John’s new book, BLITZ: When World War Two Came Home
‘Beautifully written and cleverly constructed, part history, part personal journey, moving from past and present to build the story of a nation shocked by the capriciousness and violence of total war. The result is a unique and personal blend of brilliantly researched history and reportage, assembled with care and craft into a powerful, affecting book that, instead of being rooted in the past, feels urgent and relevant today' -- Rowland White, author of Vulcan 607
The Second World War was not only fought in the skies above Europe or on distant beaches. Between 1939 and 1945, Hitler’s aerial onslaught crashed into lives across the UK night after night, killing more than 60,000 civilians and leaving millions homeless.
For too long, ‘The Blitz’ – from the German ‘Blitzkrieg’ or lightning war – has been framed as a few desperate months from September 1940 that mainly affected London. In reality, the scope of the attack on the home front was far more widespread, and far more devastating. Now, John Nichol tells this supposedly familiar narrative – one of the most important events in British history – afresh.
Using interviews with survivors, official records and eyewitness testimonies, Nichol gives voice to the unsung heroes who found the courage to run towards danger. He brings the story up to date by speaking to people involved in similar situations: the deadly blaze at Grenfell Tower, bomb disposal in modern warfare and individual acts of astonishing bravery. And as new military threats emerge, Nichol asks whether the country still has such resilience today.
At once gripping and compassionate, BLITZ is the definitive account of a nationwide struggle that shaped the course of the war and the spirit of a generation.
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Best Selling Author
John is the author of twenty books including the Sunday Times best-seller Tornado Down which describes his ordeal as a prisoner-of-war during the first Gulf war in Iraq in 1991.
His latest books are works of First and Second World War oral history
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For too long, ‘The Blitz’ – from the German ‘Blitzkrieg’ or lightning war – has been framed as a few desperate months from September 1940 that mainly affected London.
In reality, the scope of the attack on the home front was far more widespread, and far more devastating.
Now, John Nichol tells this supposedly familiar narrative – one of the most important events in British history – afresh.
Latest Book
BLITZ: When World War Two Came Home
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Journalism & Broadcasting
He has written for all of the UK national newspapers including The Times, The Mail on Sunday and The Guardian and is a widely quoted commentator on military affairs. He has also been a consultant and presenter for Newsnight, BBC News, CNN, World in Action, ITN, Sky News and Cutting Edge. He devised and presented 2 series of Survivors, interviewing newsmakers who have been through life changing experiences. John is a member of the The Royal British Legion all-party Gulf War Group and a patron of the British Ex-service Wheelchair Sports Association. He is also a very poor golfer.