Eyewitness 1940 - 1949
Joanna Bourke Audio Book

Authentic voices from the past illustrate this unique history of the Twentieth Century, written by Joanna Bourke and presented by Tim Pigott-Smith.'Eyewitness' provides a rare and fascinating opportunity to hear the events of the century described by those who saw them happen. A wealth of BBC archive recordings, some never previously broadcast, is interwoven with an illuminating commentary by the historian Joanna Bourke. Published in ten volumes, 'Eyewitness' examines the role and the life of the British people in each decade of the century.In May 1940, Hitler invaded the Netherlands and the phoney war was over. It would take five years to defeat Nazi tyranny in Europe and finally, in August 1945, the dropping of two atomic bombs on Japan to bring the Second World War to an end. Post-war Britain saw a return to austerity, but conditions gradually improved and the National Health Service came into being. Internationally, Soviet Russia retreated behind the Iron Curtain. A new enemy was defined - communism.Servicemen and women remember the battles on air, sea and land; prisoners of war describe how they coped and civilians speak of bombs and doodlebugs. The words of Winston Churchill, JB Priestley and the irreverence of ITMA boosted morale in the darkest hours, and throughout it all the BBC’s own correspondents all over the world reported on this turbulent decade.Thought-provoking and moving, these are the voices of the past, speaking to the present.'BBC Audiobooks have had the happy inspiration of using the BBC’s monumental library of archive recordings...' – Times.'... a compelling selection that gives stimulating insights into great events of the opening years of the last century' - Sunday Times.'The BBC’s skilful mapping of the 20th century through the medium of its vast oral archive continues into what is, for baby boomers like myself, a dimly remembered reality, and becomes all the more fascinating for that reason' - BBC History Magazine.'The Eyewitness series should be compulsory listening for anyone under the age of 30' - North West Evening Mail.'A fascinating trip back in time' - Essex Chronicle.'This must be as close to the horse’s mouth as history gets' – Guardian.'Rich, varied and important voices bringing history alive' - Songs of Praise Magazine.'... intelligent, illuminating and evocative...' - BBC History Magazine.'Well-chosen clips bring it all to life...' - Sunday Times.'Eyewitness is a lost treasure trove of lost accents and cadences...' – Observer.'There is no doubt that this uniquely detailed oral history of Britain is one of the greatest achievements in Audiobook publishing' - BBC History Magazine. Authentic voices from the past illustrate this unique history of the Twentieth Century, written by Joanna Bourke and presented by Tim Pigott-Smith.'Eyewitness' provides a rare and fascinating opportunity to hear the events of the century described by those who saw them happen. A wealth of BBC archive recordings, some never previously broadcast, is interwoven with an illuminating commentary by the historian Joanna Bourke. Published in ten volumes, 'Eyewitness' examines the role and the life of the British people in each decade of the century.In May 1940, Hitler invaded the Netherlands and the phoney war was over. It would take five years to defeat Nazi tyranny in Europe and finally, in August 1945, the dropping of two atomic bombs on Japan to bring the Second World War to an end. Post-war Britain saw a return to austerity, but conditions gradually improved and the National Health Service came into being. Internationally, Soviet Russia retreated behind the Iron Curtain. A new enemy was defined - communism.Servicemen and women remember the battles on air, sea and land; prisoners of war describe how they coped and civilians speak of bombs and doodlebugs. The words of Winston Churchill, JB Priestley and the irreverence of ITMA boosted morale in the darkest hours, and throughout it all the BBC’s own correspondents all over the world reported on this turbulent decade.Thought-provoking and moving, these are the voices of the past, speaking to the present.'BBC Audiobooks have had the happy inspiration of using the BBC’s monumental library of archive recordings...' – Times.'... a compelling selection that gives stimulating insights into great events of the opening years of the last century' - Sunday Times.'The BBC’s skilful mapping of the 20th century through the medium of its vast oral archive continues into what is, for baby boomers like myself, a dimly remembered reality, and becomes all the more fascinating for that reason' - BBC History Magazine.'The Eyewitness series should be compulsory listening for anyone under the age of 30' - North West Evening Mail.'A fascinating trip back in time' - Essex Chronicle.'This must be as close to the horse’s mouth as history gets' – Guardian.'Rich, varied and important voices bringing history alive' - Songs of Praise Magazine.'... intelligent, illuminating and evocative...' - BBC History Magazine.'Well-chosen clips bring it all to life...' - Sunday Times.'Eyewitness is a lost treasure trove of lost accents and cadences...' – Observer.'There is no doubt that this uniquely detailed oral history of Britain is one of the greatest achievements in Audiobook publishing' - BBC History Magazine. Authentic voices from the past illustrate this unique history of the Twentieth Century, written by Joanna Bourke and presented by Tim Pigott-Smith.'Eyewitness' provides a rare and fascinating opportunity to hear the events of the century described by those who saw them happen. A wealth of BBC archive recordings, some never previously broadcast, is interwoven with an illuminating commentary by the historian Joanna Bourke. Published in ten volumes, 'Eyewitness' examines the role and the life of the British people in each decade of the century.In May 1940, Hitler invaded the Netherlands and the phoney war was over. It would take five years to defeat Nazi tyranny in Europe and finally, in August 1945, the dropping of two atomic bombs on Japan to bring the Second World War to an end. Post-war Britain saw a return to austerity, but conditions gradually improved and the National Health Service came into being. Internationally, Soviet Russia retreated behind the Iron Curtain. A new enemy was defined - communism.Servicemen and women remember the battles on air, sea and land; prisoners of war describe how they coped and civilians speak of bombs and doodlebugs. The words of Winston Churchill, JB Priestley and the irreverence of ITMA boosted morale in the darkest hours, and throughout it all the BBC’s own correspondents all over the world reported on this turbulent decade.Thought-provoking and moving, these are the voices of the past, speaking to the present.'BBC Audiobooks have had the happy inspiration of using the BBC’s monumental library of archive recordings...' – Times.'... a compelling selection that gives stimulating insights into great events of the opening years of the last century' - Sunday Times.'The BBC’s skilful mapping of the 20th century through the medium of its vast oral archive continues into what is, for baby boomers like myself, a dimly remembered reality, and becomes all the more fascinating for that reason' - BBC History Magazine.'The Eyewitness series should be compulsory listening for anyone under the age of 30' - North West Evening Mail.'A fascinating trip back in time' - Essex Chronicle.'This must be as close to the horse’s mouth as history gets' – Guardian.'Rich, varied and important voices bringing history alive' - Songs of Praise Magazine.'... intelligent, illuminating and evocative...' - BBC History Magazine.'Well-chosen clips bring it all to life...' - Sunday Times.'Eyewitness is a lost treasure trove of lost accents and cadences...' – Observer.'There is no doubt that this uniquely detailed oral history of Britain is one of the greatest achievements in Audiobook publishing' - BBC History Magazine.