Stuart Hylton

A review of how a number of aspects of British life were impacted by the development of the railways, particularly in the early years. Topics include railways and - crime, leisure, war, women, political change and many other topics. Particularly noteworthy is the first chapter dealing with 'the shock of the new', detailing the horror of the 19th century aristocracy that the working class might now be able to travel the country, and the many problems this would cause. Of particular note is Wordsworth's observation that ordinary people were not equipped to fully appreciate the beauty of his beloved Lake District, and so it would be better for them not to visit!… (mehr)

We have all seen the pictures of the Great War of the trenches of the devestation of the impasse on the Western Front, we know how it affected our soldiers but we often forget about the war fought at home. Reporting The Great War by Stuart Hylton brings together the reporting of The Great War on the home front bringing in how the newspapers of the day saw the war at home. Using newspapers stories, posters and pictures of the time we get to see what happened on the home front. We are also able to see how the war changed British society in the long term and this is all covered in this delightful book.

This book grasps not only the anti-German feeling but by using the actual words from the newspaper stories is able to grasp and recapture the experience of those left in Blighty during the war. The book not only covers the triumphs but the human tragedies too and how the war united the people of the country. The book covers the four years of the war from the beginning to the end, with an interesting picture outside Buckingham Palace at the declaration of war, which would seem odd to us today unless it was for a victory.

It is often forgotten that London and the south suffered some effects of a bombing campaign from the air and that it was that campaign that killed famous cricketer WG Grace and there is a picture of a house that had suffered from being bombed. To how rationing was seen as the people had to tighten their belts as part of the war campaign here at home. The book also shows that it did not hide the fact that there were consciensious objectors and we can hear their voices too.

One of the lasting effects of the war was the emergency powers act which was still being felt right up until 2003 and that was the licencing laws which limited the hours of public house opening times to stop munitions workers being drunk while working. The role of the demon drink had caused one of the biggest debates during the war with Lloyd George declaring it as big a foe as the Germans! It also insisted that the beer needed to be weaker – terrible news for the drinker.

This is an interesting and at times an amusing read but also important to remember that there was a war being fought at home. The book also shows the changes in society with women working and aiding the war effort not just in nursing but in industry too. This is a book that I highly recommend for all students of history and anyone with a genuine interest in history.… (mehr)