British Summer Time Begins: The School Summer Holidays 1930-1980

British Summer Time Begins is a book that explores the summer holidays of the mid-twentieth century in Britain, as recounted to Ysenda Maxtone-Graham in vivid detail by people who were there. It paints a revealing portrait of twentieth-century Britain in summertime, exploring the expectations, hopes, fears, and habits of people during that time. The showpiece part of the summer holidays was the summer holiday, when families took off to the seaside or to grandparents' houses. The book also explores the long weeks either side of that holiday, when boredom often lurked nearby and people vanished for hours on end.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 06 May 2021
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

British Summer Time Begins delves into the captivating memories of individuals who experienced the summer holidays of the mid-twentieth century. These recollections, vividly recounted to Ysenda Maxtone-Graham, offer a vivid portrayal of twentieth-century Britain in the summertime. Through this lens, the show explores a range of aspects, including the societal norms, family dynamics, housing arrangements, streetscape, modes of transportation, and daily activities of individuals during their leisure time. It delves into the expectations, hopes, fears, and habits of these individuals, shedding light on the rules or lack thereof that governed their lives. The series captures the joys and sorrows, happiness and sadness, and sense of being treasured or neglected, all within the living memory of those who experienced these summers, spanning from pre-war summers to the late 1970s.

The summer holidays played a central role in this era, serving as a time when individuals could shed their term-time selves and embrace their true identities. The showpiece of these holidays was often the summer vacation, during which families embarked on seaside trips, visited grandparents' houses, or enjoyed early package holidays to France or Spain. Siblings were crammed into small cars, accompanied by clattering roof racks and mothers preparing picnics. However, British Summer Time Begins extends beyond the actual trip itself, focusing on the long weeks that followed. These unscheduled days, characterized by boredom and a lack of official events, were often the most significant and formative in an individual's life. They allowed for self-discovery, exploration, and the cultivation of hobbies and interests that would shape their adulthood.

The series invites viewers to reflect on the importance of these unscheduled days and their impact on personal growth. It prompts us to consider whether the freedom and flexibility they provided were truly the most valuable and enriching experiences of our lives. British Summer Time Begins offers a nostalgic journey through the summer holidays, providing a glimpse into the lives of individuals and the societal changes that occurred during this transformative period. Through the vivid storytelling and personal anecdotes, the show captures the essence of a bygone era and offers a thought-provoking exploration of the human experience.

Weight: 278g
Dimension: 197 x 127 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781408710562