You Can Help Your Country

First published in 2011,You Can Help Your Country: English children's work during the Second World War reveals theremarkable, hidden history of children as social agents who activelyparticipated in a national effort during a period of crisis. In praise of thebook, Hugh Cunningham, celebrated author of TheInvention of Childhood, wrote: 'Think of childrenand the Second World War, and evacuation comes immediately to mind. BerryMayall and Virginia Morrowhave a different story to tell,one in which all the children of the nation were encouragedto contribute to the war effort. Many respondedenthusiastically. Evidence from school magazines and oral testimony showschildren digging for victory, working on farms, knitting comforts for thetroops, collecting waste for recycling, running households. What lessons, theauthors ask, does this wartime participation by children have for our own time?The answers are challenging.'You Can Help Your Countryisa stimulating, entertaining and scholarly contribution to the history ofchildhood, prompting thought about childhood today and on children's rights, ascitizens, to participate in social and political life. This revised editionincludes a new preface and illustrations, and offers an up-to-date reflectionon the relevance of thinking historically about children's work for globalcampaigns to end child labour. It is essential reading for academics,researchers and students in childhood studies, the sociology of childhood andchildren's rights. Its engaging style will also appeal to anyone interested insocial history and the history of the Second World War.