What do you think?
Rate this book
Britain's War #2
Britain's War: A New World, 1942-1947
This book opens with one of the greatest disasters in British military history - the fall of Singapore in February 1942. Unlike in the aftermath of Dunkirk there was here simply no redeeming narrative available - Britain had been totally defeated by a far smaller Japanese force in her grandly proclaimed invincible Asian 'fortress'. Not only did the British Empire now seem vulnerable, it also looked incompetent, with some 25,000 reinforcements landing in Singapore at the last minute only to add their number to those spending the rest of the war in terrible Japanese labour camps. The unique skill of Daniel Todman's epic history of the War lies in its never losing sight of the inter-connectedness of the British experience. The agony of Singapore, for example, is seen through the eyes of its inhabitants, of its defenders, of Churchill's Cabinet and of ordinary people at home. Each stage of the War, from the nadir of early 1942 to the great series of victories in 1944-5 and on to Indian independence, is described both as it was understood at the time and in the light of the very latest historical research. Todman dramatizes the dreadful uncertainties of Britain's position and the plight of families doomed to spend year after year struggling with bombing, rationing, exhausting work and, above all, the absence of millions of family members scattered around the country and the world. Britain's War is a triumph of narrative, empathy and research, as gripping in its handling of individual witnesses to the war as of the gigantic military, social, technological and economic forces that swept the conflict along. It is the definitive account of a drama which reshaped our country and, even several generations later, continues to haunt us.
800 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2020
49 people are currently reading
535 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Todman
5 books26 followersDaniel Todman is professor of modern history at Queen Mary University of London.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 13, 2025
The Beginning of the End
Daniel Todman’s two part series on Britain in the Second World War is hands down one of the best narratives on the war that I have read. I have been captivated from start to finish of this study of how Britain fought, endured, and rebuilt itself during the most its most testing of times. Britain’s War: A New World, 1942–1947 is part two in the series and covers the later stages of the war and the complex transition to peace that followed. Instead of being a standard military history Todman goes further and presents a panoramic view of Britain as both a global power in crisis and a society undergoing rapid transformation. He shows that the war’s end did not bring clarity or comfort, but rather the beginning of a ‘new world’ Britain had to learn to navigate.
I would say the whole premise of the book is the exploration of Britain’s changing (and declining) place in the world. Beginning in 1942, Todman traces how the empire that had once defined Britain’s identity began to fracture under the weight of global war. The fall of Singapore symbolised the limits of imperial power, while dependence on American aid revealed a new imbalance in global leadership. By 1947, as India gained independence and the United States and Soviet Union emerged as the dominant powers, Britain’s role had shifted irreversibly. Todman portrays this transformation not as a sudden collapse but as a slow, painful adaptation to diminished status, where it was a nation adjusting to the end of empire and the dawn of a new international order.
I also really like the way Todman captures the experience of total war on the home front. Drawing from personal letters, government documents, and contemporary reports, he reconstructs the daily struggles of ordinary Britons who lived through bombing, rationing, and separation. His depiction is both empathetic and analytical: he recognises the resilience and unity of wartime Britain, but he also exposes the inequalities and strains beneath the surface. The ‘people’s war,’ he argues, was as much a political idea as a social reality; one that helped shape post-war expectations of fairness, security, and welfare.
At the same time, Todman provides a nuanced study of leadership and strategy in a global conflict. Churchill dominates the narrative, but Todman avoids the mythic portrait often found in popular histories. He presents a complex leader who is visionary and inspiring, yet also impulsive and sometimes obstructive. Around him stood a vast network of ministers, generals, and civil servants who managed the machinery of war. In my opinion it is balanced view of a man who got a lot right, but also some of it wrong. Todman’s account of decision-making reveals that Britain’s eventual victory depended less on grand design than on flexibility, compromise, and the constant balancing of limited resources against enormous demands.
Equally compelling is Britain’s War: A New World, 1942–1947’s attention to the empire and the war beyond Europe. Todman gives full weight to campaigns in Asia, Africa, and the Pacific, reminding readers that Britain’s struggle was truly global. These chapters highlight the essential role of colonial troops and resources, while also tracing how the war ignited new nationalist movements within the empire. The contradictions of fighting for freedom abroad while maintaining imperial control at home could no longer be ignored. By the time victory was secured, Britain’s imperial fabric had begun to unravel, setting the stage for the wave of decolonisation that followed.
The final part of Britain’s War: A New World, 1942–1947 turns to Britain’s post-war reconstruction, exploring how the nation sought to rebuild amid debt, exhaustion, and change. Todman connects wartime experiences of collective effort to the rise of the welfare state and the Labour government’s 1945 victory. The hope of a fairer society mixed with anxiety about Britain’s declining power and economic weakness. Todman’s decision to end in 1947, rather than 1945, is inspired and underscores that the story of the war did not end with victory, it continued into a period of uncertainty and redefinition. The ‘new world’ of the subtitle is one where Britain must come to terms with both its triumphs and its losses. I completely got a sense of Britain being a different place and one that had declined.
To conclude, Britain’s War: A New World, 1942–1947 is a masterful account of how total war reshaped Britain’s identity at every level; the imperial, national, and personal. It combines the sweep of grand history with the intimacy of lived experience and offers a fresh understanding of how victory gave way to transformation. As I said above, it is refreshing, well written and completely engaging throughout. It is the full and ultimate history of Britain in WWII.
Daniel Todman’s two part series on Britain in the Second World War is hands down one of the best narratives on the war that I have read. I have been captivated from start to finish of this study of how Britain fought, endured, and rebuilt itself during the most its most testing of times. Britain’s War: A New World, 1942–1947 is part two in the series and covers the later stages of the war and the complex transition to peace that followed. Instead of being a standard military history Todman goes further and presents a panoramic view of Britain as both a global power in crisis and a society undergoing rapid transformation. He shows that the war’s end did not bring clarity or comfort, but rather the beginning of a ‘new world’ Britain had to learn to navigate.
I would say the whole premise of the book is the exploration of Britain’s changing (and declining) place in the world. Beginning in 1942, Todman traces how the empire that had once defined Britain’s identity began to fracture under the weight of global war. The fall of Singapore symbolised the limits of imperial power, while dependence on American aid revealed a new imbalance in global leadership. By 1947, as India gained independence and the United States and Soviet Union emerged as the dominant powers, Britain’s role had shifted irreversibly. Todman portrays this transformation not as a sudden collapse but as a slow, painful adaptation to diminished status, where it was a nation adjusting to the end of empire and the dawn of a new international order.
I also really like the way Todman captures the experience of total war on the home front. Drawing from personal letters, government documents, and contemporary reports, he reconstructs the daily struggles of ordinary Britons who lived through bombing, rationing, and separation. His depiction is both empathetic and analytical: he recognises the resilience and unity of wartime Britain, but he also exposes the inequalities and strains beneath the surface. The ‘people’s war,’ he argues, was as much a political idea as a social reality; one that helped shape post-war expectations of fairness, security, and welfare.
At the same time, Todman provides a nuanced study of leadership and strategy in a global conflict. Churchill dominates the narrative, but Todman avoids the mythic portrait often found in popular histories. He presents a complex leader who is visionary and inspiring, yet also impulsive and sometimes obstructive. Around him stood a vast network of ministers, generals, and civil servants who managed the machinery of war. In my opinion it is balanced view of a man who got a lot right, but also some of it wrong. Todman’s account of decision-making reveals that Britain’s eventual victory depended less on grand design than on flexibility, compromise, and the constant balancing of limited resources against enormous demands.
Equally compelling is Britain’s War: A New World, 1942–1947’s attention to the empire and the war beyond Europe. Todman gives full weight to campaigns in Asia, Africa, and the Pacific, reminding readers that Britain’s struggle was truly global. These chapters highlight the essential role of colonial troops and resources, while also tracing how the war ignited new nationalist movements within the empire. The contradictions of fighting for freedom abroad while maintaining imperial control at home could no longer be ignored. By the time victory was secured, Britain’s imperial fabric had begun to unravel, setting the stage for the wave of decolonisation that followed.
The final part of Britain’s War: A New World, 1942–1947 turns to Britain’s post-war reconstruction, exploring how the nation sought to rebuild amid debt, exhaustion, and change. Todman connects wartime experiences of collective effort to the rise of the welfare state and the Labour government’s 1945 victory. The hope of a fairer society mixed with anxiety about Britain’s declining power and economic weakness. Todman’s decision to end in 1947, rather than 1945, is inspired and underscores that the story of the war did not end with victory, it continued into a period of uncertainty and redefinition. The ‘new world’ of the subtitle is one where Britain must come to terms with both its triumphs and its losses. I completely got a sense of Britain being a different place and one that had declined.
To conclude, Britain’s War: A New World, 1942–1947 is a masterful account of how total war reshaped Britain’s identity at every level; the imperial, national, and personal. It combines the sweep of grand history with the intimacy of lived experience and offers a fresh understanding of how victory gave way to transformation. As I said above, it is refreshing, well written and completely engaging throughout. It is the full and ultimate history of Britain in WWII.
March 21, 2025
Daniel Todman's second book in the 'Britain's War' series, covering 1942 to 1947, looks at what life was like in Britain during the end of World War II and its aftermath. The first book, which I read in 2021 and - based upon my 4 star review - I liked as much as I did this one, set things up well and part two continues with the same good analysis.
Todman doesn't just talk about the battles, but also looks at politics and how British society changed during the war. This makes this book different from the usual war stories. He explains the political moves in detail, both in Britain and internationally, showing the tough choices that shaped Britain's fate during this time. He uses sources like Mass Observation and diaries to show what everyday life was like for people, giving a rich picture of social and personal views.
I listened to the audiobook version (42 hours) and the narration of Ric Jerrom really made the story even better. Jerrom used different accents well, with different voices for different social classes, ranging from the posh English officer to the man-in-the-street and even not forgetting the French accent for DeGaulle.
I really liked this book. It gives a detailed and interesting look at a key time in British history and its focus on politics and society, along with good use of various sources and (in my case) a great audiobook performance made this a excellent read.
Todman doesn't just talk about the battles, but also looks at politics and how British society changed during the war. This makes this book different from the usual war stories. He explains the political moves in detail, both in Britain and internationally, showing the tough choices that shaped Britain's fate during this time. He uses sources like Mass Observation and diaries to show what everyday life was like for people, giving a rich picture of social and personal views.
I listened to the audiobook version (42 hours) and the narration of Ric Jerrom really made the story even better. Jerrom used different accents well, with different voices for different social classes, ranging from the posh English officer to the man-in-the-street and even not forgetting the French accent for DeGaulle.
I really liked this book. It gives a detailed and interesting look at a key time in British history and its focus on politics and society, along with good use of various sources and (in my case) a great audiobook performance made this a excellent read.
June 20, 2022
Magnificent.
I grew up as a child of the empire, my father had served in the navy through the war and then worked in the dockyards afterwards and we were posted to Hong Kong and Gibraltar where we saw how the British had “improved” the lives of the local people.
When I was 18 I worked with an Indian and he hated the British, couldn’t understand that, and then at Nottingham university a history student told me that the Russians had borne the brunt of the fighting in WW2, again a complete surprise, never heard of Stalingrad. Wish this book had been written earlier and I had read it, although not sure I would have tackled it unless I had been retired.
Bought this book first, then realised it was part 2, so more expense and another long read.
The author does much to explain Chamberlain’s actions before the war, and maybe to modify the myths associated with Churchill.
Although a long read it was fairly easy going, just lots of names and acronyms to (try to) remember. As mentioned by other reviewers the battles are not dealt with in great detail, but in the context of the politics and military capabilities.
Don’t be put off by the number of pages, it is really worth the investment of time.
I grew up as a child of the empire, my father had served in the navy through the war and then worked in the dockyards afterwards and we were posted to Hong Kong and Gibraltar where we saw how the British had “improved” the lives of the local people.
When I was 18 I worked with an Indian and he hated the British, couldn’t understand that, and then at Nottingham university a history student told me that the Russians had borne the brunt of the fighting in WW2, again a complete surprise, never heard of Stalingrad. Wish this book had been written earlier and I had read it, although not sure I would have tackled it unless I had been retired.
Bought this book first, then realised it was part 2, so more expense and another long read.
The author does much to explain Chamberlain’s actions before the war, and maybe to modify the myths associated with Churchill.
Although a long read it was fairly easy going, just lots of names and acronyms to (try to) remember. As mentioned by other reviewers the battles are not dealt with in great detail, but in the context of the politics and military capabilities.
Don’t be put off by the number of pages, it is really worth the investment of time.
May 19, 2020
A wonderful book and a great follow on to the excellent vol 1. A must for any WW2 history enthusiasts.
August 4, 2021
You probably need a strong curiosity about the topics and time period addressed here and in the preceding volume in order to finish these two books, much less enjoy them. However, if you do have a strong curiosity about life in Britain, social and political, in years leading up to WWII and all the way through to the end of the year including the independence and partition of India, you will be richly rewarded. The military story is not ignored but not dealt with in any great detail; more in a way that military strategy and tactics affected the outcome of the war as well as the political and social situation in Britain and elsewhere.
October 2, 2021
It gave me a profound understanding of the reality of those times filling in the facts and decisions of the narrative I grew up with. It gives insights into how the form of post ww2 Britain grew from the requirement of labor and conservatives , old Etonians and union leaders, upper class and working class to come together. The policies and political compromise agreed to in order to prevail created the post war world that we grew up in and were formed in. A world fundamentally different from that of pre war 2.
January 16, 2021
This is an excellent study of Britain in the latter stages of the Second World War and the early years of the post-war Labour Government. The book is well researched, very readable, and covers military, political, social and economic events with great clarity. It is a masterly account of the British experience and is highly recommended.
June 21, 2021
The follow-up social, political and economic history behind the military aspects in the second-half of WW2. Very interesting.
December 11, 2024
I think most of my review for this is pretty much the same as part one of the Britain's War pair. It's much longer than the first book, and consequently a little tougher to get through. There seems to be much more of a military history focus and not much attention paid to social history both in Britain and within deployed troops' lives, which is a shame because it ends up feeling a little lifeless sometimes due to an absence of human content.
Todman again does a fairly good job of surveying colonial and empire matters during and after the period too, which gives a much more balanced and overarching picture of what Britain was doing and concerning itself with overseas while trying to fight a war.
I feel this series has been quite enlightening in certain areas as most of the information I have learnt or been taught about WWII in Great Britain definitely has a massive bias in their favour. This gives a balanced and professional look at some less talked about matters and attitudes that seem to have been ignored or forgotten.
Todman again does a fairly good job of surveying colonial and empire matters during and after the period too, which gives a much more balanced and overarching picture of what Britain was doing and concerning itself with overseas while trying to fight a war.
I feel this series has been quite enlightening in certain areas as most of the information I have learnt or been taught about WWII in Great Britain definitely has a massive bias in their favour. This gives a balanced and professional look at some less talked about matters and attitudes that seem to have been ignored or forgotten.
June 1, 2021
Interesting amalgam of British military, economic, and political history.
This is a long and very interesting review of the last three years of the War and the first two years of the Peace.
This is a long and very interesting review of the last three years of the War and the first two years of the Peace.
August 3, 2020
Still very good, but unlike the first volume starting before the war, stretching out until 1947 seems an afterthought.
January 24, 2021
The quality of this justly acclaimed duet and the insight it provides should make it one of the definitive works on the subject.
April 24, 2021
Wow. Fantastic global perspective while also rich in specific detail, particularly regarding its coverage of social history. Size of a brick but very readable.
August 11, 2021
Top notch. Chock full of fascinating details that I had no idea about.
December 6, 2022
Increase the first one to 5 stars as these have to be considered as one book.
Too late to write a proper review anymore about this, but I can say that this improved on the first one and added all the things I felt was lacking. Although still the politics part felt somewhat too convoluted to me I enjoyed that the book included more about Dominions too, especially about India during WW2 which is something not often covered.
Too late to write a proper review anymore about this, but I can say that this improved on the first one and added all the things I felt was lacking. Although still the politics part felt somewhat too convoluted to me I enjoyed that the book included more about Dominions too, especially about India during WW2 which is something not often covered.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews