Christmas at War by Caroline Taggart

Christmas at War focuses on the six Christmases between 1939 and 1945, when Britain was at war. It includes first-hand testimonies from diaries and letters compiled from this period, providing us with an accurate and invaluable account of how the British people celebrated Christmas during this dark time.

These often funny, first-hand accounts and stories reminisce of a time when the dog ate the entire Christmas roast, crackers were homemade with no crack inside and you shouted ‘bang’ when they were pulled. But they also recounted a time when there was often no turkey, no money for presents and more importantly a shortage of husbands, brothers and sons who were away fighting in the war. It was a time and a country that was very different to that which we know today. It was a time when ‘we just got on with living and made the best of everything’.

Being interested in history and social history (particularly the 1940’s), I really enjoyed reading this book. It is difficult to imagine the struggles that people faced during the war and this book serves as a bittersweet reminder as to the true values of Christmas.

Bewitched By Books Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️