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The American Home Front: 1941-1942 Paperback – Illustrated, July 9, 2007

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 365 ratings

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In nearly three thousand BBC broadcasts over fifty-eight years, Alistair Cooke reported on America, illuminating our country for a global audience. He was one of the most widely read and widely heard chroniclers of America—the Twentieth Century’s de Tocqueville. Cooke died in 2004, but shortly before he passed away a long-forgotten manuscript resurfaced in a closet in his New York apartment. It was a travelogue of America during the early days of World War II that had sat there for sixty years. Published to stellar reviews in 2006, though “somewhat past deadline,” Cooke’s The American Home Front is a “valentine to his adopted country by someone who loved it as well as anyone and knew it better than most” (The Plain Dealer [Cleveland]). It is a unique artifact and a historical gem, “an unexpected and welcome discover in a time capsule.” (Washington Post) A portrait frozen in time, the book offers a charming look at the war through small towns, big cities, and the American landscape as they once were. The American Home Front is also a brilliant piece of reportage, a historical gem that “affirms Cooke’s enduring place as a great twentieth-century reporter” (American Heritage).
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Editorial Reviews

Review

A New York Times Bestseller

“An unexpected and welcome discovery in a time capsule. . . . even after all these years, and all those countless previous books about the wartime home front, Cooke has interesting things to tell us.” –Jonathan Yardley, Washington Post

“He filed lated, but boy, did he get it right.” –William Grimes, The New York Times

“The American Home Front teems with Cooke’s eloquence and insight…. His whole book is a tale told with easy elegance.” –Harry Levins, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

“Here are the antecedents of who we are now, grasped with a clarity and foresight that is all the more stunning for having been hidden away in a closet for nearly sixty years.” –Verlyn Klinkenborg, Bookforum

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grove Press; Reprint edition (July 9, 2007)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0802143326
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0802143327
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.5 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.75 x 7.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 365 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
365 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book provides an interesting look at life during World War II. They describe it as a good, enjoyable read with a clear and descriptive visual style. Readers praise the production quality as excellent and impressive. However, some feel the pacing is slow compared to the hurried nature of things. Opinions differ on the writing quality, with some finding it well-written and enjoyable, while others consider it laborious and poorly written. There are mixed reviews regarding the story quality, with some finding the story engaging and well-told, while others find it mundane and tedious at times.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

40 customers mention "Insight"40 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's insights into life during World War II. They find the descriptions of wartime America interesting and honest. The author provides a personal view of America as a new American, and the explanation of the times is lucid.

"...He observes the buildup of war production, the establishment of innumerable new military installations, and simply the need and ability of..." Read more

"...them some months apart and feel they are a very interesting pair of books to compare and contrast, Thank You for taking the time to read this review." Read more

"...informing on the character of the many communities and people during this time period. A must read for history buffs." Read more

"...Granted I thoroughly enjoyed much of the honest insight of the time period by the Pro American British writer Mr. Cooke, of which I've done a lot of..." Read more

20 customers mention "Readability"20 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and enjoyable. They say it's a good addition to their library and worth their time.

"...This was an easy, quick, and thoroughly enjoyable read...." Read more

"This book is a gem. Alistair Cooke, one of the greatest British journalists began a cross country tour of America in 1942...." Read more

"...Still a good book to get a good sense of how America was feeling at th eonset of war in late 1941 until the beginning of 1943." Read more

"...I dutifully read through it and found it to be the best part of the book." Read more

10 customers mention "Visual style"10 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's visual style. They find it clear and descriptive of the American landscape, demographics, attitudes, hardships, and energy during World War II. The book provides a unique perspective on how the worldwide war affected Americans and portrays America as a nation known for its strength and respect.

"...His descriptions of people, places, the beauty of mid-century America, and his keen ability to look beneath people's stoicism are marvelous...." Read more

"This is a good look at the American Homefront in the early days of WWII...." Read more

"I found this highly readable with a clear look at what the US looked like during the war. I'm not one to read travelogs...." Read more

"...Overall, a good portrait of America girding for and arming for World War II against Germany and Japan." Read more

4 customers mention "Production quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the production quality. They find it an excellent work, though some of Cooke's philosophizing rambles.

"...I liked both of these fine works approximately equally...." Read more

"...the process is often inefficient but nevertheless the production eventually is impressive...." Read more

"It was an xcellent work, but at times Cooke's philosophizing rambles became tedious and difficult to follow." Read more

"For anyone interested in history. Excellent and evocative. Fun and informative. Captures the era well. Highlh recommended to all! Worth your time" Read more

30 customers mention "Writing quality"19 positive11 negative

Customers have different views on the writing quality. Some find it well-written and easy to read, with engaging prose and descriptions. Others find the writing laborious, tedious, and lacking personal touch.

"...His is a precise and descriptive style of writing that is very rare now. This was an easy, quick, and thoroughly enjoyable read...." Read more

"...He captures the different moods of the many regions. The book can get a little tedious and a bit repetitive...." Read more

"“The American Home Front” authored by Alistair Cooke is a really well written and interesting non fiction narrative about the state of the 48 States..." Read more

"...I've read several of Cooke's works and love his Cambridge English poetic style...." Read more

10 customers mention "Story quality"3 positive7 negative

Customers have different views on the story quality. Some find it engaging and well-told, while others find it boring with too much description and little personal experience. They also mention that the discussion gets repetitive and subjective rather than objective.

"...The book can get a little tedious and a bit repetitive...." Read more

"...The discussion got tiresome when repeated. If you read Guadalcanal Diary you get a great example of first-hand accounts by participants...." Read more

"...The book is an excellent story, well told, of the many and varying involvements in and reactions to the war...." Read more

"...Theater, but I felt this book was a bit tedious and not all that interesting...." Read more

5 customers mention "Pacing"0 positive5 negative

Customers feel the pacing is slow compared to how things are done. The process of rehearsing King Lear is inefficient.

"...a classmate’s direction while rehearsing King Lear; the process is often inefficient but nevertheless the production eventually is impressive...." Read more

"...It is a long book, and slow. But easy to read. I recommend the book to almost anyone, even if you are very young...." Read more

"I enjoyed the book. It can get a little slow at times, but interesting how the author frames his subjects. A well written book for history fans." Read more

"Informative but a bit slow" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2015
    If you've heard or watched Alistair Cooke on radio or television, you will know what style and quality of writing to expect from this book. This is a very interesting, timely, and well written book. Cooke (1908 to 2004) had a long and distinguished career in radio and television as a reporter and commentator. A native of Great Britain, he did graduate studies in America, and moved here permanently in 1937, becoming a U.S. citizen. He was a commentator for NBC and the BBC. His most famous assignments were regular 15 minute radio commentaries on american life broadcast in Britain (and eventually throughout the world) by the BBC ('Letters from America'), spanning 58 years; and as the host of the PBS series 'Masterpiece Theatre' for 22 years, retiring in 1992 (age 84).
    This book is essentially a travel log of a driving trip around America starting before Pearl Harbor in 1941 and extending to almost 1943. Cooke observed the lives of ordinary Americans during the beginning of the war and their reactions to necessary changes occurring all over the country. He records the beginning of rationing, the loss of manpower and labor as millions of young men went into the service. He observes the buildup of war production, the establishment of innumerable new military installations, and simply the need and ability of Americans to adapt and cope. His descriptions of people, places, the beauty of mid-century America, and his keen ability to look beneath people's stoicism are marvelous. His is a precise and descriptive style of writing that is very rare now. This was an easy, quick, and thoroughly enjoyable read. I recommend it to people interested in twentieth-century american history and those who simply enjoy excellent writing.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2021
    “The American Home Front” authored by Alistair Cooke is a really well written and interesting non fiction narrative about the state of the 48 States, primarily during 1942. Basically Alistair Cooke engages in a road trip through many of the 48 states using various types of land transportation. He reports on his observations of American Society. The book is clearly written. I purchased both the Kindle and audiobook and listened and read simultaneously. Both the Kindle and audiobook were of equally high quality.

    The book is very interesting on multiple levels. Although composed during World War II it was not published for numerous decades until the time of the death of the author. There is a definite “time capsule” aspect to this book. Also the author was born in England. I am not sure who the intended audience is. If one sees this fine book as intended for readers from Great Britain, one may enjoy comparing and contrasting this book to a much later “road trip” type book, “The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America” by Bill Bryson. I wish to emphasize that Mister Bryson’s book is NOT about World War II, but I feel sure is meant for readers from Great Britain.

    I always find it interesting to read the thoughts of someone born outside the Untied States when writing about the United States and Americans. Alistair Cooke was a young man from Great Britain when he composed this book. He moved to America and became an American Citizen. Bill Bryson is an American who moved to Great Britain. The books are decades apart.

    I recently read another book about the American Home Front during 1942. It is “The Darkest Year” by William K. Klingaman. I liked both of these fine works approximately equally. I read them them some months apart and feel they are a very interesting pair of books to compare and contrast, Thank You for taking the time to read this review.
    8 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2024
    I never imagined or knew all that went into preparing for war. The number of communities and people and all the planning that went into producing and manufacturing everything that was needed for the war. It is really informing on the character of the many communities and people during this time period. A must read for history buffs.

Top reviews from other countries

  • Chrissie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 25, 2017
    Excellent service. Will use again.
  • R G Dawkins
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 6, 2016
    great reading