
The British Home Front and the First World War
Hew Strachan(Editor)
Cambridge University Press
Published on 2. March 2023
Book
Hardback
708 pages
978-1-316-51549-5 (ISBN)
Description
The First World War required the mobilisation of entire societies, regardless of age or gender. The phrase 'home front' was itself a product of the war with parts of Britain literally a war front, coming under enemy attack from the sea and increasingly the air. However, the home front also conveyed the war's impact on almost every aspect of British life, economic, social and domestic. In the fullest account to-date, leading historians show how the war blurred the division between what was military and not, and how it made many conscious of their national identities for the first time. They reveal how its impact changed Britain for ever, transforming the monarchy, promoting systematic cabinet government, and prompting state intervention in a country which prided itself on its liberalism and its support for free trade. In many respects we still live with the consequences.
Reviews / Votes
'This is the most comprehensive reassessment of the 'Home Front' in the United Kingdom that has been published for a generation. It will provide an indispensable starting point for future scholars of the war and helpful and enlightening reading to those who have a general interest in Britain and Ireland during this period.' Adrian Gregory, author of The Last Great War: British Society and the First World War 'In the fullest study in a generation, leading historians use social, economic, cultural, and political history to shine new light on Britain's home front in the Great War. They show why civilians were central to a 'total war' and integrate Ireland as part of the United Kingdom of the period.' John Horne, editor of A Companion to World War I 'This collection makes a vital contribution to the political, economic and social history of the First World War. Drawing on the expertise of leading scholars in their fields, it provides a comprehensive study of the British Home Front. It forms an essential addition to the historical literature of the war.' Jessica Meyer, author of Men of War: Masculinity and the First World War in Britain 'Hew Strachan's edited volume adds a strong scholarly voice to the chorus of commemoration still echoing from the centenary of the Great War. Here is a book which respects local identities and imperial loyalties, and shows how British initiatives in the management of manpower, production and finance underwrote victory in the 1914-18 war.' Jay Winter, author of Sites of Memory, Sites of Mourning: The Great War in European Cultural History 'a snapshot of cutting-edge historical research ... impressive and important. It brings together over 30 scholars writing on a disparate array of topics, illustrated by contemporary photographs, cartoons and posters. Scholarly collections, particularly of conference proceedings, have a nasty habit of being bit of a ragbag, lacking a coherent theme, but this is emphatically not true of this book.' Gary Sheffield, The Western Front Association 'Essential.' F. Krome, Choice '... the volume makes an important contribution to research on the British home front and is suitable as a detailed thematic reference book.' Mathis J. Gronau, Zeitschrift fuer Geschichtswissenschaft 'A wonderful collection of essays that act as a foundational primer on research into the home front in Britain during the First World War.' Angus Wallace, International Journal of Military History and Historiography 'Bringing into attention an important topic for the contemporary historical scholarship, namely the Great War and the social perception on it, [the book] manages therefore to provide both an interesting lecture for any category of readers, but also an invitation to analysis and introspection for the specialists.' Iuliu-Marius Morariu, Astra SalvensisMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 42 mm
Weight
1159 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-316-51549-5 (9781316515495)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Hew Strachan
The British Home Front and the First World War
Book
03/2023
Cambridge University Press
€49.10
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Hew Strachan
The British Home Front and the First World War
E-Book
02/2023
Cambridge University Press
€31.49
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Hew Strachan
British Home Front and the First World War
E-Book
10/2022
Cambridge University Press
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Content
Introduction Hew Strachan; 1. The United Kingdom in 1914 Catriona Pennell; Part I. Government: 2. The monarchy Heather Jones; 3. The growth of cabinet government George Peden; 4. The defence of the realm act G. R. Rubin; 5. Local Government: The experience of Essex Stuart Hallifax; 6. The clergy and cultural mobilisation Edward Madigan; Part II. Resources: 7. Iron and steel Peter Claughton; 8. Timber Rob Newman; 9. Fishing Robb Robinson; 10. Agriculture Keith Grieves; 11. Coal David Howell; 12. Finance Jonathan Boff; Part III. People: 13. Labour, the labour party and the trades unions Chris Wrigley; 14. Enlistment and conscription Ian Beckett; 15. Charities Peter Grant; 16. Refugees Pierre Purseigle; 17. Prisoners of war and internees Panikos Panayi; Part IV. Production: 18. Munitions Gerard Charmley; 19. Clothing and uniforms Krisztina Robert; 20. Shipbuilding and ship repair Hugh Murphy; 21. Railways Christopher Phillips; 22. Seaborne trade and merchant shipping Martin Wilcox and David J. Starkey; 23. Food Mary Elisabeth Cox; Part V. Social Impacts: 24. Press and propaganda David Monger; 25. Pacifism Martin Ceadel; 26. Homes and families Maggie Andrews; 27. Crime and policing Louise A. Jackson; 28. Children Rosie Kennedy; 29. The home front as war front Susan R. Grayzel; 30. The United Kingdom in 1919 Martin Daunton.