What do you think?
Rate this book
Blitz: When World War Two Came Home
Not yet published
Expected 25 Aug 26The Blitz – from the German 'Blitzkrieg', lightning war – began as the Battle of Britain neared its conclusion. The Luftwaffe's sustained aerial bombing campaign against British urban centres lasted from September 1940 until May 1941. Over nine months, from Plymouth to Glasgow and Bristol to Newcastle, more than 43,500 civilians would die.
John Nichol has flown aircraft in combat, he has dropped bombs himself, but he knew little about the Blitz. The generation who endured it, including his parents, were often keen to keep silent and move on from the conflict that had consumed their childhoods.
Nearly half a million bombs were dropped on Britain in a few months, and every one of them had its own story. Beginning with the experience of John's mother and the attacks on the North East of England where he grew up, he explores what this series of assaults on the Home Front was truly like.
Interweaving the stories of survivors with modern experts, the perspective of those on the ground with the aircrew delivering destruction from on high, Blitz is a powerful new reckoning with one of the defining events of modern British history. It's about how a nation survived when death was a constant companion, and the deep, conflicting emotions experienced by all involved.
John Nichol has flown aircraft in combat, he has dropped bombs himself, but he knew little about the Blitz. The generation who endured it, including his parents, were often keen to keep silent and move on from the conflict that had consumed their childhoods.
Nearly half a million bombs were dropped on Britain in a few months, and every one of them had its own story. Beginning with the experience of John's mother and the attacks on the North East of England where he grew up, he explores what this series of assaults on the Home Front was truly like.
Interweaving the stories of survivors with modern experts, the perspective of those on the ground with the aircrew delivering destruction from on high, Blitz is a powerful new reckoning with one of the defining events of modern British history. It's about how a nation survived when death was a constant companion, and the deep, conflicting emotions experienced by all involved.
- GenresHistory
448 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication August 25, 2026
About the author
John Nichol
140 books22 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 21, 2026
4.5 Stars
Another fantastic book from John Nichol!
The Blitz, or ‘Blitzkreig’, officially lasted from 7th September, 1940 to 16th May, 1941 and it mainly affected London. But the reality of the events of the Second World War were widespread.
John Nichol has a unique approach to The Blitz in this book, as he looks past the devastation brought upon the capital and branches out to places such as North Shields (his home town) and the effect that the war had on local civilians.
The book does veer off in places to liken some of the wartime events to global events of today, such as the Grendell Tower fire. This did interrupt the flow of the book a little and pulled me out of the nostalgia of the war. That having been said, I do applaud the author for trying this novel approach. But for me personally, I would have preferred if the book had solely concentrated on the Blitz and World War Two. That is the only reason that I haven’t given the book five stars.
Another fantastic book from John Nichol!
The Blitz, or ‘Blitzkreig’, officially lasted from 7th September, 1940 to 16th May, 1941 and it mainly affected London. But the reality of the events of the Second World War were widespread.
John Nichol has a unique approach to The Blitz in this book, as he looks past the devastation brought upon the capital and branches out to places such as North Shields (his home town) and the effect that the war had on local civilians.
The book does veer off in places to liken some of the wartime events to global events of today, such as the Grendell Tower fire. This did interrupt the flow of the book a little and pulled me out of the nostalgia of the war. That having been said, I do applaud the author for trying this novel approach. But for me personally, I would have preferred if the book had solely concentrated on the Blitz and World War Two. That is the only reason that I haven’t given the book five stars.
May 31, 2026
This is a unique look at the Blitz as author John Nicol looks beyond the usual time frame and geographic locations. He looks beyond London and the typical places assaulted during WWII, veering beyond those and using North Shields, where his family came from, as an example of a war that affected local civilian populations.
Indeed, he looks at the history of bombing civilians, going back to Zeppelins in WWI and then continues to branch out. When King George VI created the George Cross to honour civilian gallantry, he covers only wartime heroics but also more recent events. Indeed, this book veers from wartime rescues to Grenfell Tower and everything from major events to individual heroism. I felt it pulled me a little out of the wartime story, but I applaud the author for trying something new to explain and explore a part of our history which still remains in so many memories. My own mother was evacuated in the war, even during the Sixties, when I was a young child, bomb sites remained, and many streets bear witness to the loss of neighbours.
With war still affecting so many people around the world, this is a reminder of how it can suddenly appear and cause chaos amongst civilians who must cope with the upheaval, death and destruction that conflict causes.
Indeed, he looks at the history of bombing civilians, going back to Zeppelins in WWI and then continues to branch out. When King George VI created the George Cross to honour civilian gallantry, he covers only wartime heroics but also more recent events. Indeed, this book veers from wartime rescues to Grenfell Tower and everything from major events to individual heroism. I felt it pulled me a little out of the wartime story, but I applaud the author for trying something new to explain and explore a part of our history which still remains in so many memories. My own mother was evacuated in the war, even during the Sixties, when I was a young child, bomb sites remained, and many streets bear witness to the loss of neighbours.
With war still affecting so many people around the world, this is a reminder of how it can suddenly appear and cause chaos amongst civilians who must cope with the upheaval, death and destruction that conflict causes.
Review of advance copy
Well worth the read. A thought provoking book about wartime Britain with startling comparisons to more recent events
Review of advance copy
interesting detailed home looking at the blitz when it hit Britain and some personal accounts of events ranging from children and adults of the time
July 25, 2026
John Nichols never disappoints. A fantastic account viewed also from a modern day perspective and also covering events such as Grenfell. Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Author John Nichol take the listener back to the beginning World War 2 when the German Air Force began bombing the United Kingdom. The author dives into the personal history of people who survivor and those who didn't survive. But one thing that Mr. Nichol is really well linking the events of World War 2 to today.
I really enjoy "Blitz" it was really interesting listening, and I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys history about World War 2.
I really enjoy "Blitz" it was really interesting listening, and I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys history about World War 2.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews