The Second World War in Colour

by Stewart Binns, Adrian Wood

The Second World War is the most documented, devastating and disastrous war in human history. This book presents new insight into the events that shaped the modern world, events from the invasion of Poland to the atom bomb that devastated Hiroshima.'

Genres: Nonfiction, History

208 pages, Hardcover

First published September 2, 1999

About the author

Stewart Binns began his professional life as an academic. He then pursued several adventures, including a stint at the BBC, before settling into a career as a schoolteacher, specializing in history. Later in life, a lucky break took him back to the BBC, which was the beginning of a successful career in television. He has won a BAFTA, a Grierson, an RTS and a Peabody for his documentaries. Stewart's passion is English history, especially its origins and folklore. Conquest is his first novel.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book on sale at an old library, loads of books were being sold off to clear space for the new, this one seemed to jump out at me. Possibly because the Second World War, for some reason, fascinates me and being able to see colour pictures made it seem all the more real!

The pictures are not the stars of the book though, the diary entries are! So many entries and different points of view from all kinds of people, we are able to read about people's thoughts, fears, feelings and frustrations at different points of the war.

As for the pictures, which is why I believe most people would pick up a book like this, they were okay but I wouldn’t say they were fantastic, nor were they rare or unseen - I have seen many of these pictures before in other books, so really there’s not much that sets this book apart from any other book on World War Two.

However, it is beautifully put together and packed full of interesting information and history.

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Michael Kerjman · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing monument to bravery and will of fighting fascism looking so averagly-ordinary under fright sun and blue skies depicted with photos in color.

It's not a history notebook but history visualized to its best.

[Theresa Hagey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done and a fascinating study of viewing things in real life color. Those who fought in the war didn't see soldier wounds or sinking ships as we often do in black and white photographs. This books repaints those pictures in our minds so that our memory may have color also.

The section on the Holocaust was shocking, as the photos we often see are in black and white. Life, of course, is not black and white, so the stacks of bloating corpses, the ovens, shoes, clothes in color were a unnerving sight to say the least.

Great resource.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting! pictures were great but even more the vast selection of diary entries from almost all sides in the war, personal stories & feelings & events.