The Diaries of Ronald Tritton, War Office Publicity Officer 1940-45 (Helion Studies in Military History Book 9)

If you like WW2 diaries, you'll find this interesting, and perhaps surprising. Here is a man in his 30s, with a house and a flat in London, and a weekend house in Sussex, who dines out almost every night at the Savoy and other smart restaurants. Apart from some inconveniences to his train journeys to and from Sussex, and being awoken by bombs, the war seems to have scarcely any impact. I'm only a quarter way through, so maybe he comes face ro face with reality later on. So, whilst not a typical war diary, his experiences are of value to read about, because they are not typical. Editing seems a bit lazy - some transcription errors, nothing about how much of the original diary has been published nor how the editing choices were made, and the footnotes are thin and dull. But as I said, worthwhile if diaries of this period are your thing, or propaganda or film.

I am rather biased as the diaries are my father's, however mostly it was before I was born. Life during the was in London is very interesting - restaurants / films / theatre etc. Also the extraordinary work of a civilian that worked in the War Office. Also the general problems of travel, rationing, heating etc. It is perhaps more a 'dipping' book rather than a sit down and read from start to finnish book. Certainly worth getting.