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Introduction; Part I. Beating Ploughshares into Swords: 1. Salvage in times of peace and war; 2. Persuasion and its limits; 3. Britain's darkest hour; 4. Private enterprise and the public good; Part II. Alliances: 5. Lend-Lease; 6. Waste becomes a crime; Part III. History, Culture, and Civil Liberties: 7. The built environment; 8. Wasting paper; 9. Requisition; 10. Victory and postwar; Conclusion.
Waste into Weapons is the first in-depth history of twentieth-century recycling in Britain.
Peter Thorsheim is Professor of History at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte.
'An important contribution to our understanding of total war. This
is a vivid and original account of the shifts and expedients of
warfare as they interacted with the voracious demands of a war
economy. This study deserves attention.' Jeremy Black, University
of Exeter
'Waste into Weapons is a novel study. Historians have not given due
attention to the important role of preserving resources in wartime,
which speaks both to the urgency of the war and the kind of
sacrifices expected from the citizenry. But as Peter Thorsheim
pointedly reminds us, there was an 'urge to destroy' parts of the
material culture that transcended the patriotic duty of winning the
war. This is a book that brings together the materiality and
culture of the war like few others.' Martin V. Melosi, author of
The Sanitary City
'This is an excellent book. Salvage collection and recycling during
the Second World War made a major contribution to the British war
effort, and at last we have a full history. Based on extensive
research in many archives, Thorsheim finally gives this unique
episode in the history of recycling the attention it deserves. The
analysis ranges from the strategic and diplomatic to the economic
and psychological, providing new insight into the efforts made to
secure scrap metal; the sacrifice of historical artifacts, books,
and documents; and women's and children's contributions as salvage
collectors.' Ina Zweiniger-Bargielowska, University of Illinois,
Chicago
'This book is written in a lively and accessible way. It reveals
that there is still much to learn about this conflict. Aside from
being a key text on recycling and salvage in wartime, this book,
owing to the breadth and depth in which topics such as the home
front, women and Britain's international relations are examined, is
likely to become essential reading for scholars and general readers
alike, interested in the complex nature of the Second World War.'
Mark J. Crowley, Twentieth Century British History
'Waste into Weapons is a timely and insightful addition to the
growing literature on waste and recycling. Thorsheim's meticulous
research has amply demonstrated the paradox of the Second World War
- that Britons were encouraged and ordered to conserve and recycle
in order that the war effort could destroy. Waste into Weapons
reveals the militarization of everyday life that redefined rubbish
and that destroyed historical artifacts, buildings, and
manuscripts. It speaks to the power of propaganda but also to the
limits of coercion. This is a must-read for historians of war, the
environment, consumption, and waste. Thorsheim's work is a valuable
addition to the literature and is also evidence that the Second
World War remains a fruitful field of study. Sandra Dawson,
H-War
'Waste into Weapons is a very good book that will appeal to
scholars and general audiences interested in military history,
environmental history, waste management, material culture, and
heritage conservation.' Alex Souchen, Canadian Military History
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