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World War II London Blitz Diary, Volume 2, 1941 (A Woman's Revelations Enduring War and Marriage) [Kindle Edition]

Ruby Side Thompson , Victoria Aldridge Washuk , Adele Thompson Aldridge
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)

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Book Description

Do you find yourself watching reality tv? Well, if you do, click off that set and head for the real thing. These diary entries, written 70 years ago by Ruby Thompson, who had to simultaneously put up with the Blitz bombing of London and a marriage that was as damaging to a woman's psyche as those Nazi bombs were to the city, will take you back to a time and put you in the middle of the history the way no boring textbook summary of the war could. What was it really like for the individuals who bore the fear, rationing, and destruction created by the Blitzkrieg against London? How were women stuck in bad marriages, held captive not only by convention, but by their own mindset that had been drilled into them from birth? Ruby's fierce intelligence, powers of observation, clear writing, and analysis of her miserable husband and unhappy marriage provide insight into both history and the psychological state of a woman stuck partly by her era and partly by her own sense of what was possible. A fascinating revelation for anyone interested in World history and women's history.Fascinating!

This is volume two of a four volume series written by Ruby Alice Side Thompson.

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Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Great Granddaughter of Ruby Alice Thompson Side

I inherited a set of 43 diaries that span from 1909 - 1969. They were given to my grandmother Ruth Ferris Thompson and she passed them down to me. 
I started re-reading the World War ll journals and found them extremely worthy of note on many levels.  I realized how little I knew about the events surrounding World War ll and what the Londoner's in particular had to endure.  These journals are a combination of the historical and the exceptionally personal.
 
I thought that others may also find them intriguing and started a blog.  In doing so I received reactions from people from around the world and this inspired me to publish them in book form for all to enjoy.

About the Author

Ruby Side Thompson, an ordinary woman living during the World War ll London Blitz bombing blasts history out of the realm of dry, dusty names and dates and places the reader in the midst of the terrifying events as they unfold. This is very important documentation and will have tremendous appeal to those who have an avid interest in the effect of the war on ordinary citizens.
 
 In between the lines there is a glimpse of how life must go even in Britain-at-war as she deals with health issues, in-laws, censors, rationing and fashion. An excellent look at one woman's view of World War II from before the war to England's darkest hour.

Product Details

  • File Size: 628 KB
  • Print Length: 262 pages
  • Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B005Z4T5OS
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • X-Ray: Not Enabled
  • Lending: Not Enabled
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #266,678 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
After reading World War ll Volume 1, I could not wait to get my hands on volume lI.

It did not disappoint, If anything it is even more interesting because 1941 was the heart of the Blitz bombings and terror felt by Londoner's. Ruby expresses her most intimate thoughts that are not always politically correct. Her diary was her true friend. I learned more about World War ll and what really happened than I ever learned in school.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
The story continues with Ruby living through the horrors of the World War II London Blitz. She never knew when she might be blown to bits. This diary captures her feelings and day to day life during that time. The diary captures the reader and draws them into another era very well.
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Was this review helpful to you?
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
Do you find yourself watching reality tv? Well, if you do, click off that set and head for the real thing. These diary entries, written 70 years ago by Ruby Thompson, who had to simultaneously put up with the Blitz bombing of London and a marriage that was as damaging to a woman's psyche as those Nazi bombs were to the city, will take you back to a time and put you in the middle of the history the way no boring textbook summary of the war could. What was it really like for the individuals who bore the fear, rationing, and destruction created by the Blitzkrieg against London? How were women stuck in bad marriages, held captive not only by convention, but by their own mindset that had been drilled into them from birth? Ruby's fierce intelligence, powers of observation, clear writing, and analysis of her miserable husband and unhappy marriage provide insight into both history and the psychological state of a woman stuck partly by her era and partly by her own sense of what was possible. A fascinating revelation for anyone interested in World history and women's history. Also check out the blog by the same title. Fascinating!
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars Inside her head
A truly intelligent and literary writer. Very strong anti-Catholicism views and often religion in general. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Don
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book about war
This is not only a first hand look at the war but also Ruby Side Thompsons life and how she was wanting love
Published 2 months ago by lady gray
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
I loved Volume 1 and so bought volume 2 and loved it as well. I can't wait until volume 3 is available.
Published 2 months ago by zed530
4.0 out of 5 stars WW2 on the Home Front in England Books 1 ,2 and 3
As a child growing up during WW2 in England, I found the author's account very informative and helped to explain the frequent worried looks and aprehension I felt coming from my... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Biker Pete
5.0 out of 5 stars All Hell Breaking Loose
I think it is wonderful that Victoria took diaries of her great Grandmother and preserved them as books for all to read. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Jeannie Walker
5.0 out of 5 stars Personal Writings of Worl War II Experiences
I am enjoying these recounts from Ruby Side Thompson. It is amazing what they had to go thru during the war and as women. Read more
Published 3 months ago by lorijae
5.0 out of 5 stars London blitz diary volume 2
I got this book from Amazon and could not put it down. It's a fascinating journal of a thoroughly unhappy woman dealing with WWII , a terrible marriage and desperation and... Read more
Published 3 months ago by fran
5.0 out of 5 stars Window To Two Wars, The Blitz and Ted
A very revealling insight into life in London during the Blitz and life in marriage in the early 20th Century. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Chuck Wentz
5.0 out of 5 stars Excelent - for me....
Would like to get the author's e-mail address, so I can write to her. Our history is very similar, and I'm in the same age group. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Judith A. Shortsdlieve
3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointment
I was hoping for something like Nella Last's diaries and was sadly disappointed. While I appreciated Ruby's insight into the bombings, her complaints about Ted became so... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Linda M. Walker
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More About the Author

Ruby Thompson(1884-1970) born in London England. Author of 43 journals.
Ruby Side Thompson, an ordinary woman living during the World War ll London Blitz bombing blasts history out of the realm of dry, dusty names and dates and places the reader in the midst of the terrifying events as they unfold. This is very important documentation and will have tremendous appeal to those who have an avid interest in the effect of the war on ordinary citizens.

In between the lines there is a glimpse of how life must go even in Britain-at-war as she deals with health issues, in-laws, censors, rationing and fashion. An excellent look at one woman's view of World War II from before the war to England's darkest hour.

The Story Was Recently Printed in a London Paper as follows:

This is something that many of us can only ever imagine, but now a book containing the personal diaries of a woman living in Romford during the Second World War has been published.

Called World War II London Blitz Diaries, they were written throughout the war from 1939 to 1945 by Ruby Side Thompson who lived in Western Road and have now been published by her great granddaughter Vicki Washuk.

Vicki said: "Ruby's diaries are just very interesting. I learned more about the war from her diaries than I ever learned in school."

Frustrations

The diary contains information about day-to-day life during the war and Ruby's worries as the mother of two sons (she had seven sons in all) who were both in the RAF.

Ruby also discusses her frustrations with being trapped in an unhappy marriage and a male orientated world.

One entry reads: "So this morning I feel I can't worry about the war. I don't care a hoot about Hitler, Goring, Ribbentrop and co. I can't even care about the invasion of Finland, earthquake in Turkey. I just can't worry myself, that's what I feel.

"The war is a man's doing: the earthquake's natures and I can't do anything about either." In another entry she writes: "Ted left a few minutes ago for his evening of cards. I am furious with him, feeling downrightly that I hate him."

Vicki, who lives in America, was passed the diaries by her grandmother Ruth Thompson in 1991.

A year ago she created a blog where she would regularly upload daily entries from Ruby's diaries.

She decided to publish them due to the response she was getting from people all over the world.

Vicki added: "I feel great about sharing this information with people that may have no idea about what happened during the London Blitz and how it affected so many ordinary citizens every day.

"It is incomprehensible to me the stress so many had to live under.

"Ruby was outspoken and an early feminist, she could only speak in private about things that she could not speak about to anyone."









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