The Last Bookshop of London

 I finished another book by Madeline Martin titled The Last Bookshop in London. Although I can't say this book pulled at my heartstrings as much as the last (The Booklover’s Library), it gave a historical account of the German Blitzkrieg ( bombings) on London. 

This “sustained strategic bombing campaign” lasted from September 1940 to May 1941. The people of London saw their homes and businesses destroyed, along with a loss of 40,000 lives. 

The book tells the story of a young woman who moved to London right before the war broke out, looking for a job. She begins working at a dusty, old bookshop, where she falls in love with reading. 

It is a story of grit, determination, and love. If you want to learn more about what the British endured during World War II at their own doorstep, you will enjoy this book. From sleeping nightly in the tube (subway) to rationing of food, nightly bombings, children rehomed to the country, and the conscription and death of soldiers, you will come away with a much better understanding of this time in history. 

One of the most interesting facts I learned about was the Armed Service Editions of books distributed to American soldiers. These were pocket-sized paper books published for the troops. They could fit into uniform pockets to provide entertainment and education, with the motto: “Books are weapons in the war of ideas.”