{"product_id":"when-books-went-to-war-the-stories-that-helped-us-win-world-war-ii-9780544570405","title":"When Books Went to War: The Stories That Helped Us Win World War II","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNEW YORK TIMES\u003c\/i\u003e BESTSELLER \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"Heartwarming.\" -- \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"Whether or not you're a book lover, you'll be moved.\" -- \u003ci\u003eEntertainment Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"A readable, accessible addition to World War II literature  and] a book that will be enjoyed by lovers of books about books.\" -- \u003ci\u003eBoston Globe\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"Four stars  out of four] . . . A cultural history that does much to explain modern America.\" -- \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e When America entered World War II in 1941, we faced an enemy that had banned and burned 100 million books. Outraged librarians launched a campaign to send free books to American troops and gathered 20 million hardcover donations. In 1943, the War Department and the publishing industry stepped in with an extraordinary program: 120 million small, lightweight paperbacks for troops to carry in their pockets and rucksacks in every theater of war. These Armed Services Editions were beloved by the troops and are still fondly remembered today. Soldiers read them while waiting to land at Normandy, in hellish trenches in the midst of battles in the Pacific, in field hospitals, and on long bombing flights. They helped rescue \u003ci\u003eThe Great Gatsby\u003c\/i\u003e from obscurity and made Betty Smith, author of \u003ci\u003eA Tree Grows in Brooklyn, \u003c\/i\u003e into a national icon. \u003ci\u003eWhen Books Went to War \u003c\/i\u003eis the inspiring story of the Armed Services Editions, and a treasure for history buffs and book lovers alike. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"A thoroughly engaging, enlightening, and often uplifting account . . . I was enthralled and moved.\" -- Tim O'Brien, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Things They Carried\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Mariner Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 10\/27\/2015\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780544570405\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 304\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.55lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.20h x 5.20w x 0.80d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Times Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e 02\/21\/2016 pg. 28\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Molly Guptill Manning","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":36638483742876,"sku":"9780544570405","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_8b8a0467-643a-497a-915b-d5af69e0ca0e.jpg?v=1603847401","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/when-books-went-to-war-the-stories-that-helped-us-win-world-war-ii-9780544570405","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}