In May 1940, with Hitler posing the greatest threat to Britain since Napoleon, the country's new Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, admitted to the nation that he could only offer a regime of "blood, toil, tears and sweat".
With hindsight, one could add many other things to the list, including heartbreak, fear, personal discomfort, severe food shortages, the possible bombing of one's home and the curtailment of civil liberties.
Juliet Gardiner has written an excellent social history about life on Britain's home front during the Second World War. She demolishes a few myths and throws new light on measures such as the evacuation of children, the blackout, rationing, internment of enemy aliens, and how the nation coped with the devastating German air raids.
Churchill also said the objective must be "victory at all costs".
Fortunately, that victory was achieved. It is also fortunate that the road leading to it was not a lot worse, on the home front, than turned out to be the case. It easily might have been.
Wartime - Britain 1939-1945 by Juliet Gardiner is published by Headline priced £20.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article