Rations: A Very Peculiar History

A witty, informative look at Britain's wartime rationing years - from food shortages and "Make Do and Mend" to ingenious recipes and the surprising benefits of frugality.

Rations: A Very Peculiar History serves up the remarkable story of how Britain fed itself during and after the Second World War. With its lively narrative, quirky facts, and original artwork, the book reveals the creativity and resilience that kept the nation going through years of shortage. From whale meat and Woolton pie to black market deals and the "Dig for Victory" campaign, readers discover the humour, hardship and inventiveness that defined an era.

Featuring cartoons, recipes, and period slogans, this Very Peculiar History combines social history and trivia to show how the austerity of the 1940s shaped modern Britain - proving that necessity really is the mother of invention.