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Books and war: from James Bond to leaflet bombing

Andrew Pettegree examines some of the ways in which literary culture has evolved and been utilised during times of conflict – from the daring adventures of James Bond to the censorship of Winston Churchill's works in WW2 prisoner of war camps

Published: December 8, 2023 at 7:43 AM

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Throughout time, both authors and their readers have gone to war. In that process, the written word has become a deadly weapon and a glimmer of peace and hope – from the furious printing efforts behind publishing Mein Kampf to the daring exploits of James Bond. Speaking to Emily Briffett, Andrew Pettegree traces the surprising, and sometimes sinister, ways in which the written word has shaped, and been shaped, by the conflicts of last few centuries.

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Andrew Pettegree is the author of The Book at War: Libraries and Readers in an Age of Conflict (Profile Books, 2023)

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Authors

Emily BriffettSenior content producer (podcasts)

Emily Briffett is senior content producer (podcasts) at HistoryExtra

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