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How Britain Kept Calm and Carried On: On the Home Front
Showcases a range of stories and provides insight into how regular people survived World War II with just simple positive thinking A compendium of sentimental, humorous and sometimes laugh-out-loud anecdotes and stories from people who managed to remain positive and look on the bright side of life, How Britain Kept Calm and Carried On offers a new perspective on staying strong and "packing up your troubles" during wartime, and describes moments of light-hearted relief that people found in dark times.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
224 pages, Hardcover
First published May 8, 2014
25 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Anton Rippon
54 books3 followersAnton Rippon is a British journalist, author and publisher.
Born in Derby during the Second World War. He has spent almost all his working life in the newspaper and publishing industry. He is the author of 30 books, including an autobiographical memoir A Derby Boy, which was published in 2007.
His work has appeared in a wide range of national newspapers and magazines and he has written radio documentaries for the BBC. In 1982, he founded Breedon Books, the sports and history publisher that he sold in 2003 to resume writing full-time. In 1993, the Derby County Former Professional Players' Association elected him an honorary member. He is also a member of the Sports Journalists' Association, the International Society of Olympic Historians and the Football Writers' Association. His book Gunter Plüschow: Airman, Escaper, Explorer, was published by Pen & Sword in 2009. A collection of his columns from the Derby Telegraph – A Derby View – was published by Wharncliffe in October 2010.
Born in Derby during the Second World War. He has spent almost all his working life in the newspaper and publishing industry. He is the author of 30 books, including an autobiographical memoir A Derby Boy, which was published in 2007.
His work has appeared in a wide range of national newspapers and magazines and he has written radio documentaries for the BBC. In 1982, he founded Breedon Books, the sports and history publisher that he sold in 2003 to resume writing full-time. In 1993, the Derby County Former Professional Players' Association elected him an honorary member. He is also a member of the Sports Journalists' Association, the International Society of Olympic Historians and the Football Writers' Association. His book Gunter Plüschow: Airman, Escaper, Explorer, was published by Pen & Sword in 2009. A collection of his columns from the Derby Telegraph – A Derby View – was published by Wharncliffe in October 2010.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 19, 2015
Book Review
How Britain Kept Calm and carried on: True Stories from the Home Front by Anton Rippon
The world, and the generation that lived through it were greatly affected by the events of the first world war, but there is a lot of history, from ordinary people that is forgotten about, and this book, put together by Anton Rippon goes some way to re-dress that balance.
With first accounts of people that were Children, and Adults during the war, the book looks at the incomparable loss that they faced, in terms of losing brothers, fathers, husbands, and lovers, and the futures that they also lost at the same time. The book also, though looks at happier things, from couples who met during the war, to the indomnitable spirit that ordinary people had to develop out of sheer necessity. The book is put together in such a way that different strands interweave throughout the stories and anecdotes, so although the reader is made to feel for the tragedy of the lost generation, there is also humour, so the book is split into various sections, looking at the war from the point of view of men, women and children and how they related to each other during some of the most difficult times.
We see instances of rationing, and people sharing what little they had, to sacrifices of a much more significant time. There are very few people around from the first world war now, but this little book is one way of preserving those memories, and by extension, those people who lived through it.
How Britain Kept Calm and carried on: True Stories from the Home Front by Anton Rippon
The world, and the generation that lived through it were greatly affected by the events of the first world war, but there is a lot of history, from ordinary people that is forgotten about, and this book, put together by Anton Rippon goes some way to re-dress that balance.
With first accounts of people that were Children, and Adults during the war, the book looks at the incomparable loss that they faced, in terms of losing brothers, fathers, husbands, and lovers, and the futures that they also lost at the same time. The book also, though looks at happier things, from couples who met during the war, to the indomnitable spirit that ordinary people had to develop out of sheer necessity. The book is put together in such a way that different strands interweave throughout the stories and anecdotes, so although the reader is made to feel for the tragedy of the lost generation, there is also humour, so the book is split into various sections, looking at the war from the point of view of men, women and children and how they related to each other during some of the most difficult times.
We see instances of rationing, and people sharing what little they had, to sacrifices of a much more significant time. There are very few people around from the first world war now, but this little book is one way of preserving those memories, and by extension, those people who lived through it.
February 2, 2023
3.5 stars. A selection of short, generally humorous anecdotes of life in wartime Britain. I would have liked if the anecdotes were a bit longer (most are a paragraph or so), especially as you could tell some were cut from longer content. It reminded me of Voices from the Home Front which I think I preferred more as there was a bit more depth to the content. Partially due to that I would recommend some general background knowledge on wartime life to appreciate the anecdotes better. The short choppy nature slightly trivialised it and made it feel a bit like the style of a novelty/gifty type book.
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May 13, 2024A collection of anecdotes & memories from people who lived, worked, grew up &, of course, kept calm & carried on during the Second World War.
It's an informative account of how life was really lived, told from the different perspectives of those who were there: men who were called up or joined the Home Guard, women who found themselves in factories or working as land girls & children who were evacuated or stayed in cities where bombsites became their playgrounds.
On the whole the anecdotes show the sense of humour that helped people get through this time so have a jokey feel to them with some of them raising a wry smile.
Overall a good read with a format that makes it a ideal for dipping in & out of.
It's an informative account of how life was really lived, told from the different perspectives of those who were there: men who were called up or joined the Home Guard, women who found themselves in factories or working as land girls & children who were evacuated or stayed in cities where bombsites became their playgrounds.
On the whole the anecdotes show the sense of humour that helped people get through this time so have a jokey feel to them with some of them raising a wry smile.
Overall a good read with a format that makes it a ideal for dipping in & out of.
July 27, 2024
Heartwarming stories of the British public who kept calm and carried on during the Blitz and beyond. i love reading stories about Britain in WWII and the plucky determination of the British to push forward despite seemingly unconquerable odds. This did not disappoint although it could have been more cogently organized.
May 1, 2019
Good. Rather funny. Read it during the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings of 2019. It helped lift the gloom I felt on most days
April 22, 2022
Informative and entertaining
Really enjoyed the book it's entertaining and informative. You can almost hear the voices of the people. A lovely little read.
Really enjoyed the book it's entertaining and informative. You can almost hear the voices of the people. A lovely little read.
October 20, 2014
the book got a bit tedious after a while
April 13, 2015
Interesting and heartwarming.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews