Dunkirk : From Disaster to Deliverance - Testimonies of the Last Survivors

From the author of the Sunday Times bestseller The Secret Life of Bletchley Park When Churchill made one of the most inspiring speeches of the 20th century - 'we will fight them on the beaches' – he was giving thanks for the miracle of deliverance, the harrowing and breathless evacuation of over 338,000 troops from the beaches and harbour at Dunkirk. Churchill was determined it shouldn't be labelled a victory. He was already too late. Hours later, broadcaster JB Priestley was to call it 'an absurd English epic'. Those days of Dunkirk are still invoked now whenever the nation finds itself in any kind of crisis. But there is a wider story too that involves a very large number of civilians - from nurses to racing enthusiasts, trades union leaders to dance hall managers, novelists to seaside café owners. And even wider yet, a story that starts in September 1939: of young civilian men being trained for a war that was already 25 years out of date; and the increasing suspense – and occasional surrealism - of the Phoney War. The 'absurd epic' of Dunkirk – told here through fresh interviews with veterans, plus unseen letters and archival material – is the story of how an old-fashioned island was brutally forced into the modernity of World War Two. When Churchill Made One Of The Most Inspiring Speeches Of The 20th Century - 'we Will Fight Them On The Beaches' - Some Thought That It Was His Way Of Preparing The Public For The Fall Of France. Others Heard It As A Direct Appeal To The Americans. The Prime Minister Was Speaking In The Commons In June 4 1940, Giving Thanks For The Miracle Of Deliverance, The Harrowing And Breathless Evacuation Of Over 338,000 Troops - British And French And Belgian - From The Beaches And Harbor At Dunkirk In The Teeth Of Nightmarish German Onslaught. Churchill Was Determined It Shouldn't Be Labelled A Victory. He Was Already Too Late. Hours Later, Broadcaster Jb Priestley Was To Call It 'an Absurd English Epic'. The Last Of The Boatloads Had Returned To Dover In The Small Hours Of June 4th. And The Mythologizing Had Already Begun - From Euphoric American Journalists To The Thousands Of Women Who Lined Up On Railway Platforms, Crowding Round Exhausted Soldiers As If They Were Movie Stars. But Was Churchill Privately Convinced That The Germans Were About To Successfully Invade England? Those Days Of Dunkirk, And The Spirit, And The Image Of The Indefatigable Little Ships, Are Still Invoked Now Whenever The Nation Finds Itself In Any Kind Of Crisis. But There Is A Wider Story Too That Involves A Very Large Number Of Civilians - From Nurses To Racing Enthusiasts, Trades Union Leaders To Dance Hall Managers, Novelists To Seaside Cafe Owners. And Even Wider Yet, A Story That Starts In September 1939: Of Young Civilian Men Being Trained For A Type Of War That Was Already 25 Years Out Of Date; And The Increasing Suspense - And Occasional Surrealism - Of The Phoney War. The 'absurd Epic' Of Dunkirk - Told Here Through Fresh Interviews With Veterans, Plus Unseen Letters And Archival Material - Is The Story Of How An Old-fashioned Island Was Brutally Forced Into The Modernity Of World War Two. Pt. 1. Would You Like To Join The Army? -- 'their Tax In Blood' -- 'they Threw Us In'. Pt. 2. Blitzkrieg -- 'they Just Keep Marching Us' -- 'a Ring Of Steel And Fire' -- Dynamo -- 'just Follow The Ferries' -- 'blood All Over Your Hands' -- 'the House Is Too Solemn' -- 'what Have We Let Ourselves In For' -- 'i'll Come Looking For You' -- Remote In Some Dream Of Pain -- 'beyond The Limits Of Endurance'. Pt. 3. The Spontaneous Legend -- 'very Well - Alone' -- The Guilt And The Wonder -- The Moment Of Dunkirk Sinclair Mckay. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. A look at the WWII evacuation's remarkable effect on British morale by the bestselling author of The Secret Life of Bletchley Park : "Fascinating details." — The Telegraph When Winston Churchill made one of the most inspiring speeches of the twentieth century—"we will fight them on the beaches" —he was giving thanks for what he called the miracle of deliverance, the harrowing and breathless evacuation of over 338,000 troops from the beaches and harbor at Dunkirk. Churchill was determined that it shouldn't be labeled a victory. He was already too late. Hours later, broadcaster J.B. Priestley was to call it "an absurd English epic." Those days of Dunkirk are still invoked whenever the nation finds itself in crisis. But there is a wider story too that involves a very large number of civilians—from nurses to racing enthusiasts, trade union leaders to dance hall managers, novelists to seaside café owners. And even wider yet, a story that starts in September 1939: of young civilian men being trained for a war that was already twenty-five years out of date, and the increasing suspense—and occasional surrealism—of the eight-month quiet period of the "Phoney War." The 'absurd epic' of Dunkirk—told here through fresh interviews with veterans, plus unseen letters and archival material—is the story of how an old-fashioned island was brutally forced into the modernity of World War II. **From the author of the __Sunday Times__ bestseller __The Secret Life of Bletchley Park__** Churchill was determined it shouldn't be labelled a victory. He was already too late. Hours later, broadcaster JB Priestley was to call it 'an absurd English epic'. And even wider yet, a story that starts in September 1939: of young civilian men being trained for a war that was already 25 years out of date; and the increasing suspense – and occasional surrealism - of the Phoney War. The 'absurd epic' of Dunkirk – told here through fresh interviews with veterans, plus unseen letters and archival material – is the story of how an old-fashioned island was brutally forced into the modernity of World War Two.