When the Wind Blows, Book 1 [Audio Download]

Brigg's illustrations are so factual that you believe you are there. The minute details, like in Father Christmas and The Snowman, remind you that this is little old England.

The book oozes with bulldog spirit and optimism as much as ignorance and soul destroying pessimism.

The graphic effects are amazing. Normallity is interrupted by dramatic views of the machinery of war.

Jim remembers the blitz almost with fondness, and reflects on the fickleness of war, "of course then the Ruskies were on our side".

The final pages, Jims attempt at the Lords Prayer, I can't read anymore. I am normally too tearful and so sickened.

I am very glad to see it back in print, a couple of years ago I had Amazon hunt down a 2nd hand copy, even at collectors price this haunting beautiful fable was well worth it.

Alex

In Britain at this time there was much public concern over the increased tension between NATO and the Warsaw pact nations and the deployment of short range nuclear weapons by both blocs raised these tensions. In this atmosphere, the British government published a set of leaflets setting out what precautions could be taken by the public to reduce the effects of a nuclear strike.

In this book, we see an ordinary English couple attempt to follow the guidance in the leaflets and we follow their fate after a war. Alone, confused and dying from radiation sickness, they cling to their hopes that, by "doing the right thing" they will be OK and the authorities will come and take care of them.

The author introduces just enough levity to give Jim and Hilda humanity and to make their tale bearable. While Jim and Hilda may not be the smartest folk around, they are the thoroughly decent folks that you would always be happy to have neighbours and that fact brings the horror of the story home.

Although the threats that inspired this book have receded, it still carries a message that is important and deeply moving.