My war diary, 1914-1918 Bilbrough, Ethel M
Part scrapbook, part memoir. A colourful and eloquent diary brims with vivid observations, providing a rare snapshot of what life was like on the Home Front during the First World War.
Amateur artist, animal lover and keen writer of letters to the papers, Mrs Bilbrough witnessed the men leaving for war (her husband, Kenneth, a banker in the City, was fortunately too old to be called up); the horses at Waterloo waiting to be transported to France; bombings and airraids; the introduction of the Daylight Saving Bill and food price increases (her consternation as the price of a tin of tongue rose from 2/- to 4/6 is clear!). She also writes at her outrage at the shooting of British nurse Edith Cavell; her sadness when Lord Kitchener is drowned at sea; her alarm as Zeppelins flew over Kent and her anger at the wide-ranging German atrocities. Her relief as war ended is palpable ('PEACE! The armistice is signed, "the day" has come at last! And it is ours!').
Interspersed with her daily jottings are cuttings and cartoons, her own watercolours and drawings and the colourful flags that were sold to raise money for the troops. Charming yet moving, this diary gives us a taste of what it was really like to live through the Great War, seen from the perspective of an acute social observer.
Amateur artist, animal lover and keen writer of letters to the papers, Mrs Bilbrough witnessed the men leaving for war (her husband, Kenneth, a banker in the City, was fortunately too old to be called up); the horses at Waterloo waiting to be transported to France; bombings and airraids; the introduction of the Daylight Saving Bill and food price increases (her consternation as the price of a tin of tongue rose from 2/- to 4/6 is clear!). She also writes at her outrage at the shooting of British nurse Edith Cavell; her sadness when Lord Kitchener is drowned at sea; her alarm as Zeppelins flew over Kent and her anger at the wide-ranging German atrocities. Her relief as war ended is palpable ('PEACE! The armistice is signed, "the day" has come at last! And it is ours!').
Interspersed with her daily jottings are cuttings and cartoons, her own watercolours and drawings and the colourful flags that were sold to raise money for the troops. Charming yet moving, this diary gives us a taste of what it was really like to live through the Great War, seen from the perspective of an acute social observer.
My Secret War Diary, by Flossie Albright
The year is 1939, and Britain is about to declare war on Germany. After Flossie's father joins the army, the nine-year-old girl is left to care for both her baby brother and her great-uncle. In a collage-style diary merging photos, postcards, and other memorabilia, Flossie relays events ranging from the arrival of evacuees to the wrenching news that her cousin has been killed. Her vibrant first-person narration reveals a humor and a fihting spirit that sees her through many a hardship until she welcomes her dad home at last
Archie's War by Marcia Williams
Ten-year-old Archie, his family, and best friend in a scrapbook Archie has made himself, full of comic strips and plenty of other memorabilia. The year is 1914, and as the Great War begins, Archie’s scrapbook reflects the war’s impact on his life and on those who write back from the front. Marcia Williams retains her humor and energy as she employs a new collage style to present an intimate and compelling view of the First World War and its era.
Farm Boy Paperback – 29 Sep 2011 by Michael Morpurgo
The magical sequel to 'War Horse', soon to be a major motion picture. Joey was the last working horse on the farm, and the apple of Grandpa's eye. In War Horse, Joey was sent away from the farm to be a warhorse in WWI. Grandpa had joined the cavalry in order to find, and fight, with Joey. Farm Boy brings us forward fifty years with Grandpa not only telling his grandson, Joey's story but also a 'shameful secret' which he has held for years...The story is set in Iddesleigh in Devon and lovingly evokes the bonds between farm and farmer; grandson and grandfather. The spirit of rural life is superbly captured in both Michael Morpurgo's writing and Michael Foreman's illustrations. An irresistible title from acclaimed author-illustrator partnership.
When the comics went to war: comic book war heroes By Riches, Adam
“When the Comics Went to War” by Adam Riches and published by Mainstream Publishing is an authoritative history of British war comics from the first publications to appear in the 1880s through to the last new titles to appear in the 1990s. The book has a wealth of interesting material from Victorian times, the end of the Empire, through both World Wars and up into the Cold War and modern times, when titles like “The Victor”, “Valiant” and “Warlord” had circulations of over two million copies a week. Tragically these books, like all British boys comics, have all now disappeared.
The early sections of the book covering the Victorian and Boer War periods are particularly appealing as they cover areas where there is very little detailed academic research. The story of the “penny dreadfuls” is fascinating, with the book following in detail the birth of the genre with Edwin Brett’s “The Boys of England” through to its evolution into what we would recognise today as the comic book. There are some interesting sociological points to be drawn, particularly the parallels between the persecution of the “penny dreadfuls” and later scares – be that the “Seduction of the Innocents comics panic” of the 1950’s or the “video nasties” furore of the ‘80s. Lord’s Shaftesbury’s comments of 1878 on the malign influence of these early comics are particularly revealing. Speaking about the “dreadfuls” his concerns were that they were “…creeping not only into the houses of the poor, neglected and untaught but into the largest mansions; penetrating into religious families and astounding careful parents with its frightful issues”. Never has the class basis of censorship been so perfectly and elloquently laid bare.
The book is well written although the language tended to become a touch turgid and repetitive in parts, but not enough to become overly distracting. A nice art paper is used throughout and this highlights the many and beautiful illustrations to excellent effect. Overall this is a superbly put together package and a truly fascinating read.
The early sections of the book covering the Victorian and Boer War periods are particularly appealing as they cover areas where there is very little detailed academic research. The story of the “penny dreadfuls” is fascinating, with the book following in detail the birth of the genre with Edwin Brett’s “The Boys of England” through to its evolution into what we would recognise today as the comic book. There are some interesting sociological points to be drawn, particularly the parallels between the persecution of the “penny dreadfuls” and later scares – be that the “Seduction of the Innocents comics panic” of the 1950’s or the “video nasties” furore of the ‘80s. Lord’s Shaftesbury’s comments of 1878 on the malign influence of these early comics are particularly revealing. Speaking about the “dreadfuls” his concerns were that they were “…creeping not only into the houses of the poor, neglected and untaught but into the largest mansions; penetrating into religious families and astounding careful parents with its frightful issues”. Never has the class basis of censorship been so perfectly and elloquently laid bare.
The book is well written although the language tended to become a touch turgid and repetitive in parts, but not enough to become overly distracting. A nice art paper is used throughout and this highlights the many and beautiful illustrations to excellent effect. Overall this is a superbly put together package and a truly fascinating read.
War comics: a graphic history By Conroy, Mike
As long as comic books have existed, there have been comics about war. War Stories: A Graphic History is the first book to examine this genre of comics in depth, tracing the development of warfare—from Thermopylae to the Napoleonic Wars; the American Revolutionary and Civil Wars to World Wars I and II; and from the Korean and Vietnam Wars to modern day conflicts—through the eyes of some of comics' greatest creators.
Through the filter of sequential art, this lush and exciting visual compilation explores the history of global conflict—from the Alamo to Pearl Harbor, from Dunkirk to Iraq and Afghanistan—and features exquisite art from around the world.
Looking at comics book from the world wars. The colours are vibrant. the typography is bold and in the face. it is intense. I have to say the comics are sending out positive messages as well as entertaining them.
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