The book contains an overview of the major campaigns, enlivened by quotations from Churchill’s speeches. How did a family with a small child survive the air raids and rationing? Life in Britain was harsh, full of drama and the danger of impending death. ‘If a bomb has your name on it, you are dead; if not it will miss you.’ The reader may be surprised at how close the Allies came to disaster. The book will revive memories for people who lived in those times.
The book has received excellent reviews including:
UCL People (University College London) (March 2009) ‘A memoir of boyhood in Britain during WW2, this short but powerful book brings together personal reflections with the historical and political context. The author’s memories are interwoven with quotations from Churchill’s speeches and overviews of the major campaigns. All personal experiences are based on actual events.’
History Direct and History Times (May 2009)‘James Lingard’s Britain at War 1939-1945 presents the reader with an excellent easy to digest overview of the key events that affected Britain during WW2. He has skillfully weaved personal accounts and his own experiences into the book to deliver a fascinating insight into the trials of civilian life in Britain at this key juncture in our nation’s history.’
The Historical Association – a charity which supports teachers in primary and secondary education but also academics at all levels – ‘Members will be interested in Britain at War What was life like during the war? which brings alive the harsh realities of life in Britain during the war – life full of uncertainty and the danger of impending death. It also provides a concise history of the salient campaigns in World War 2 ideal for anyone who lacks the time or inclination to study the larger works.’
Readers’ Favorite 5 stars (September 2015) ‘Britain at War 1939 to 1945: What Was Life Like During the War? by James Lingard is a chronicle of the Second World War through the eyes of a British citizen. It begins with the discernible preparations for attack, like digging trenches and underground shelters, or adapting to blackout regimes. A good picture of the difficult times emerges from this with the rationing of essentials, unheated rooms or frequent blackouts becoming commonplace. The Thames being visible at night giving away the adjoining areas to bombers during raids, the author mentions, led to a greater share of bombs being received by the areas around the river.
This book also gives a good account of the Allies’ campaigns in all parts of the world. The frequent exhortations by great leaders like Winston Churchill keeping morale high, the national spirit remaining alive at all times, can be seen in these pages. Rather than from a professional angle, James has done a wonderful job of reflecting the nature and depth of many a military campaign from the viewpoint of the survivors.
I found this a beautiful representation of the fears the public had and the remarkable resilience they showed to the recurring difficulties of living. I can’t help but relish the providential escape the author and his clan had when, on hearing an air raid siren, they happened to arrive late at the shelter, only to find the very shelter destroyed by bombs!
Bev Walkling wrote: “I would recommend this book to individuals ranging from young adults through to seniors.”
The Amazon link to the book is https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0793Q1CLN
I was inspired to write the book by a desire to make the history available to those of today’s readers who lack the time or inclination to plough through the excellent five volumes by Sir Winston Churchill. I also wanted to honour those who died and to tell the story of my own family who survived.
My target is partly educational courses but more essentially anyone interested in WW2. Only I know what an exciting life my family endured!
Readers will get a balanced overview of WW2 which may help them understand what their own families endured.
My plans for the book include trying to attract a new publisher to promote and relaunch it.
My own background is I became a partner in Norton Rose, a leading international firm of solicitors, and specialised in banking law and insolvency. I wrote Lingard’s Bank Security Documents now in its 7th edition and became Chairman of the Banking Law and Insolvency Law Sub Committees of the City of London Law Society. On retirement, I was appointed a Judicial Chairman of the Insolvency Practitioners Tribunal. I now write historical novels including The Girl Who Disappeared, The Caucasus Cauldron and Trapped in Iran.
It is a privilege to be invited to write for the Author’s Lounge.
James Lingard
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