What do you think?
Rate this book
Living on the Home Front
During the Second World War millions of men left their homes and families to fight for their country. Meanwhile, those waving a tearful goodbye had to carry on. They dug their allotments, measured out their bath water, and presented their ration coupons for food and clothing. Through bombings and blackouts, the people of Britain did whatever they could to aid the war effort. In this detailed and well researched book, we learn what life was really like on the Home Front during the Second World War. Megan Westley enhances her account with her own experiences of 'living on the Home Front'. Over the last year, she has thrown herself into wartime cooking and rationing, espoused the mottos 'Dig for Victory' and 'make do and mend', sacrificed television, and even recreated an air raid. As well as providing a readable, intimate picture of day-to-day life during the era, Living on the Home Front is full of authentic wartime recipes for the reader to try, and tips on everything from growing your own vegetables to mending clothes
224 pages, Hardcover
First published August 19, 2013
4 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 1, 2020
I was looking for some kind of reassurance during these tough times. COVID-19 self-isolation and distancing is hard. But I found reassurance in Living on the Home Front. Author Megan Westley voluntarily lived a wartime lifestyle for a year. She was fine at the end of it. I am reassured that I, we, you, will also be fine at the end of our virus wartime lifestyle.
Westley explores England during World War II in Living on the Home Front, and lived a year in a wartime lifestyle. She discusses such things as the government's reasoning for food rationing, blackouts and clothing austerity, and then she lives the directives.
Rationing and price caps made sure rich people could not hoard at the expense of poor people. Waste of any kind was frowned upon because it risked the lives of people working in the supply chain. Communication was restricted to avoid bad information circulating.
Sound familiar? Some stores are rationing toilet paper and meat. They are setting the first hour of business aside for the elderly, disabled and vulnerable to shop. Waste, especially food waste, is a no-no because you are risking the lives of people who are delivering that food. Communication is restricted when governments and businesses work together to remove false and misleading information (Google removed the InfoWars app because of false claims, Twitter and Facebook have removed posts containing lies). Our self-isolation cuts back on our communication.
Westley's book is very focused on food, complete with Victory Garden grow-your-own-veggies gardening tips and recipes for everything from Spam to gorse wine. There were expectations of austerity, obedience to government orders and acceptance of risk (of death by bomb). Again, sound familiar?
Living on the Home Front is about a modern-day woman who voluntarily takes on, survives and even kind of enjoys this lifestyle, for a year. If Westley can last a year in her sudden lifestyle change, so can I, we, you.
P.S. There is nary a lesbian to be found in Living on the Home Front, in case you were wondering.
Westley explores England during World War II in Living on the Home Front, and lived a year in a wartime lifestyle. She discusses such things as the government's reasoning for food rationing, blackouts and clothing austerity, and then she lives the directives.
Rationing and price caps made sure rich people could not hoard at the expense of poor people. Waste of any kind was frowned upon because it risked the lives of people working in the supply chain. Communication was restricted to avoid bad information circulating.
Sound familiar? Some stores are rationing toilet paper and meat. They are setting the first hour of business aside for the elderly, disabled and vulnerable to shop. Waste, especially food waste, is a no-no because you are risking the lives of people who are delivering that food. Communication is restricted when governments and businesses work together to remove false and misleading information (Google removed the InfoWars app because of false claims, Twitter and Facebook have removed posts containing lies). Our self-isolation cuts back on our communication.
Westley's book is very focused on food, complete with Victory Garden grow-your-own-veggies gardening tips and recipes for everything from Spam to gorse wine. There were expectations of austerity, obedience to government orders and acceptance of risk (of death by bomb). Again, sound familiar?
Living on the Home Front is about a modern-day woman who voluntarily takes on, survives and even kind of enjoys this lifestyle, for a year. If Westley can last a year in her sudden lifestyle change, so can I, we, you.
P.S. There is nary a lesbian to be found in Living on the Home Front, in case you were wondering.
October 8, 2018
This year I promised myself that I'd read more non fiction; sadly I've not read as much as I'd like, yet! I think it's going to be a continuous effort.
This read focuses on Megan living one year as though it was WW2. It was interesting to see how the changes had an impact on Megan, this woven with historical timelines for each chapter, made for a good read. What shocked me most was the rationing, of course I knew it was there, however to such extent was new for me.
Megan includes many gardening tips and recipes to help you recreate, should you wish.
As always, much admiration for those that came before us.
This read focuses on Megan living one year as though it was WW2. It was interesting to see how the changes had an impact on Megan, this woven with historical timelines for each chapter, made for a good read. What shocked me most was the rationing, of course I knew it was there, however to such extent was new for me.
Megan includes many gardening tips and recipes to help you recreate, should you wish.
As always, much admiration for those that came before us.
January 18, 2016
I thought this was an absolutely fascinating book on how people had to deal with living in England while WWII was going on. I think the woman had a very good idea. I like the timelines that are given along with the personal glimpses into how she was trying to live in the 1940's while actually living in the present day.
It's interesting to see how deep the rationing system went in England and how little they had to get by on. I'm following this up by reading Bomb Girls and Homefires since they are about the same time. Everyone suffers in a war, not just the dead.
It's interesting to see how deep the rationing system went in England and how little they had to get by on. I'm following this up by reading Bomb Girls and Homefires since they are about the same time. Everyone suffers in a war, not just the dead.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews