The 1950s

Our recent history (i.e. World War II onwards) is brought alive through six people's real life experiences and memories of everyday life, and a wealth of memorabilia, ephemera and archive photography. Each book is broken up into thematic spreads: school, at home, work, entertainment etc and different voices recall their experiences relating to them. There is not one single voice through the book but a variety, allowing for a range of views and a mixture of ages. The back of the book includes a timeline and glossary. World War II topics include the day war broke out, air raids, daily life at home, life in the country, the home front, navy operations, women, VE day. Experiences include an evacuee, a land girl, a naval commando, and an ATS girl. The 1950s topics include Rock and Roll, Cinema, the festival of Britain, the Coronation and the Cold War. Experiences include a school child, a young housewife, a Jamaican immigrant, a young man, an alternative national service, and a teenage rock and roll fan.