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Blitz: The Story of December 29, 1940
Churchill called it his nation’s greatest trial and its finest hour. Europe had fallen to Hitler and Britain stood alone. Determined to bomb the English into submission, the German Luftwaffe attacked London nearly every night, targeting the “Square Mile,” the heart of the city and the site of some of its greatest landmarks. In this gripping historical narrative, Margaret Gaskin puts the reader into the middle of the Blitz, its horror and its heroism, by vividly reconstructing the night that Hitler tried to burn the city to the ground—the night that one of the war’s most haunting photographs was taken, showing St. Paul’s still standing amid burning ruins. Stunningly vivid and compelling, Blitz uses the voices of those on whom the bombshells fell—the ordinary and the famous, including Edward R. Murrow and FDR—to tell the story as it has never before been told.
430 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 25, 2025
An amazing book!!! The author describes the worst night of the Blitz when the Nazi bombers targeted the Square Mile (the City), the heart and soul of London.
She follows the lives of several disparate characters who lived through that night of hell......what they saw, what they did, and how they reacted as fire and death rained upon them. The determination and sheer grit of the London Fire Brigade and the volunteers is almost beyond belief as they fought to save lives and the irreplaceable buildings such as Wren's churches, St. Bart's Hospital and the Guild Hall.
You can almost hear the voice of Churchill as he directed the Brigade..."St. Paul's must be saved at all cost". And indeed it was and still rises in glory over London.. The bravery of the residents illustrates the slogan of the time..."London Can Take It". Poignant, uplifting and extremely moving. Very highly recommended.
She follows the lives of several disparate characters who lived through that night of hell......what they saw, what they did, and how they reacted as fire and death rained upon them. The determination and sheer grit of the London Fire Brigade and the volunteers is almost beyond belief as they fought to save lives and the irreplaceable buildings such as Wren's churches, St. Bart's Hospital and the Guild Hall.
You can almost hear the voice of Churchill as he directed the Brigade..."St. Paul's must be saved at all cost". And indeed it was and still rises in glory over London.. The bravery of the residents illustrates the slogan of the time..."London Can Take It". Poignant, uplifting and extremely moving. Very highly recommended.
May 10, 2015
The night of 29 December, 1940 is often referred to as the 'Second Great Fire of London." In this book Gaskin details the lives of Londoners across the city battling the more than 24,000 high explosive bombs and 100,000 incendiary bombs dropped by German planes.
As you may imagine with a book that takes place over the course of only 24 hours it is very detailed and can get a bit dense in parts. It is a fascinating book though, and Gaskin begins it wonderfully, setting the stage by introducing not only the disparate cast of characters, but also events in history that have led them to this moment. We then follow these characters, ordinary Londoners, American journalists, firefighters etc., throughout the day and night as we watch how they tackle the worst night of the Blitz.
The strength of this book is in the details that it provides. While we may all know that the Blitz occurred, this book describes just what life looked like every day. We learn about the responsibilities of the St. Paul's fire watch, how water was drawn from the river and sent to "heavy" fire trucks, why there was always buckets of sand at the ready. Gaskin provides a real street level view of not just the worst night of the Blitz, but of wartime London in general.
This is a brilliant read for someone interested in the subject. Combined with another book about wartime England you can really begin to get a comprehensive picture of the situation.
As you may imagine with a book that takes place over the course of only 24 hours it is very detailed and can get a bit dense in parts. It is a fascinating book though, and Gaskin begins it wonderfully, setting the stage by introducing not only the disparate cast of characters, but also events in history that have led them to this moment. We then follow these characters, ordinary Londoners, American journalists, firefighters etc., throughout the day and night as we watch how they tackle the worst night of the Blitz.
The strength of this book is in the details that it provides. While we may all know that the Blitz occurred, this book describes just what life looked like every day. We learn about the responsibilities of the St. Paul's fire watch, how water was drawn from the river and sent to "heavy" fire trucks, why there was always buckets of sand at the ready. Gaskin provides a real street level view of not just the worst night of the Blitz, but of wartime London in general.
This is a brilliant read for someone interested in the subject. Combined with another book about wartime England you can really begin to get a comprehensive picture of the situation.
January 19, 2012
Fantastic piece of non-fiction. I fell in love with London when I studied abroad there and miss it so much. This book brought much of it back, and explained why the architecture in the city can be somewhat...unique. Taking the Jack the Ripper walking tour in London requires a stretch of the imagination; because the areas he prowled were virtually annialated on December 29, 1940 in one of the worst fire-bombing episodes of the London blitz. The adventures described in this book were heartbreaking and exciting at the same time. Having also read a great book about the Great Fire of London in 1666 previously this was an interesting read indeed. Though there were differences between the incidents of course, one can't help comparing the two tragedies. And after having read this book I am more amazed than ever that St. Paul's Cathedral still stands. The heroism this night cannot possibly be measured.
December 29, 2010
This is the most amazing book. I had been looking for some time for a book about a history of the ordinary people of London during the Blitz in World War II and this is perfect.
Except for 9/11 I wonder how Americans who had never been bombed by an enemy country would have reacted and I hope it would be as the British did. They took care of business, saw it as a cause, most sheltered at night when the raids were conducted but some did not. They also kept their lives as normal as possible under a very abnormal situation.
I came away from this book with a greater understanding of what the citizens of London went through and with a greater respect for their trials and gallantry than before.
Except for 9/11 I wonder how Americans who had never been bombed by an enemy country would have reacted and I hope it would be as the British did. They took care of business, saw it as a cause, most sheltered at night when the raids were conducted but some did not. They also kept their lives as normal as possible under a very abnormal situation.
I came away from this book with a greater understanding of what the citizens of London went through and with a greater respect for their trials and gallantry than before.
July 3, 2007
This took forever to read because it is hardcover and hard to carry, and so I had it on my nightstand. It's not often a great idea to read about death and destruction right before bed.
On its own, it was clearly and very, very well written, engaging and fascinating, and made the survivors, victims and the setting come alive. It also gave me excellent context for Connie Willis's Blitz stories and novels. I am all ready for Winds of Marble Arch in October!
On its own, it was clearly and very, very well written, engaging and fascinating, and made the survivors, victims and the setting come alive. It also gave me excellent context for Connie Willis's Blitz stories and novels. I am all ready for Winds of Marble Arch in October!
April 21, 2009
A very powerful, well-written book about the London Blitz in December, 1940. More than just an account of the bombing itself, Margaret Gaskin describes the people of London as individuals, not statistics, and really gives a reader someone to cheer for.
I was most impressed by the author described, using many quotes from witnesses at the time, how ordinary citizens became heroes overnight and how the City carried on after all of the destruction and the loss of so many lives.
I was most impressed by the author described, using many quotes from witnesses at the time, how ordinary citizens became heroes overnight and how the City carried on after all of the destruction and the loss of so many lives.
July 7, 2010
The author focuses on the worst night of bombing during the entire blitz, the night the Nazis bombed Coventry. The author has done extensive research and many first and second person interviews to piece together this night. Gaskins also gives an on-the-ground picture of all the home front guards and fire fighting personnel. This book will propel you into London as if you were there.
April 22, 2008
That there was a lot of fire during this period which nearly created the second great fire of London!
August 23, 2025
Amazing! This is hard to describe it is so excellent. It is exactly what it is in the title. Told through photos, documentations, and the eyes of the people of London who lived it. In the words of their own, and in that time itself speeches and communications. Cognition of those living through and in the SECOND great London fire and the Blitz year's winter's worst night.
There are few books in any form of non-fiction study that tell and show both. But beyond that, which tell in the now of people living it in their own words. As it happens to them, what they believe NOW, and what emotions they hold NOW. This is one. Another one I can remember like this was Studs Terkel's "Working". There are so few of these books in print. Not recordings or digitals that can be edited either.
Not revisionist history, but REAL history. The stunning, just stunning acceptances! The almost entire lack of self-pity! The adjustments to nearly complete "uncomfortableness". I know that is probably not a word, but this highest moments of terror can't be non-stopping- there are always lulls. This is far more to the extent of living with extreme, extreme non-comfort in ALL- and doing it with either silence or grace. In this century, I see it as a nearly extinct skill. Not even speaking of the loyalties' depths in comparison either. Just the purely physical aspects! Urban populations act crazy now over offending words or lack of electricity or heating for a day.
I cried. Most especially for the cases like the two teenage girl firewomen and for the myriads just like them. And then there were those who could not even get buried whole or in one place. Please read this book. From the leaders to the lowest, it follows those darkest (8 hours of daylight too) days when England stood alone. And "the lost or lifetime injured" being more than "the usual" ration of 1 or 2 fatalities out of 500 count population each and every night. And this night was terrible in every multiple. St. Paul still standing was a miracle given as proof by God that the tide would change. That photo was the most famous and incredulous for the entire period of WWII. More especially since the St. Paul's levels were used as guidance to surveyance and aftermath orders.
Oh England, what has happened to you! This very year their free speech is nearly gone with people being put in jail for posting words on Facebook. Do not turn from your own core significance of example.
The last sections are 6 stars. Speeches (fireside chat/ radio etc.) of Churchill and FDR as they were spoken and when they were spoken; here they are duplicated in print.
For a day after reading this book (which took over a week and it IS difficult) - my thoughts have gone to these varying situations. Even within the looting or taking when "no one will ever need this here again" acquisitions. I would have wanted to grab an antique chandelier too before it was sure to burn in the next 20 minutes- even walking through a field of fire to get it. Just because. Glad they stopped her.
And thought about my Dad too. Quite a lot. His opinion was that FDR let Pearl Harbor happen in order to get the USA into the war. He served 3 years in Italy 1944-47 (Trieste) heading a prisoner of war camp which was for years repatriating German soldiers and refugee workers back to their places of origin. He was born in Germany (native German speaking) and came to America when he was 14. My Dad lived to be 96 and did he have the stories too.
Think about this- you needed your equipment and your ID tags on your person (even in pj's)in every case and place of living or moving through a day or a night. And the work of transport/id for the bodies beyond the fires, collapsing for safety of entire buildings during the day and movements of debris to access or approach. Very few ever saw a bed. The worst of the Blitz was night and it lasted for over one year. If Hitler would have hit the English airfields instead they would have won.
There are few books in any form of non-fiction study that tell and show both. But beyond that, which tell in the now of people living it in their own words. As it happens to them, what they believe NOW, and what emotions they hold NOW. This is one. Another one I can remember like this was Studs Terkel's "Working". There are so few of these books in print. Not recordings or digitals that can be edited either.
Not revisionist history, but REAL history. The stunning, just stunning acceptances! The almost entire lack of self-pity! The adjustments to nearly complete "uncomfortableness". I know that is probably not a word, but this highest moments of terror can't be non-stopping- there are always lulls. This is far more to the extent of living with extreme, extreme non-comfort in ALL- and doing it with either silence or grace. In this century, I see it as a nearly extinct skill. Not even speaking of the loyalties' depths in comparison either. Just the purely physical aspects! Urban populations act crazy now over offending words or lack of electricity or heating for a day.
I cried. Most especially for the cases like the two teenage girl firewomen and for the myriads just like them. And then there were those who could not even get buried whole or in one place. Please read this book. From the leaders to the lowest, it follows those darkest (8 hours of daylight too) days when England stood alone. And "the lost or lifetime injured" being more than "the usual" ration of 1 or 2 fatalities out of 500 count population each and every night. And this night was terrible in every multiple. St. Paul still standing was a miracle given as proof by God that the tide would change. That photo was the most famous and incredulous for the entire period of WWII. More especially since the St. Paul's levels were used as guidance to surveyance and aftermath orders.
Oh England, what has happened to you! This very year their free speech is nearly gone with people being put in jail for posting words on Facebook. Do not turn from your own core significance of example.
The last sections are 6 stars. Speeches (fireside chat/ radio etc.) of Churchill and FDR as they were spoken and when they were spoken; here they are duplicated in print.
For a day after reading this book (which took over a week and it IS difficult) - my thoughts have gone to these varying situations. Even within the looting or taking when "no one will ever need this here again" acquisitions. I would have wanted to grab an antique chandelier too before it was sure to burn in the next 20 minutes- even walking through a field of fire to get it. Just because. Glad they stopped her.
And thought about my Dad too. Quite a lot. His opinion was that FDR let Pearl Harbor happen in order to get the USA into the war. He served 3 years in Italy 1944-47 (Trieste) heading a prisoner of war camp which was for years repatriating German soldiers and refugee workers back to their places of origin. He was born in Germany (native German speaking) and came to America when he was 14. My Dad lived to be 96 and did he have the stories too.
Think about this- you needed your equipment and your ID tags on your person (even in pj's)in every case and place of living or moving through a day or a night. And the work of transport/id for the bodies beyond the fires, collapsing for safety of entire buildings during the day and movements of debris to access or approach. Very few ever saw a bed. The worst of the Blitz was night and it lasted for over one year. If Hitler would have hit the English airfields instead they would have won.
April 11, 2021
I found this to be interesting, with great detail about the war before and after the night of the Blitz, in addition to the actual night. As someone quite familiar with the overall story of the details of World War II from a British perspective, this was still super challenging to follow. The author follows some specific individuals and writes the book from the perspective of America. Overall, I would recommend this only if you were very interested in British history, World War II, and America's perspective about the early years of World War II before Pearl Harbor. One more note, there are some lovely details about Ernie Pyle.
January 14, 2020
The author goes into a lot of background on the historical London/British culture and attitude leading up to the one horrific night during the year-long Blitz that she chose to focus on. That being said, she uses many diaries and first-hand accounts of citizens who lived and worked through that particular night. I came away with a much better understanding of “Keep Calm and Carry On,” or “Keep Buggering On” (Winston Churchill). One needs to know what their ancestors went through during the London 1666 fire to truly understand their intestinal fortitude of this night.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2020
Gaskin can certainly write. There are times when I had to read a sentence several times because it was so beautiful. However, the book was so scattered that I had a hard time keeping up. I couldn't keep track of the people. Also there were a lot of British idioms that I didn't understand. It had a lot of promise but didn't fulfill that promise.
November 29, 2016
“The two worlds, the world of peace and the world of war, exist side by side, separated only by a few minutes of twilight.”
“Blitz!” tells the story of December 29, 1940 in London during the Blitzkreig when the city experienced one of the worst bombings of WWII. The book encompasses a wide variety of people from all walks of life with the one thread tying them together the fact that they’ve decided to stay in London despite the danger. We learn of the bravery of ordinary citizens and how important landmarks were to morale, including St. Pauls’ Cathedral, a symbol of London which is threatened during the firebombing.
We begin before the bombing with all of the volunteers who have chosen to stay behind, going about their everyday jobs. Most of these Londoners were civilians so it’s interesting to see how they adjusted to their new jobs, whether it was a member of the Home Guard, the ARP (Air Raid Precautions Service) or the Auxiliary Fire Service. I loved how the book chronologically progressed through December 29 with each chapter beginning with a radio program schedule for that portion of the day. Not only is this a refreshing way to inform the reader about which part of the day the events in the chapter unfold, it also creates a growing sense of apprehension as day turns to night because the reader knows what’s coming.
“The high wind which accompanies conflagrations is now stronger than ever, and the air is filled with a fierce driving rain of red-hot sparks and burning brands. The clouds overhead are a rose-pink from the reflected glow of the fires.”
The great descriptions and visual imagery create an atmosphere of danger and fear that puts you right in the midst of the chaos and heat. “It was as light as day, with huge fires all around, flames rising far above the houses, the place full of smoke and sparks and great blobs of burning stuff floating about and every now and then a bomb.” Throughout the night we follow a variety of people in different situations across the city. All of these great little stories interspersed throughout really showed how all-encompassing the threat was. It wasn’t unlikely for children to slip out of their bomb shelters during raids to help fire crews. I especially liked reading about the roof crew looking after St. Paul’s Cathedral. During the bombing it’s described as “some miraculous figure that appears before peace-hungry soldiers on a battlefield.” The best story though has to be about St. Lawrence Jewry. During the raid, an otherworldly shriek came from inside as a bomb had hit the synagogue, lighting the organ on fire. As the hot air from the fire blew through the organ pipes it made a sound like an alien in the throes of death. This was an awesome image and I could easily imagine what the pipes must have sounded like.
One paragraph that really made me think described the fire as ‘burning away time’ as it destroyed modern London. It was such an evocative image and really cemented the destructive power of these bombs and how it wasn’t just destroying the city it was destroying London’s past, obliterating all memory of what came before.
I loved reading this book, not only because I’m interested in WW2 but also because I didn’t know much about the London Blitz other than that it happened. If you’re interested in learning about what the London Blitz was like, this book will put you right in the middle of the action.
“Blitz!” tells the story of December 29, 1940 in London during the Blitzkreig when the city experienced one of the worst bombings of WWII. The book encompasses a wide variety of people from all walks of life with the one thread tying them together the fact that they’ve decided to stay in London despite the danger. We learn of the bravery of ordinary citizens and how important landmarks were to morale, including St. Pauls’ Cathedral, a symbol of London which is threatened during the firebombing.
We begin before the bombing with all of the volunteers who have chosen to stay behind, going about their everyday jobs. Most of these Londoners were civilians so it’s interesting to see how they adjusted to their new jobs, whether it was a member of the Home Guard, the ARP (Air Raid Precautions Service) or the Auxiliary Fire Service. I loved how the book chronologically progressed through December 29 with each chapter beginning with a radio program schedule for that portion of the day. Not only is this a refreshing way to inform the reader about which part of the day the events in the chapter unfold, it also creates a growing sense of apprehension as day turns to night because the reader knows what’s coming.
“The high wind which accompanies conflagrations is now stronger than ever, and the air is filled with a fierce driving rain of red-hot sparks and burning brands. The clouds overhead are a rose-pink from the reflected glow of the fires.”
The great descriptions and visual imagery create an atmosphere of danger and fear that puts you right in the midst of the chaos and heat. “It was as light as day, with huge fires all around, flames rising far above the houses, the place full of smoke and sparks and great blobs of burning stuff floating about and every now and then a bomb.” Throughout the night we follow a variety of people in different situations across the city. All of these great little stories interspersed throughout really showed how all-encompassing the threat was. It wasn’t unlikely for children to slip out of their bomb shelters during raids to help fire crews. I especially liked reading about the roof crew looking after St. Paul’s Cathedral. During the bombing it’s described as “some miraculous figure that appears before peace-hungry soldiers on a battlefield.” The best story though has to be about St. Lawrence Jewry. During the raid, an otherworldly shriek came from inside as a bomb had hit the synagogue, lighting the organ on fire. As the hot air from the fire blew through the organ pipes it made a sound like an alien in the throes of death. This was an awesome image and I could easily imagine what the pipes must have sounded like.
One paragraph that really made me think described the fire as ‘burning away time’ as it destroyed modern London. It was such an evocative image and really cemented the destructive power of these bombs and how it wasn’t just destroying the city it was destroying London’s past, obliterating all memory of what came before.
I loved reading this book, not only because I’m interested in WW2 but also because I didn’t know much about the London Blitz other than that it happened. If you’re interested in learning about what the London Blitz was like, this book will put you right in the middle of the action.
January 7, 2017
Detailed, superbly researched and well worth sticking with. This admirable book is in two parts - the context (London, the early war years and the beginning of the blitz) and the events of 29 December 1940. Gaskin captures the chaos, danger and the scale of the bombing and fires. Every now and again a book will prompt me to write a supplementary piece and that was the case with 'Blitz'. I just had to find out more about the gallantry awards made to those who acted so bravely that night (Gallantry During the Blitz).
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May 18, 2018Followed index to areas of interest.
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