The Echo of War

The echo of war investigates the central role played by the BBC in the lives of the British people during the Second World War. Using BBC archives and contemporary public opinion research, the book contrasts government-directed propaganda with the BBC's own attempts to boost morale. It investigates how radio portrayed Britain's wartime enemies and allies. It describes how the BBC's War Reporting Unit brought listeners close to the front line for the first time. Finally, it considers how, through its contribution to the 'reconstruction' debate, the BBC consolidated not only a lasting image of the 'People's War', but a compelling vision of the 'People's Peace'.