BBC War Reports: World War Two: On Air

by Mark Jones (Compiler), Richard Baker (Narrator)

The story of the Second World War as told by former BBC newsreader Richard Baker, with original recordings from the BBC. From Neville Chamberlain's historic declaration of war on Germany in 1939, to the sounds of rejoicing crowds on VJ Day in August 1945, the BBC - regarded at home and abroad as the very voice of Britain and the world's most trusted broadcaster - brought the full picture to an attentive nation.This unique chronicle of war has the same rawness and immediacy as when the recordings were first broadcast over 60 years ago. It is both a testament to the BBC War Correspondents and a rare document in history. Richard Baker is best known as a newsreader for BBC News; in 1954 he was the first person to read the news on television.

3 pages, Audio CD

First published November 4, 2010

Reviews

[Maine Colonial · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's amazing how much of an experience of the war (mostly in Europe) you get in this relatively short audiobook. The listener is taken from the declaration of war after Germany's invasion of Poland to the Blitz; air, land and sea battles; bits of Churchill's famous speeches; statements from field generals; the D-Day invasion and battles through until the meeting of the Americans and British with the Russians; the liberations of villages, Rome and Paris; the discovery of the Nazi death camps; VE-Day celebrations; the invasion of Iwo Jima; the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; the surrender ceremonies of Germany and Japan.

There is a real feel of immediacy in the readings, especially the many instances of reports from the scenes of action.

[Derelict Space Sheep · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recorded speeches and BBC radio reports, often recorded live at the scene of military operations, linked and contextualised to present an unfolding narrative of the Second World War. Notable for its sense of immediacy and earnest commitment to including the listening public.

[Russell Dodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good as an audio book.