A fascinating look back at history.A revealing look at the average British citizen there lives in 1940 their daily existence and how they coped.#netgalley#penn&sword

A fascinating account of how ordinary Britons adapted on the homefront during 1940 as the war crossed the Channel. Initially, it was thought of as a "phony war" and an inconvenience, until the bombings began and the huge death toll began to mount. Blackouts were relaxed because more people were being killed in road accidents. It was thought that the cure was worse than the disease... It's impossible to read this book in 2020 and not find comparisons with the Coronavirus crisis, not in the too-often-invoked Blitz spirit, but in the complacency that was shown before the bombers arrived. This is a tale of fortitude and courage that many readers will find stirring. Rigorously researched and well written, it's an enjoyable and informative read.

Princess Fuzzypants here: As we all go through a trying time, it is useful to reflect on a previous time when life and death were far more tenuous than now. 1940 in Britain shows just how much 12 months can change everything. At the beginning of the year, although they had been at war since September, the people of Britain were beginning to wonder if this would continue to be a Phoney War for them. By the end of the year, they had their answer in a most devastating way.
It brought both The Battle of Britain where the two airforces fought over the skies in an attempt to clear the way for invasion and the Blitz where the targets shifted from military objectives to an attempt to break the will of the Nation. Had there not been a leader like Winston Churchill the results might have been chillingly different. As it was, with death falling from the skies, the people of Britain had their mettle tested daily. We can all give thanks that they did not break.
Unlike many of the books on this time, the author did not focus on London, which bore the brunt of the devastation. It also looks at many of the other cities and towns where bombs fell. It tells of the increasingly deadly effects of the campaign including the night when St. Paul’s stood alone amidst the blazes, proud and defiant. It also tells of the places like Coventry, Derby, Southampton, Liverpool and so many many others.
It is a story of grit and courage in the face of almost overwhelming odds. We can all learn from their bravery.
Five purrs and two paws up.

This was an interesting read, with plenty of historical facts.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very interesting history book. The time period is very descriptive and interesting, especially if you like this history and I found I wanted more though, wish it was longer which that in itself is a very great compliment to the author. I do recommend this book to anyone who likes to learn about history and likes the writing just to flow.

The author's decision to focus on the everyday life of the British citizens in 1940 before they won the second World War. The fact that these people went about their days a lot differently than they had in the World War I is a part of history that I never knew. There were many other facts that I learned and highly recommend this.

Between essay and chronicle, this book describes what was the crucial year of the Second World War for England, the year in which, though seemingly invincible, Hitler (thank God) lost the war. It is a pity that England today has forgotten that spirit and has decided to close in on itself.

"Britain 1940: The Decisive Year on the Home Front" was published in 2020 (July) and was written by Anton Rippon. Mr. Rippon has published several books.

I categorize this novel as ‘PG’ because it contains scenes of Violence. The book relates the experiences of those who lived in 1940 Britain.

It doesn't look at the combat of the time but at the more everyday aspects of life. One chapter addressed the objections to conscription. Another with sporting events carried out in wartime. Other chapters dealt with women in the workforce, labor unrest, the Home Guard, and the internment of foreign nationals. A longer look was taken at the blitz and how that impacted the civilians. Opportunities appeared that let some shine as heroes. Others used air raids and the resulting destruction as an excuse for crime. 

I enjoyed the 7 hours I spent reading this 240-page history. This was a bit of a dry read as there were a lot of facts and numbers. There were many things though that I learned from the book. It does give a different view that is common to that first full year of the war. I like the selected cover art. I give this novel a 3.9 (Rounded up to a 4) out of 5.

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