Air Raid

This revealing book sets out to provide a first-hand account of the Blitz upon an ordinary and very recently married couple in Upminster, Essex. The Blitz diary, written by the author's mother, began less than a year after she had married, which itself was just three days before the Declaration of War in 1939. It may be quite representative of the experiences of millions. The diary entries throw light on the minutiae of trying to continue everyday life with a sense of normality against the backdrop of fear an uncertainty. As well as the diary itself, an absorbing background history is provided together with connected stories, whilst the place of the Blitz in the wider war is contemplated by including information about the impact in Essex. Life as hard for most before the war; it became much worse for six years and it then became possible for the survivors to rebuild in a time of relative prosperity. However, the mental scars remained. Three phases of 'before, during and after' are reflected both in the family story and that of the wider picture.

Résumé
This gripping account of the impact of the Blitz upon an Upminster couple was recently unearthed by the diarist's son. The harrowing events described so poignantly had an immediate effect on the author, who set out to compile this tribute both to his family and the countless people who have experienced or died from air raids. The Blitz diary began less than a year after Mary Hoodless had married, just three days before the Declaration of War in 1939. Such a personal record running through the Blitz period is unique. The entries throw light on the minutiae of trying to continue everyday life with a sense of normality against the backdrop of fear and uncertainty. As well as the diary itself, the place of the Blitz in the wider war is contemplated. Life was hard for most before the war; it became much worse for six years and it then became possible for the survivors to rebuild in a time of relative prosperity. All three phases are described in the family story. The moving narrative of the diary together with the explanation of the bigger picture demonstrate the courage, humour and great determination of ordinary Essex people in the face of war.