Book review - The Book at War

 * In celebration of the paperback release of The Book at War, I was very kindly sent this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Profile Books!
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Synopsis:

In The Book at War, acclaimed historian Andrew Pettegree traces the surprising ways in which written culture - from travel guides and scientific papers to Biggles and Anne Frank - has shaped, and been shaped, by the conflicts of the modern age.

From the American Civil War to the invasion of Ukraine, books, authors and readers have gone to war - and in the process become both deadly weapons and our most persuasive arguments for peace.

My review:

The Book at War, by Andrew Pettegree, provides us with a timely and thought-provoking look at the roles of books and libraries during wartime and the different ways the written word was used positively and negatively.

This book was meticulously researched; the author mentions how he drew on three main sources: books about war, the books generated by war, and archival material: contemporary letters, memoranda, diaries, the administration of wartime publishing and the displacement of libraries.

Andrew Pettegree looks at how books and libraries could be used as both weapons and persuasive arguments for peace during the time spanning the American Civil War to the invasion of Ukraine (although much of the content is focused on World War II and Europe). There is even mention of 21st-century wars and how living in a digital age has changed things when it comes to how we consume our information.

The reader learns about how war affected reading trends, how publishing was affected, and how cheaper books were an accessible means of entertainment and information for soldiers and families during wartime. How maps and guidebooks helped plan the invasion of Normandy, the scientific papers that laid the foundations of the nuclear age and the Blitz libraries of the Underground. The author also explains how libraries were not only destroyed to dismantle a culture, but they were also of great value and sometimes used to help one have a better understanding of the enemy. (The reason why some books survived!)

Although this is not a book I would have normally picked up, I found it fascinating, engaging and highly informative; it made me pause for thought many times during reading. I also loved the many illustrations and photos.

Buy your copy here.