Britain's finest hour was also its most desperate. In 1940 Hitler's armies occupied most of Europe, our shattered army struggled home from Dunkirk and the nation faced the threats of invasion and the bombing Blitz. Rallying to the crisis Priestley told the free world in his war-time broadcasts of the British people's struggle to survive in this first People's War, as the nation rallied to defend democracy. He developed a new vision of a better post-war world-the New Jerusalem- which was to be the reward for their sacrifices. From April 1940 he attempted to rally the world, and particularly the United States, to Britain's cause, ending the broadcasts only in 1943, the beginning of the end, when the job was largely done. Published here for the first time, these overseas broadcasts "Britain Speaks" provide a fascinating record of the People's War, the spirit of a beleaguered nation and the building of national morale all chronicled by a master broadcaster. Priestley spoke. The World Listened. The People won.

About the Author
Austin Mitchell was Labour MP for Grimsby from 1977 until 2015 and is a former member of the public accounts committee. Born in Bradford, Mitchell was educated at Woodbottom Council School, Bingley Grammar School, the University of Manchester and Nuffield College, Oxford. From 1959-63 he lectured in history at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. He was a journalist at Yorkshire Television, from 1969 to 1977, presenting their regional news programme Calendar. He has also worked for the BBC. He is the author of several books, the most recent Confessions of a Political Maverick was published in 2018.


Book Information
ISBN 9781912101283
Author Austin Mitchell
Format Hardback
Page Count 352
Imprint Great Northern Books Ltd
Publisher Great Northern Books Ltd