PublishedViking, July 2014 |
ISBN9780670919635 |
FormatSoftcover, 368 pages |
Dimensions19.8cm × 12.9cm × 2.2cm |
Life in Britain during the First World War was far stranger than many of us realize. In a country awash with mad rumour, frenzied patriotism and intense personal anguish, it became illegal to light a bonfire, fly a kite or buy a round of drinks. And yet the immense upheaval of the war led to many things we take for granted today- the vote, passports, vegetable allotments and British Summer Time among them.
In this immensely captivating account, Jeremy Paxman tells the entire story of the war through the experience of those who lived it - nurses, soldiers, politicians, factory-workers, journalists and children - explaining why we fought it so willingly, how we endured it so long, and how it transformed us all. Above all, this most extraordinary episode in British history is made real and vivid once more. 'Incisive, colourful. Paxman delves into every aspect of British life to capture the mood and morale of the nation.' Daily Express 'One is left with a better understanding of how the Great Britain that began the war became more like ordinary Britain by its end.' Sunday Times 'A judicious mix between individual stories and the bigger picture . . . engages the mind and emotions.' Daily Telegraph 'A procession of fascinating details.' Prospect
