Private Battles: Our Intimate Diaries: How The War Almost Defeated Us

by Simon Garfield

Simon Garfield interweaves the diaries of four ordinary people as they struggle to cope with the reality of life during the Second World War. It’s the true story of how ordinary British people won the war. And of how they almost didn’t.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, Diary, Biography Memoir, Historical, Research

560 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Simon Garfield is a British journalist and non-fiction author. He was educated at the independent University College School in Hampstead, London, and the London School of Economics, where he was the Executive Editor of The Beaver. He also regularly writes for The Observer newspaper.

Reviews

[Veronica]

I enjoy reading these Mass-Observation diaries of life during WW2, but I think I may have overdosed on them now. It's still fascinating to see how close and yet how far away from ours these lives are, that people are recognisably the same yet coping with things that are almost unimaginable to us now. In this volume the overhwelming impression is of everyday life going on in spite of the war, of people going about their daily business and grumbling about the inconveniences caused. Pam Ashford notes prosaically on 11 December 1941: "The knowledge that the war cannot spread any further now -- unless the Martians are to come in -- is itself a relief".

It's also notable that after the dark days of 1940 the four diarists here never doubt for a minute that the Allies will be victorious. They vary in their estimates of how long it will take -- from months to years -- but they are sustained by a firm, belief that evil cannot prevail.

[Kim]

A good overview of the British public's viewpoint during the Second World War. I felt it could have been strengthened by a mother's voice, both one of small children and one with children away doing the fighting. I also would have enjoyed a closer look at the evolution of meals prepared over the course of the war. Maybe a farmer's viewpoint also, as this volume deals solely wit shop bought food.

[Frank]

Interesting read about those that lived through the 2nd World War in the U.K. and what better way to know than through reading the diary entries of those who lived through it! One thing that stood out for me is the number of rumors the diarists encountered and no doubt spread as well. The rumor mill was certainly going full steam from beginning to end.

One of the diarists I thought a bit of a curiosity though. There are a couple of instances given in his entries that seem to indicate that he may have been a nudist-or whatever they're called these days-even though he is a practicing Quaker and a conscientious objector. I would have thought that such a practice would be against their beliefs or tenants, but I could be wrong.

All in all a good read if you like reading published diaries as well as nonfiction as I do.

[karen Moore]

I read this because one of the 4 writers is my husband's great-uncle, and initially I planned to just kind of read his parts and skip over everyone else's, but I found myself getting pulled into all of the stories and ended up reading the entire book. It was surprisingly interesting - I kept reading excerpts out loud to my family. Not a book I would ever have picked up on my own, but I really ended up enjoying it.

[Ipswichblade]

The third edition of these mass observation diaries. Always interesting to see how people coped with day to day living and their actual views at the time of people like Churchill

[Annette Rogers]

Fascinating insight into the lives of ordinary people during the war. What people really thought of Churchill and their hopes for the future.

[Helena]

Only reason I DNF was that it's long and I couldn't finish it before I had to return it (interlibrary loan). Will try to get it again at some point so I cam finish it.

[Kathryn]

Didn't enjoy it quite as much as 'Our Hidden Lives' but maybe just because I read it second. Still lots of brilliant moments.

[Joanne]

Sorry to see it come to an end. I was happy to read about what happened to the writers after the war.

[Abbey]

I loved this book. It gave an insight into what war really was like.

[Susan]

The books created from the archives of Mass Observation in Great Britain are all fascinating and moving. We learn about daily life in Britain during WWII (and before and after in other books), and the perceptions and thoughts of ordinary people. There are innumerable fascinating details about, for instance, raising and entertaining small children during war time, silly things other people in the work place say, debate over what the country should be like after the war, recipes for cooking under food restrictions and how to get a fair to decent wardrobe under the point system, price gouging, the beauties of nature, looking for jobs, playing the recorder to while away a train journey, etc. I can't put these books down.