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A Museum at War Karolyn Shindler

A Museum at War By Karolyn Shindler

A Museum at War by Karolyn Shindler


£4.80
New RRP £16.99
Condition - Very Good
6 in stock

Summary

On 3 August 1914, the eve of the declaration of war, The Times wrote: `The great catastrophe has come upon Europe'. And so it had. Using records and letters from the Museum's archives, Karolyn Shindler chronicles both the impact of the war on museum life and the surprising and significant role its employees played in the war effort.

A Museum at War Summary

A Museum at War: Snapshots of life at the Natural History Museum during World War One by Karolyn Shindler

In autumn 1914, as Europe's military `doomsday machine' creaks into gear, the war effort at the Natural History Museum is about to spring into life. The grounds become an ad hoc military barracks, first aid units are formed and staff from across the institutions of `Albertopolis' are marshalled into the Volunteer Corps for Home Defence (Museum section). During the coming years many Government departments turn to the Museum for its scientific expertise and innovation. The knowledge held within the Museum becomes a vital repository for the military, on everything from equine anatomy to moth damage on the air balloons of the Royal Naval Air Service. In A Museum at War, historian and journalist Karolyn Shindler presents a series of compelling snapshots of life at the Museum during the Great War and demonstrates how deeply it affected the people working there. She reveals not only how the four years of war fundamentally altered all aspects of Museum life but also how the Museum itself made an important contribution to Britain's war effort.

A Museum at War Reviews

'Can the Natural History Museum provide 1915 propaganda chief John Buchan with an image of a kraken, to help annoy the Kaiser's sailors? What insects are spoiling army biscuits on the Western Front? Wither leeches to heal the wounds at Ypres? Karolyn Shindler's 'A Museum at War', a quirky wartime diary, as from the boffins of Cromwell Road, is a treasure house of oddities.' New Statesman 'Brilliant... a fascinating insight into the role of the Museum in the Great War, ranging from the campaign against trench foot to the development of camouflage - a true museum piece of a book!' Martin Bell

About Karolyn Shindler

Karolyn Shindler read Modern History at Oxford. Formerly a political journalist with the BBC, she is now a scientific associate of the Natural History Museum. She is the author of numerous popular articles on outstanding historical figures associated with the Museum, as well as contributing to academic books and papers. She lives in London.

Additional information

GOR009728217
9780565094614
0565094610
A Museum at War: Snapshots of life at the Natural History Museum during World War One by Karolyn Shindler
Used - Very Good
Hardback
The Natural History Museum
2018-10-04
232
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in very good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us

Customer Reviews - A Museum at War