I listened to a good chat on the History Hack podcast with anthologist Becky Brown who put together a book from the diaries of the Mass Observations Archive (hope I've named that right) this year. ("Blitz Spirit" is the title of her book). She did this because she was so ticked off at inaccurate statements made about what ordinary people actually thought and did during the war. Very interesting stuff and many things connect more with the moment of COVID than they might have done in any other year, from grumbling about gas masks to people who thought blackouts didn't do any good. But also strange and somewhat funny things like no one being able to buy a piano at one point. (because there was less to spend money on, and some people had higher paying jobs in the war). Of course none of this may be news here but I think it's good if a few people become more informed. Haven't got the book but the interview with her is worth a listen. #312 History Hack: The Blitz
Chris a link here i posted Mass Ob in a suburb of London during the war Mass Observation:EASTCOTE 1939 – 1941: the Mass Observation diary of Diarist No. 5129
