TOTAL WAR A PEOPLE’S HISTORY OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR

PACKED WITH 390 ILLUSTRATIONS, THIS BOOK CHRONICLES THE JOURNEY OF ORDINARY PEOPLE DURING THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY PERIOD OF RECENT HISTORY

Author: Kate Clements, Paul Cornish, Vikki Hawkins Publisher: Thames & Hudson Price: £35 On sale: Out now

What is total war? This is the first question the book attempts to tackle. As you might expect there is no simple answer. Nevertheless, total war can be characterised by its complete mobilisation of economies and societies to wage war. Civilians become equally as important as combatants, and as the authors chillingly remind us here, in WWII more non-combatants died than those fighting in uniform.

The authors also rightly point out that for many the Second

World War began before 1939. Ethiopia had been occupied by the Italians since 1935 and China and Japan had already been fighting for three years by the time hostilities broke out in Europe. Similarly, they point out that the death and suffering simply did not come to an end in 1945.

Split into six chapters, expertly examines the conflict chronologically while exploring key themes. It begins with how the peace was lost then considers how war engulfed Europe, how it became a global war, and how victory for the Allies was finally achieved. However, perhaps even more importantly it considers the aftermath of the war and its legacies that we still live with today.

Well-researched and engagingly written, the book is richly illustrated throughout with almost 400 images, mostly from the Imperial War Museum’s incredible collection. These include period photographs, detailed maps, vibrant infographics, and intriguing pictures of period artefacts. Total War also explores the ordinary people who experienced the conflict, from adults who served on the frontline to children caught up in the brutality of war.

Total War