A Wartime Log [Hardcover]

Art Beltrone (Author), Lee Beltrone (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1995

With watercolors extracted from food can labels and paint brushes made from their own hair, downed WWII American flyers recreated their recollections of combat and experiences as prisoners of war in blank books provided by the YMCA. A WARTIME LOG compiles selections from some of these original books. 82 color paintings, 112 b&w photos and illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Among supplies shipped via the International Red Cross to U.S. prisoners of war in Germany during World War II were blank books supplied by the YMCA with an inscription that read partly, "This log book is really a gift from the folks at home." Some of those former prisoners now return that gift by letting us see the thoughts and images they recorded at the time. What emerges is as vivid a picture of a POW's life as is possible after this past half-century. Reproduced here and supplemented with information from other sources about conditions and events in the camps are evocative drawings ranging from the simple to the professional and commentary that is sardonic, wistful, forlorn, or defiant-all speaking the language of the hunger for freedom. Unexcelled in its recall of this aspect of the war, this is recommended for public libraries.
Mel D. Lane, Sacramento, Cal.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

These journals are inspiring works. -- American Heritage

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Howell Press Inc. (May 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0943231906
• ISBN-13: 978-0943231907
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,219,602 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Touching testament of the human will., December 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Wartime Log (Hardcover)

"A Wartime Log" is a collection of photos of World War II aviators' artwork created while held prisoner in Germany. During the war, the YMCA distributed logbooks to prisoners through the Red Cross. Bored and fatigued through hunger, the prisoners expressed their yearnings for freedom, the girl back home, a good meal, and other things through drawings, sketches, and cartoons in these books. The POWs created paint thorugh colored Red Cross parcel labels and brushes from their own hair. The results are beautiful sketches that depict the frustration of sitting out the war in captivity, the wistfulness of missing your loved ones, and the simple joy of dreaming about the meals you'll eat when you're finally free. The pictures range from humorous drawings of daily camp life to the hauntingly stark sketches of a lonely Christmas in captivity. Many of the prisoners were artists before the war, or discovered latent talent while serving as POWs. The work inlcuded here rivals the best efforts of professional artists. More than anything, these drawings serve as a testament to the will, ingenuity, and faith of these great men.

Along with the pictures, the book includes a text which explains the stories behind the sketches, and provides background information on POW life. While informative, the text doesn't try to overshadow the book's real purpose, which is to display these wonderful pictures.

5.0 out of 5 stars Important and wonderful book, October 11, 2010

By 

Carlton F. Schwan (Port Clinton, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Wartime Log (Hardcover)

This is a great book by just about any standard. These log books that were created in POW camps are historic artifacts that will be honored for another thousand years. The author did amazing work by find so many of these log books for illustration. Get one of these books.