Letters from the Blitz: Telling America the Truth about the British Experience of War

When Britain stood alone in the early years of the Second World War, a British woman began a letter-writing campaign to prove her nation remained strong in the face of adversity
When Britain stood alone against the might of Nazi Germany in the early years of World War II, Winifred Graville of Sheffield, a gardener, writer, and speaker well known in her local area, wrote a series of letters to her American cousin in Penn Yan, New York. At a time when American public opinion was strictly isolationist, Winifred&;s cousin convinced the editor to publish excerpts from 150 letters hoping to influence public opinion in a small way. Miss Graville&;s letters vividly described the hardships and typical daily struggles her city experienced during the Blitz. At times poignant, often humorous, and always beautifully written and full of detail, they clearly illustrate the "Keep Calm and Carry On" attitude of the British people during that difficult time.