The Essay: Books for Brighter Blackouts

As the BBC marks the 85th anniversary of VE Day, Professor Emma Smith uncovers five unexpected stories about how World War II changed books, publishing and reading forever. 

She begins on the night of 29th Dec 1940, when German bombers massively damaged Paternoster Row, the London street which had been synonymous with British publishing for centuries. Over five million books were destroyed. 

But Emma tells the story of one unique manuscript which was saved by chance from the conflagration, and of another book which rose, phoenix-like, from the ashes to become a twentieth century classic. 

Produced by Beaty Rubens

Broadcast: 5th-9th May 2025