Britain Speaks

Britain's finest hour was also its most desperate. In 1940 Hitler's armies occupied most of Europe, our shattered army struggled home from Dunkirk and the nation faced the threats of invasion and the bombing Blitz Rallying to the crisis Priestley told the free world in his war-time broadcasts of the British people's struggle to survive in this first People's War, as the nation rallied to defend democracy. He developed a new vision of a better post-war world-the New Jerusalem- which was to be the reward for their sacrifices. From April 1940 he attempted to rally the world, and particularly the United States, to Britain's cause, ending the broadcasts only in 1943, the beginning of the end, when the job was largely done. Published here for the first time, these overseas broadcasts "Britain Speaks" provide a fascinating record of the People's War, the spirit of a beleaguered nation and the building of national morale all chronicled by a master broadcaster. Priestley spoke. The World Listened. The People won. J.B. PRIESTLEY JOHN BOYNTON PRIESTLEY (1894-1984) was among Britain's greatest dramatists (An Inspector Calls) and novelist (The Good Companions) These broadcasts consolidate his claim to have also been one of her greatest broadcasters as the hour produced the man and words became weapons of war.