The Second World War widows were the 'forgotten women', largely ignored by the government and the majority of the population. The men who died in the service of their country were rightly honoured, but the widows and orphans they left behind were soon forgotten. During the war and afterwards in post-war austerity Britain their lives were particularly bleak. The meagre pensions they were given were taxed at the highest rate and gave them barely enough to keep body and soul together, let alone look after their children. Through their diaries, letters and personal interviews we are given an insight into post-war Britain that is a moving testament to the will to survive of a generation of women. War's Forgotten Women is a moving testament to a generation of women and their will to survive against the odds, to find their voice and to fight for recognition, and to rebuild their live after the tragedy of war.

Between 1939 and 1945 the world witnessed what is generally agreed to be the most horrific war in history. Millions died and millions more were physical or psychologically wounded by the conflict. Yet amidst the pain and devastation, people were not only able to survive, but also managed to maintain a sense of humour. For some, it was precisely this ability to laugh at their misfortunes (and those of the other side) that enabled them to solider on. This was especially true of the British, a nation whose reaction to more or less anything up to and including someone's house being bombed to rubble tended to be, 'never mind, have a cup of tea. This "Blitz Spirit" is perhaps best summed up by Mona Lott, one of the characters in Tommy Handley's radio show It's That Man Again (the show's title itself being a comical reference to Hitler): "it's being so cheerful as keeps me going."

If you're interested in the story behind the deadliest conflict in human history, or are just curious about facts and figures, then this is the book for you. In this easy-to-read and fascinating compilation, "The Second World War" is broken down into an array of topics, revealing such statistics as who were the best fighter aces, what were the top ten military blunders during the war, and which were the biggest battleships or the best tanks. There are lists of the various escape attempts from Colditz, the code names used for military operations and even which actors have ever played Hitler on screen. All the major events and dates in the war are covered in detail, but equal emphasis is placed on the human experience of combat in the field and on the home front. Often poignant and always revealing, "World War II: The Book of Lists" offers a unique insight into those tumultuous years.

"WWII in Cartoons" provides a unique insight into the second World War through the medium of newspaper cartoons published at the time. The cartoonist's skill in distilling the events and situations which shaped the course of the war provides an ideal platform from which to view the struggle. "WWII in Cartoons" uses one hundred contemporary cartoons to illustrate the conflict, places these in context and provides details explaining the event or issue and its significance to the story of the war. Structured in chronological order, it also provides a narrative to the war covering all the major turning points as events unfolded. It provides a fascinating insight from both a historic, cultural and artistic perspective to WWII.