The Words of War: British Forces' Personal Letters and Diaries During the Second World War

Using the Imperial War Museum's vast archive of personal diaries, this remarkable anthology examines the stories of ordinary men and women who fought, and in some cases died, on the front line and home front during World War II. From the young officer facing defeat and capture at Dunkirk; the pilot officer losing friends and comrades during the Battle of Britain; the Land Girl dealing with a new life in the countryside; the Royal Naval seaman fighting the weather in the Russian convoys; the infantryman about to hit the beaches on D-Day; the bomb aimer aboard an Avro Lancaster as it heads towards another German target; to the war against the Japanese, this unique publication vividly documents the harsh realities of day-to-day life during the conflict. With each diary entry placed in context within a historical narrative that weaves together the complete story for the reader, The Words of War provides a poignant and emotional insight into the human cost of war, while shedding new light on this unforgettable period in history.

Marcus Cowper is an editor of Osprey military history books and the author of Cathar Castles.