Mr.Brown's War: A Diary of the Second World War

by Richard Brown (Author), Helen D. Millgate (Editor)

• Used

  Paperback
  2003

  $3.25

  Richard Brown kept a personal war diary throughout the whole of World War II. In it he recorded the war news as he perceived it, gleaned from newspapers, the wireless and hearsay. Along with describing the development of the war, he has captured an image of life in wartime Britain, with rationing, blackout restrictions, interrupted sleep, the prospect of evacuation and the enormous burden placed on civilians coping with a full-time job as well as war work. Mr Brown was a well-informed man who made his own judgements. His attitude to the war is fascinating, as he never doubts ultimate victory, despite being impatient and scathing about the conduct of the war. His observations range from the pithy to the humorous and scathing. Above all, his diaries reflect the moral and social attitudes of the period, and the desire to be fully involved in the war effort. They also totally refute the argument that the British public were kept in ignorance of the bad news.

• Used

  Paperback
  1999

  $3.25

  Richard Brown - an ordinary member of the public - kept a personal diary throughout the whole of World War II, recording war news as he perceived it, gleaned from newspapers, hearsay and the wireless. Along with this narrative of the war, he presented an image of life in wartime Britain - rationing, blackout restrictions, interrupted sleep, the prospect of evacuation and the enormous burden placed on those civilians coping with a full-time job and the extra demands of war work. In addition to his reserved occupation as a draughtsman, Richard Brown also did his bit for the war effort as an air-raid warden, Home Guard and occasional Fire Watcher. Like so many others, Richard Brown was inspired by Churchill's leadership and oratory. Looking abroad, he was as disgusted by the French capitulation as he was admiring of the Russians. He never doubted ultimate victory, but he was frequently impatient and critical of the conduct of the war. A well-informed man who made his own judgements, Mr Brown's diary entries were carefully considered; his observations range from the pithy to the humorous and the scathing. The diaries offer a window on the period, reflecting the moral and social attitudes of the time and the need to be fully involved in the war effort, but they also refute the argument that the British public was kept in ignorance of the bad news.