Very interesting book on 'what it was like to live in Britain during its first major war in a century....' (taken from the front cover). This work deals with how the government's management of the war evolved over the course of the war's four year duration. In the beginning it was 'business as usual'. As the war progressed and became a long term, total war struggle, centalization and increasing government involvement in all facets of the war became necessary.

I have read other books which covered the various homefronts in the First World War. However this is the first one to deal with the subject exclusively. Mr. Marwick did a fine job researching the material and presenting it in an organized, readable fashion. He also covers the period between the wars showing how the experience in government during WWI effected the postwar period and beyond into WWII as well. I recommned this book not just for WWI buffs, but also for those interested in society & war. ( )

1949 The Deluge: British Society and the First World War, by Arthur Marwick (read 20 Oct 1985) This is a 1965 study of Britain on the home front in World War I. It is a subject I have not previously read much on, and it was quite interesting, though it did not tell me too much new. The author does show how government efforts in World War I led people to believe in collective efforts by the Government, and I also can see that the U.S. in World War II learned or copied some things from Britain in World War I. ( )