On the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Emma Smith uncovers five unexpected stories about how World War Two changed books and reading forever.
As the BBC marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Professor Emma Smith uncovers five unexpected stories about how World War Two changed books, publishing and reading forever.
As the war progressed, readers often returned to old favourites but there was also a demand for books which specifically responded to or reflected wartime needs. With food security an increasing issue and the demands of rationing biting harder, cookery publishing grew and grew. Ambrose Heath published no fewer than 29 books, as well as appearing on the BBC’s own daily broadcast, The Kitchen Front. Emma digs out a copy of Heath’s Vegetables for Victory and wonders whether its many, many recipes for an alphabet of vegetables from artichokes to wild garlic, are still tasty today.
With contributions from Bee Wilson
Produced for Just Radio by Beaty Rubens
