In the summer of 1940 Britain stood alone as Nazi Germany was swiftly tightening its grip on Europe. Hitler's forces appeared to be invincible, having swept through Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands and France. Invasion seemed inevitable as the Fuhrer's eyes turned to Britain, isolated against the might of fascism. But Hitler reckoned without the indomitable will and spirit of the British people and their leader, Winston Churchill.

Brown combines brief historical background on each period of the early years of the war and then adds first habnd accounts from interviews, diaries, memoirs, books and other documents to give the reader a first hand account of what it was like to live in this period. Some of the chapter topics are Dunkirk, England facing Germany alone, preparing for the invasion, the battle in the skies, living through the bombing and the danger at sea.

As an example of what he was trying to do, in his coverage of the air war over England he combines RAF pilots accounts of what it was like to fly against German fighters and bombers and what did the civilians on the ground see and feel at the same time. In some cases, he includes German memories too.

This volume complements Philip Ziegler's "London at War" and Richard North's "The Many, Not the Few". It especially reminds me of North's book because it is also saying that the Battle was won by the participation of everyone, not just the pilots.

Very readable. ( )

Excellent history of the Battle of Britain, with plenty of telling first hand recolections. ( )