Vera Mary Brittain, England’s Hour: An Autobiography 1939-1941

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Written in 1940 during the Battle of Britain and first published in 1941, Vera Brittain’s

England’s Hour

is a day-to-day account of life in England during the German Blitzkrieg of 1940. The account focuses on the everyday experiences of ordinary Britons. Brittain, who came of age during the Great War of 1914-18, and served on the front line as a nurse in France, Malta, and London, riveted a nation with her autobiography,

Testament of Youth

, which became a classic best seller upon publication in 1933. A dedicated pacifist and feminist as a result of her experiences in the First World War, Brittain spent her life as a writer and advocate for peace and social justice.

Having read history at Somerville College, Oxford, Brittain was deeply aware of the importance of recording history on a

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Citation: Ockerstrom, Lolly. "England’s Hour: An Autobiography 1939-1941". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 12 September 2011 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=23727, accessed 19 March 2024.]

23727 England’s Hour: An Autobiography 1939-1941 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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