A Companion to Contemporary Britain covers the key themes and debates of 20th-century history from the outbreak of the Second World War to the end of the century. Assesses the impact of the Second World War Looks at Britain’s role in the wider world, including the legacy of Empire, Britain’s ‘special relationship’ with the United States, and integration with continental Europe Explores cultural issues, such as class consciousness, immigration and race relations, changing gender roles, and the impact of the mass media Covers domestic politics and the economy Introduces the varied perspectives dominating historical writing on this period Identifies the key issues which are likely to fuel future debate
Paul Addison Book order (chronological)
Paul Addison was a British author and historian, specializing in the British experience in the Second World War and its effects on post-war society. His works delve deeply into how wartime events shaped British identity and societal shifts, analyzing key moments and figures that influenced the nation's trajectory. Addison's approach is distinguished by meticulous research and a profound insight into the national psyche during a period of transformation.
Firestorm
- 384 pages
- 14 hours of reading
On the night of 13th and 14th February 1945, the RAF bombed the German city of Dresden, causing devastating fires which obliterated the historic city centre and killed many thousands of people. Sixty years later, these raids remain one of the most notorious and also one of the most controversial episodes of the Second World War. The Bombing of Dresden, 1945 assembles a cast of distinguished scholars, including Sebastian Cox, Nicola Lambourne, Soenke Neitzel, Richard Overy and Hew Strachan, to review the origins, conduct, and consequences of the raids. Each contributor writes from his or her own perspective, offering the reader a panoramic reassessment of the evidence and the issues, including the question of whether or not the bombing of the city constitutes a war crime. Firestorm cogently demonstrates the reasons why Dresden has come to symbolize the military and ethical questions involved in the waging of total war.
Published in time for the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, this new history broadens and deepens our understanding of an event that became an instant legend. For the first time, The Burning Blue brings together the facts, the legends, the memories and the judgement of historians in a panoramic reassessment of one of the most famous battles of all time. An international cast of authorities review the Battle from the British and the German sides and explore the way it is remembered today by the airmen who took part in it. The book also traces the legacy of the Battle in British culture since 1940; and pinpoints its significance in the overall history of the Second World War. Contributors include Richard Overy, Brian Bond and Angus Calder.