Words of War

by Anthony Richards

A total of 100 eye-witness letters, speeches and diaries tell the story of World War II, from the ‘phoney war’, through to the aftermath of the conflict from 1945 onwards. All of the primary source material is taken from the archives of the Imperial War Museum and each item brings a real human element to the story of the war, prompting us to ask how we might have coped on the home front, or overseas in one of the theatres of war.

People from all walks of life are represented here and whilst each of the 100 items works on a stand-alone basis, together they form a compelling and emotional narrative. Whilst many of us grew up hearing the war stories of parents and grandparents, each new generation takes us further from the oral histories but this beautifully-presented book ensures that the many sacrifices will continue to be remembered. • Published by Headline at £25 (hardback), ISBN 9781472288110, £25 (ebook) ISBN 9781472288127 RB