Madeline
I picked up The Splendid and the Vile without reading what it was about. I had previously read Devil in the White City and was interested in reading another Erik Larson book. Through the introduction, I learned that this was about Winston Churchill’s response to the Blitz bombing on the United Kingdom in 1940 and 1941 during World War II. Fascinating stuff!
My Understanding of The United Kingdom And World War II
Through my learning of World War II over my lifetime, I have heard about Germany’s involvement, of course. I have heard about France’s involvement. I’ve heard about Japan’s involvement. And I have heard about the United States. But rarely, being an American anyways, does the United Kingdom come up. My knowledge was limited to: the United Kingdom attempted to bring the United States into the war for quite some time. But the United States did not enter until we were bombed at Perl Harbor years after the war started in Europe. I did not realize the United Kingdom was heavily bombed let alone the bombing lasted over eight months. How did I miss this?
What I Learned from The Splendid and the Vile
In The Splendid and the Vile, I have learned that not only was the United Kingdom involved in the war but they were heavily attacked by the Germans. The book focuses mainly on Churchill and his response to the bombings. Where he was, what decisions he made, what his family was doing. His odd habits for being a leader of a major country, like laying in bed or a bath for hours, while his secretaries took notes nearby.
Although the book is mostly focused on Churchill, it also explains the terror of the people of the United Kingdom. How they lived in the subways and the productivity in manufacturing dropped due to lack of sleep for the workers. The shelters were unhygienic and cramped. This book explains how greatly the people of the United Kingdom were affected by World War II.
Final Thoughts
The Splendid and the Vile is not easy to read, technically nor by content. But the story is such an important one for educated people such as myself to understand something that is understated while learning about such an important war. Although it was a great book, I now need a break and will be picking up a lighter book next.
