Comments on: The intellectual life of the British air-raid shelter http://airminded.org/2008/04/22/the-intellectual-life-of-the-british-air-raid-shelter/ Airpower and British society, 1908-1941 Sun, 20 Jul 2008 06:55:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Brett Holman http://airminded.org/2008/04/22/the-intellectual-life-of-the-british-air-raid-shelter/#comment-73446 Brett Holman Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:18:57 +0000 http://airminded.org/2008/04/22/the-intellectual-life-of-the-british-air-raid-shelter/#comment-73446 Chris: Well, at least nothing really bad does actually happen to the Corbetts, so it would be relatively cheery reading ... certainly when compared to something like Sarah Campion's <em>Thirty Million Gas Masks</em> (1937), where the heroine commits suicide by taking off her gas mask, because she can't stand the idea of living in a world where she needs to wear a gas mask ... MP: Its new readers were no doubt bemused by the space devoted to goings on in the Salford City Council, and on issues related to the cotton trade! Chris:

Well, at least nothing really bad does actually happen to the Corbetts, so it would be relatively cheery reading … certainly when compared to something like Sarah Campion’s Thirty Million Gas Masks (1937), where the heroine commits suicide by taking off her gas mask, because she can’t stand the idea of living in a world where she needs to wear a gas mask …

MP:

Its new readers were no doubt bemused by the space devoted to goings on in the Salford City Council, and on issues related to the cotton trade!

]]> By: mercurius politicus http://airminded.org/2008/04/22/the-intellectual-life-of-the-british-air-raid-shelter/#comment-73376 mercurius politicus Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:08:26 +0000 http://airminded.org/2008/04/22/the-intellectual-life-of-the-british-air-raid-shelter/#comment-73376 Depending on how long you were down there, Durrell's Alexandria Quartet might have been a better way to pass the time... In terms of the Manchester Guardian's circulation, although it was mainly northern-based at this time its coverage of the Spanish Civil War earned it a considerable national circulation too. Depending on how long you were down there, Durrell’s Alexandria Quartet might have been a better way to pass the time…

In terms of the Manchester Guardian’s circulation, although it was mainly northern-based at this time its coverage of the Spanish Civil War earned it a considerable national circulation too.

]]> By: Chris Williams http://airminded.org/2008/04/22/the-intellectual-life-of-the-british-air-raid-shelter/#comment-73318 Chris Williams Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:25:47 +0000 http://airminded.org/2008/04/22/the-intellectual-life-of-the-british-air-raid-shelter/#comment-73318 My first thought was _What Happened to the Corbetts_. Perhaps not. Wodehouse, or maybe Conan Doyle: for a variety of reasons, light reads would probably work quite well in those circumstances. When I'm ill I reach for Lawrence Durrell's _Sauve Qui Peut_ and its sequels, but these are not applicable for the same reasons. My first thought was _What Happened to the Corbetts_. Perhaps not.

Wodehouse, or maybe Conan Doyle: for a variety of reasons, light reads would probably work quite well in those circumstances. When I’m ill I reach for Lawrence Durrell’s _Sauve Qui Peut_ and its sequels, but these are not applicable for the same reasons.

]]> By: Brett Holman http://airminded.org/2008/04/22/the-intellectual-life-of-the-british-air-raid-shelter/#comment-73294 Brett Holman Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:08:15 +0000 http://airminded.org/2008/04/22/the-intellectual-life-of-the-british-air-raid-shelter/#comment-73294 Actually, a radio would have been feasible for a gas-refuge room, as these were often normal rooms such as a living/sitting room (at least where cellars were not available), partially gas-proofed, rather than the Anderson shelter down the back garden. E.g., see <a href="http://www.nbcd.org.uk/arp/cigarette_cards/cards.asp" rel="nofollow">here</a>. <blockquote>Me? I’d probably want something epic - the complete Lord of the Rings - and something short and snappy for reading aloud - poems of Ogden Nash and Edward Lear, perhaps. (I’m trying to think of older stuff) Short stories are good, too.</blockquote> Oh, what a good question. LOTR would be perfect, but I must be pedantic and point out that it wasn't published until after the war. <em>The Hobbit</em> would be OK. I can think of a few light things that I'd take, such as <em>Three Men in a Boat</em> (which was actually mentioned in the article) or Wodehouse ... nothing very absorbing though. And while I've actually got quite a few period books on my shelves, I doubt that even I would want to take <em>The War-God Walks Again</em> or <em>Suicide or Sanity?</em> with me into the refuge room! Actually, a radio would have been feasible for a gas-refuge room, as these were often normal rooms such as a living/sitting room (at least where cellars were not available), partially gas-proofed, rather than the Anderson shelter down the back garden. E.g., see here.

Me? I’d probably want something epic - the complete Lord of the Rings - and something short and snappy for reading aloud - poems of Ogden Nash and Edward Lear, perhaps. (I’m trying to think of older stuff) Short stories are good, too.

Oh, what a good question. LOTR would be perfect, but I must be pedantic and point out that it wasn’t published until after the war. The Hobbit would be OK. I can think of a few light things that I’d take, such as Three Men in a Boat (which was actually mentioned in the article) or Wodehouse … nothing very absorbing though. And while I’ve actually got quite a few period books on my shelves, I doubt that even I would want to take The War-God Walks Again or Suicide or Sanity? with me into the refuge room!

]]> By: Jonathan Dresner http://airminded.org/2008/04/22/the-intellectual-life-of-the-british-air-raid-shelter/#comment-73282 Jonathan Dresner Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:12:30 +0000 http://airminded.org/2008/04/22/the-intellectual-life-of-the-british-air-raid-shelter/#comment-73282 The winning list is hysterical! My first thought would be that people would probably want their radios, for up to date information, but radios at that time were more furniture than portable. Me? I'd probably want something epic - the complete Lord of the Rings - and something short and snappy for reading aloud - poems of Ogden Nash and Edward Lear, perhaps. (I'm trying to think of older stuff) Short stories are good, too. The winning list is hysterical!

My first thought would be that people would probably want their radios, for up to date information, but radios at that time were more furniture than portable.

Me? I’d probably want something epic - the complete Lord of the Rings - and something short and snappy for reading aloud - poems of Ogden Nash and Edward Lear, perhaps. (I’m trying to think of older stuff) Short stories are good, too.

]]>