Monday, 17 July 2023

My World War II Home Front Books

 I've got a good collection of WWII Home Front books gathered over the last 20 ish years.

The photos  are for people like me who love looking at other peoples book shelves!







And at the Saturday boot-sale a couple of weeks ago I added another for £1. Only problem being is that it's huge and I've had to put it laying flat on the shelf under some of the smaller books.


It's fascinating and has every double page spread showing various posters, booklets and information leaflets from the time.





And this page with lots of the packets and products available during WWII which can be seen at the authors Museum of Brands in London and a few still looking the same 80 years later.




There was no rain here at all on Saturday - St Swithin's day- but it's not  going to be a dry 40 days - as there is rain forecast for later today and later this week....... the garden still needs it despite a few hours of steady rain on Friday.

If you enjoy tennis then the men's final yesterday afternoon was a treat, 5 sets of excellent tennis and a new winner for the trophy at last. In fact the whole two weeks have been good and there was lots to cheer even without Andy M and most other players from this country not making it to the second week. There were British winners in the men's wheelchair final to celebrate. Plus another Brit - Neil Skupski- winning in the men's doubles.  

Back Tomorrow
Sue



43 comments:

  1. Great selection of books. I wonder if Robert Opie is related to Iona and Peter Opie?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think he is their son. They collected folklore and he collected things that would have been thrown away!

      Delete
    2. Yes, I confirm that he is their son.

      Delete
  2. Absolutely fascinating collection of books - I recognise a number of them from my Mum's shelves too and I have a few as well.
    We had rain, just a bit. Fingers crossed St Swithin wasn't looking!
    xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The water butts are empty again here - hope there is a bit of rain this afternoon

      Delete
  3. What a treasure chest of books,especially as very few of them would be available to buy or borrow now. I am green with envy. Pam

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've had some of them for a really long time and hardly any bought new

      Delete
  4. Really enjoyed it this year. Wow! Thought I had a few books. Not read Nella Last In the 1950’s, is it worth buying?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Very long time since I read it - it's not as interesting as her wartime books

      Delete
  5. And we won the junior boys, Henry Searle . I love Wimbledon, so happy to see Djokovic dethroned. Carlos is a ray of sunshine. x Ann T

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I should have added Henry Searle to the list - definitely hope for the future.
      Very good to see Djokovic beaten at last.

      Delete
  6. You are so right; I love looking at other people's books. Pleased to see Nella Last there; I've read the books more than once. I agree that the wartime ones are more interesting than the third book.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've only read the wartime Nella more than once and watched to TV film a couple of times - but if I'm ever short of reading I know they are there

      Delete
  7. What a lovely collection of books I have never read much about the second world war, but more interested in the 1930's crop of writers.
    St.Swithin is still strong round here, it rains or showers nearly every day, plants are sulking from being beaten down.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Have no idea why I find war diaries so interesting - we still played "wars" when I was growing up - hiding from planes flying over!

      Delete
  8. I saw some of the tennis men's finals - it was a great game to watch. Quite exciting, says the girl who isn't really that keen on tennis but gets to watch it because Son absolutely loves it :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. One of the best games I've seen for ages. US open only on Sky so won't get to see that here next month

      Delete
  9. I'd put a few of these on the compulsory reading list for school children. They should know that they are not the first generation to have it tough. Water butts full here in West Wales. (veg artist - can't sign in.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When I found the book on very left of the 3rd photo which is a children's book someone told me it was read in schools. No idea if it still is

      Delete
  10. Wonderful collection and on a quick scan it seems you have all areas covered. I'm curious, what is the Idle Women about? I only ask because I was born in a village called Idle which is now part of Bradford. We had heavy rain on St. Swithins Day and rain yesterday too and at the moment the sun is shining, but rain is forecast later. The only tennis I watched was part of the final yesterday and was so pleased when the young Spaniard won. Now we can get back to normal programmes on the TV and I see that Impossible is back. Yippee!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Idle Women is about the women who worked on canal boats during the war

      Delete
    2. Could be as the Leeds/Liverpool canal goes through Idle. I remember going there with my brothers. I shall have to look for that book.

      Delete
  11. I gain great delight in looking at other people’s bookshelves! You have a wonderful selection!

    I loved the tennis! It was a superb final and I was pleased for the winner! He has many years ahead of him and I think we’ll see his name on the cup, frequently! He can only get better!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are not enough photos of book shelves on blogs!!
      Alcaraz played so well and only 20 - amazing.

      Delete
  12. So glad an unseeded woman, Vondrousova, won! It's always fun when someone upends expectations. But Czech women's tennis has produced wonderful players from Martina on. My family of house cleaners is Czech, so they were excited.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not keen on the womens tennis - I never know who they are from one year to another. Lovely to hear about your cleaners enjoying it

      Delete
  13. Rain for us on St Swithun's Day too - quite a lot of it. It has rained every day since 1st July (remember you writing about that prediction?!) Ah well, at least I don't need to water round daily now. Having a south facing yard with lots in pots, it was all suffering rather.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sorry, pressed publish before I mentioned all those great books. I am interested in the period, but not so keen as you. I have a friend who has some of the Persephone war books - she's currently reading one called London War Notes by Mollie Panter-Downes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've got London War Notes in the first photo but not in a Persephone - I had it years before they did it and the same with Few Eggs and No Oranges. I've got all the other Mollie Panter Downes - either Persephone or Virago (different collections on different shelves!)

      Delete
  15. Wow that is quite a collection. We watched yesterday's game.. it was phenomenal.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I recognise a few of the books that I've got on my 'wartime shelf', brilliant find at the car boot sale. £1 for that Robert Opie book is a steal, I used to sell a lot of his ephemera in my first shop, I wish I had kept some of the cards and books now. I agree with your answer to a comment, that there are NOT enough photos of peoples bookshelves on blogs!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. One of the living history museums we visited -can't remember where had a whole shop full of the postcards and reproductions from Robert Opie - i think I just bought a pack of postcards - still have some. Should have bought more!!

      Delete
  17. That is a very interesting book to flip through. I am not a tennis fan but heard all about it.
    Cathy

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'm reading a mystery set in WWII by Jessica Ellicott. She has 2 in this series so far set in Hull.
    It made me wonder if people today would rally and work together in a crisis. Of course, our Covid experiences showed that a lot did not want to help while others pitched in wherever they could. Here in the US there is so much division and anger about everything!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for the book idea. I've reserved one from the library "Death in a Blackout" , the other is only just in stock and can't be reserved yet

      Delete
  19. Your book collection is comprehensive and very impressive. You've been collecting for a long time and have chosen well. Tennis was brilliant and we have a new young top player.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't remember how my collection started but it's grown over the years.
      The tennis was fantastic

      Delete
  20. That is quite a collection you have there Sue! x

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thank you! I have discovered some lovely books through photo's you posted earlier and, once I get home from my cycling holiday, I will look at these in detail.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love seeing shelves and you have a terrific selection of books related to the period -- most new to me. I think I'd find each and every one fascinating!

    ReplyDelete
  23. What a lovely collection of books!

    ReplyDelete