | Keeping Up Appearances - Fashion & Class Between the Wars
NEW PAPERBACK EDITION
The British have always been concerned about accent, appearance and class, but at no time during the twentieth century was 'keeping up appearances' more important than during the 1920s and 1930s.
This engagingly written and illustrated book explores the social mores behind one of society's most popular activities, and reveals not only how we dressed but why.
(Softback, RRP 14.99)
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Price: £11.95
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 | The Blitzed Brits
Part of the 'Horrible Histories' series of books which although designed for children studying the period at school are actually quite informative and entertaining for everyone.
Full of little illustrations and cartoons to illustrate facts and figures and an ability to let you know the details without becoming complicated.
(paperback, RRP 4.99)
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Price: £3.95
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 | The World Wars (World War l & World War ll)
Covering both world wars this offers a referance for children wanting useful, fun and interesting information about the conflicts. Its produced by HodderHeadline and although in a similar vein I think I just prefer it to the Horrible Histories series but thats just an opinion (this ones twice as thick as it covers both wars).
(paperback, RRP 5.99)
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Price: £4.95
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 | Letting The Side Down - British Traitors of The Second World War
A fascinating look at the individuals who chose to reject their country and follow the path of treason through collaboration with the Axis powers.
William Joyce (Lord Haw Haw) and PG Woodhouse are well known (and included) but there are many more lesser-known individuals whose treachery had far reaching effects.
(Hardback, RRP 18.99)
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Price: £6.95
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 | Myths & Legends of the Second World War
Weaving his narrative around a wide range of contemporary documentary sources, James Hayward presents an objective and rigorous analysis of the principle myths, legends and folk memories of the Second War. The result is a new and refreshing perspective on the history and legacy of the Second World War. (RRP 8.99)
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Price: £7.95
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 | The Ration Book Diet
During the Second World War the British population enjoyed a dramatic improvement in their level of health and fitness, which was higher than at any time before or since.
With 'The Ration Book Diet', you and your family can enjoy the same health benefits as the wartime generation. Home Front experts Mike Brown and Carol Harris and well known cookery writer C.J.Jackson show you how, in over sixty delicious recipes for every occasion. (Hardback, RRP 16.99)
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Price: £12.95
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 | Women at War 1939-1945 The Home Front
By 1941 the vast majority of women between fourteen and sixty four had to do some kind of war work. Collecting salvage, engineers, rail workers, rat catchers, ambulance drivers, Civil Defence, munitions, the list goes on. With the help of photographs, illustrations and first hand accounts, this book looks at the variety of work done by Britain's women on the Home Front and their crucial contribution to the war effort.
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Price: £9.95
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 | Women at War in Uniform 1939-1945
Using narrative and eyewitness accounts, Carol Harris explores the essential and far reaching role of women in the services from recruiting to demobilisation. Illustrated with a fascinating selection of contemporary photographs and ephemera, this book provides a timely reminder of the often underestimated contribution made by the nation's women to winning the war.
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Price: £9.95
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 | Dads Army - The Home Guard 1940-1944
Following on from his earliar pictorial history, David Carroll has produced this comprehensive account of the Home Guard in its many activities and guises in the Second World War - from the early disorganised days of May 1940 until 'Stand Down' at the close of 1944, by which time they had become a force to be reckoned with.
Paperback, 120 pages, RRP 10.99
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Price: £7.95
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 | Home Guard Manual - 1941
This reprint of the 1941 Home Guard Manual covers all the material you would expect and is a fascinating read. Basic fieldcraft, how to survive in the open, how to destroy tanks, ambush the invaders, use weapons of varying sorts, make boobytraps, read maps and send signals. The fledgling volunteer was turned into a veritable fighting machine!
Price: £7.99
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 | 1940s Hairstyles by Daniela Turudich
This hard to find (now out of print) book is a regular girls guide to creating 1940s hairstyles. It uses basic techniques and practices that someone can replicate at home with a little bit of practice.
Haircuts, War styles, Short styles, Formal styles, Star Styles, Up styles, Down styles, And all around town styles.
Paperback, 110 pages
Currently out of stock - I have been trying to get some more but haven't been able to find any at a reasonable price. Have a look at the excellent new book The 1940s Look by Mike Brown instead.
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Price: £21.95
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 | Working for Victory - A Diary of a Life in a Second World War Factory
From 1942 to 1944 two women kept a joint diary of their life and war work in an aircraft engineering factory. This diary provides a unique insight into life in a wartime factory, about which little has been written, though it was the destiny of over one and a half million British women. Engagingly readable, this diary will appeal to all those interested in the Home Front and in wider issues concerning women's history.
Hardback, RRP 20.00
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Price: £11.95
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 | Etiquette For Men - A book of Modern Manners & Customs
First published in 1929 and reprinted in 1937, this 'handy' guide gives advice on how the 'gentleman' should conduct himself in a wide variety of everyday and social occasions. From Motoring Manners, to Attending a Dance, and the Art of Conversation, its all here.
Hardback, RRP 7.99
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Price: £5.95
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 | Etiquette For Women - A book of Modern Manners & Customs
First published in 1928 and reprinted in 1939, this 'handy' guide gives advice on how women should conduct themselves in a wide variety of everyday and social occasions. Be it entertaining guests, writing a letter or travelling on holiday, its all here.
Hardback, RRP 7.99
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Price: £5.95
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 | No Nice Girl Swears
First published in 1933 this delightfull little book compliments the etiquette books beautifully. Written by Alice-Leone Moats, an American journalist and author this gives more hints and tips to the 'modern' young lady who needs to know the rules before she can break them with confidence.
Hardback, RRP 7.99
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Price: £5.99
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 | Mr Browns War - A Diary of the Second World War
Richard Brown - an ordinary member of the public if ever there was one - kept a personal war diary throughout the whole of the Second World War.
In addition to his reserved occupation he 'did his bit' as an air-raid warden, Home Guard member and occasional Fire Watcher.
The diary provides a fascinating image of life in wartime Britain and a unique picture window on one of the most fascinating periods of the twentieth century.
Paperback, RRP 10.99
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Price: £7.95
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 | Victory Cookbook Nostalgic Food And Facts From 1940 - 1954 by Marguerite Patten OBE
Marguerite Patten worked for the Ministry of Food during the Second World War helping families prepare dishes with their weekly rations.
This excellent book combines three of her most popular books in one volume: 'We'll Eat Again', 'The Victory Cookbook' and 'Post-War Kitchen'.
A really excellent book and superb value!!
Paperback, RRP 12.99
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Price: £7.95
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 | 30s & 40s Britain
Life in Britain during the depression and the Blitz, and the new technology that shaped the way we live today.
A brief general outline with lots of colour photographs and illustrations.
Paperback
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Price: £3.95
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 | Children of the Storm - Childhood Memories of WW2
This is one of those books that you can't help 'flicking through' and reading bits of. A mass of memories, some general, some personal, some sad, some funny. Recolections of childhood memories of World War Two. Of particular interest as it contains contrasting memories from children of nations throughout the world.
Paperback
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Price: £7.95
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 | BRITAIN - The First Colour Photographs
I have managed to obtain a further quantity of this hard to find book after selling out rather quickly.
It is a book of colour photographs of Britain during the Second World War. These photographs were taken by U.S. serviceman who either had access to rare colour film or had managed to bring it over here with them. A unique book which I recommend to those with an interest in wartime Britain.
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Price: £14.95
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 | Daily Life in a Wartime House
This book by Laura Wilson, in association with the Imperial War Museum, depicts the everyday life of a family during World War Two. Colourfully illustrated throughout with pictures and original photographs, and packed full of details of life on the home front, it is ideal for children who are learning about the war years or adults who want the basic facts. (Hardback)
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Price: £6.95
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 | The Night Blitz 1940-1941
John Ray assesses the strategies, weapons and defence tactics employed throughout the Night Blitz and graphically recalls the effects of the Blitz on British cities, industry and people, month by month.
Paperback, 282 pages, RRP 6.99
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Price: £4.95
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 | Got Any Gum Chum? - GIs in Wartime Britain 1942-1945
When the first GIs reached the shores of Britain in March 1942, they were greeted with mixed feelings by war-weary Britons.
Using a combination her own lively narrative and the personal accounts of those that were there, author Helen Millgate tells the story of the 'friendly invasion'.
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Price: £7.95
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 | Go To It! Working For Victory on The Home Front 1939-1945 Asa Briggs
Illustrated with photographs from the Imperial War Museum's superb collections and written by Asa Briggs, one of Britain's foremost historians, this is the fascinating story of the civilian war effort on the home front during the Second World War. Go To It! is the first detailed account and celebration of the ordinary men and women who made an extraordinary contribution to victory in Europe.
Hardback, 128 pages, RRP 16.99
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Price: £7.95
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 | Utility Furniture & Fashion 1941 - 1951
One of the most useful reference works on this extraordinary period in British design history, this book gives a clear, concise, and authoritive description of the Utility schemes.
Paperback, 49 pages
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Price: £7.95
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 | RICH RELATIONS The American Occupation of Britain 1942-1945 by David Reynolds
David Reynolds' readable and scholarly yet entertaining book explores the rich variety of relations between pushy, homesick American GIs, famously lampooned as 'over-paid, over-sexed, over-fed and over here' and their British hosts - 'under-sexed, under-paid, under-fed and under Eisenhower' - during the Second World War.
Paperback, 555 pages
RRP 14.99
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Price: £9.95
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 | EVACUEES Evacuation in Wartime Britain 1939-1945 by Mike Brown
Mike Brown combines factual narrative, eyewitness accounts, photographs & illustrations and oral history extracts to create an excellent overview of the evacuation in Britain during WW2.
'Evacuees' provides a fascinating, amusing and sometimes disturbing glimpse of how children and adults coped with the trials and tribulations of evacuation.
Paperback, 122 pages,
RRP 10.99
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Price: £9.99
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 | The Gentlemen at War Policing Britain 1939-45 by Roy Ingleton
With little having been written about the role and work of the Police Force in Britain during World War Two it is a delight to dicover such a comprehensive volume.
This book examines the changed role of the wartime police force and the effect the War had on the morals and mores of the population.
Paperback, 392 pages
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Price: £9.95
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