From Blackout to Bungalows . . . WWII Home Front Wiltshire and the Austerity Years, 1939-55, by Julie Davis

Weighing in at nearly a kilo, and over 650 pages, this is a comprehensive description of every aspect of the strange and often frightening world of Wiltshire during World War Two. Evacuees, air raids, munitions workers, the home guard, propaganda, army camps, firewatching, prisoners-of-war, land girls – they are all here, with hundreds of illustrations, and drawing evidence from all over Wiltshire. The author’s enthusiasm and thoroughness show through on every page. As well as telling a gripping and sometimes poignant narrative, she places the local experience in the context of national and international events. Nor does she stop when victory was achieved – the effects of the war, in terms of rationing and austerity, continued long afterwards, and her story only ends in 1955. 2016, 653pp illustrated paperback, £19.95, ISBN 978-1-906978-38-9