Children of the Blitz: Memories of Wartime Childhood - Hardcover

Westall's 1975 novel The Machine Gunners, about a group of children in England during World War II, inspired many letters from readers who had themselves been children during the war. Their recollections form the basis of the present volume. What is most striking is the ability of almost every contributor to recapture the mood of childhood during the years from 1939 to 1945. There are accounts of the bombingswith reactions ranging from utter terror to adventurous excitementtales of food shortages, of the loss of friends and relatives, of American troops and POW farm workers. There is even a reminiscence of V-E Day by Queen Elizabeth. Many memorable black-and-white photos of people, propaganda posters and cartoons are included. The book is an excellent idea, well executed. January
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This collection of nostalgic accounts written by adults describing their own experiences provides a view of World War II from the perspective of a generation of British children. Despite the title, the narrators do not limit their accounts to events as dramatic as a night spent huddling in an air-raid shelter or watching an aerial dogfight. They also keenly recall the pain of forced separation from parents, the search for rationed foods, and the cheerful pilfering of souvenirs from downed German bombers. Westall also argues that the dominant theme that emerges from these accounts is how much fun British children had throughout the war years. For public and academic libraries. Ann H. Sullivan, Tompkins Cortland Community Coll. Lib., Dryden, N.Y.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.