Inspiring and informative resource focused on the six Christmases during WWII.
Having read a number of the ‘I Used To Know That’ books by Caroline Taggart, I am a keen admirer of her gift for pulling together a wide range of material on a topic and presenting it in an accessible and very readable format. Christmas at War is no different and the focus is on the six wartime Christmases of 1939-44 and includes first-hand testimony, diaries and letters from the period and factual details which together provide a valuable insight into the lives of British citizens across a large demographic, both urban and rural. The overall takeaway from this compilation is of a time when the nation was less self-centred and materialistic than today, and humanity and spirit came to the fore as the country united.
Divided into chapters with each focused on a specific area the book covers a broad range of relevant topics, from rationing to evacuation and family life. Taggart does not shy away from chronicling the hardships of the era, with fear, anxiety, loneliness and boredom all featuring prominently in many of the first-hand accounts. Although detailing the London blitz of late 1940, Christmas at War does not concentrate solely on the offensive in the capital but also highlights the effect on major ports and industrial centres and, with the enemy aiming to have the greatest effect on civilian life and national morale, cities of cultural significance. The final chapters are devoted to the experiences of those in active service or held in prisoner of war camps during the period and are anything but rose-tinted.
My overriding memories from this book are Caroline Taggart’s eye-opening factual sound bites and it is these, along with the handful of more vivid, poignant and heart-warming accounts that will stay with me. Examples of such anecdotal testimonies are Christmas pudding made with carrots replacing dried fruit for moisture, sending poultry through the post, paper chains glued with a paste of flour and water and women painting seams on the back of their legs in order to appear as though they were wearing nylons). From petrol rationing to the suspension of TV broadcasts and enforced dietary changes (including advice to make cakes without eggs), the flourishing black market, the Women’s Land Army, blackouts and Operation Pied Piper to evacuate children, Christmas at War is a tremendous resource and overview which is terrifically broad in scope.
The appeal of this book is widespread and its value as a living testimony of the people who lived through the era for future generations is obvious. Although solidly engaging from the off, I did feel that the the book was a little top-heavy with first-hand memories, many of them covering the same ground and becoming rather repetitive. Whilst some of the individual stories leave a lasting memory, many of the other personal accounts seem to merge into one and add little to the bigger picture. I was of the opinion that whilst some of the accounts might have left a lasting personal memory they were far from being particularly informative for general readers and an increase in hard facts offering an overview of the situation (from the basics of rationing, to the process of evacuation and use of air-raid shelters etc), would have made for a more stimulating read that was easier to draw conclusions from.
A useful almanac of Britain during WWII and one which I look forward to sharing with folks old and young. As a forty-year-old reader I was surprised to find I learnt a great deal and gained a far better appreciation for those who lived through the hardship and misery, but could always muster a smile and exemplified the value of family life. Many of the personal testimonies also demonstrate the kindness and generosity of strangers and the lasting legacy of post-war austerity is made apparent. A bittersweet reminder of Christmas time during a devastating offensive and the ideal remedy for the customary jaded sighs, grumbles and expectation of expensive gifts at Christmastime!
Divided into chapters with each focused on a specific area the book covers a broad range of relevant topics, from rationing to evacuation and family life. Taggart does not shy away from chronicling the hardships of the era, with fear, anxiety, loneliness and boredom all featuring prominently in many of the first-hand accounts. Although detailing the London blitz of late 1940, Christmas at War does not concentrate solely on the offensive in the capital but also highlights the effect on major ports and industrial centres and, with the enemy aiming to have the greatest effect on civilian life and national morale, cities of cultural significance. The final chapters are devoted to the experiences of those in active service or held in prisoner of war camps during the period and are anything but rose-tinted.
My overriding memories from this book are Caroline Taggart’s eye-opening factual sound bites and it is these, along with the handful of more vivid, poignant and heart-warming accounts that will stay with me. Examples of such anecdotal testimonies are Christmas pudding made with carrots replacing dried fruit for moisture, sending poultry through the post, paper chains glued with a paste of flour and water and women painting seams on the back of their legs in order to appear as though they were wearing nylons). From petrol rationing to the suspension of TV broadcasts and enforced dietary changes (including advice to make cakes without eggs), the flourishing black market, the Women’s Land Army, blackouts and Operation Pied Piper to evacuate children, Christmas at War is a tremendous resource and overview which is terrifically broad in scope.
The appeal of this book is widespread and its value as a living testimony of the people who lived through the era for future generations is obvious. Although solidly engaging from the off, I did feel that the the book was a little top-heavy with first-hand memories, many of them covering the same ground and becoming rather repetitive. Whilst some of the individual stories leave a lasting memory, many of the other personal accounts seem to merge into one and add little to the bigger picture. I was of the opinion that whilst some of the accounts might have left a lasting personal memory they were far from being particularly informative for general readers and an increase in hard facts offering an overview of the situation (from the basics of rationing, to the process of evacuation and use of air-raid shelters etc), would have made for a more stimulating read that was easier to draw conclusions from.
A useful almanac of Britain during WWII and one which I look forward to sharing with folks old and young. As a forty-year-old reader I was surprised to find I learnt a great deal and gained a far better appreciation for those who lived through the hardship and misery, but could always muster a smile and exemplified the value of family life. Many of the personal testimonies also demonstrate the kindness and generosity of strangers and the lasting legacy of post-war austerity is made apparent. A bittersweet reminder of Christmas time during a devastating offensive and the ideal remedy for the customary jaded sighs, grumbles and expectation of expensive gifts at Christmastime!