London, 1939-45

Event information

Lasting for almost six years, the Second World War transformed life in the capital beyond recognition, marking a time of almost constant anxiety, disruption, deprivation and sacrifice for Londoners who found themselves transformed into frontline combatants. Thirty-thousand of them had lost their lives by the time the war ended.

While much has been written about the Blitz, its riveting social history has often been overlooked. Jerry White’s most recent book paints a fascinating portrait of the daily lives of ordinary Londoners.

“Jerry White has a unique relation to London and Londoners. More than a historian, he is the city's witness, champion and town-crier” (Frances Wilson, “The Oldie”)


Jerry White is Emeritus Professor in Modern London History at Birkbeck, University of London and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He is the author of numerous books on London. These include “London in the Twentieth Century: A City and Its People”, which won the 2002 Wolfson History Prize.