The Little Wartime Library: A gripping, heart-wrenching page-turner based on real events

In 1944, Clara Button created the only underground library in East London, offering shelter, solace, and escape from the bombs to a secret community. The library is the beating heart of life underground, but the women's determination to remain strong is tested when it seems to come at the price of keeping those closest to them alive. Based on true events, The Little Wartime Library is a gripping and heart-wrenching page-turner that remembers one of the greatest resistance stories of the war.

Format: Hardback
Length: 496 pages
Publication date: 17 February 2022
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

In the heart of London, amidst the backdrop of World War II, a remarkable tale unfolds. Clara Button, a librarian of extraordinary character, emerges as a beacon of hope in the face of adversity. Despite the ongoing war, she sets up the country's sole underground library, hidden beneath the abandoned Bethnal Green tube station. Within this hidden sanctuary, a secret community thrives, offering refuge, solace, and escape to those seeking shelter from the devastating bombs that fall above.

Joined by her glamorous best friend and library assistant, Ruby Munroe, Clara tirelessly works to make the library the beating heart of life underground. Together, they oversee a vast array of amenities, including thousands of bunk beds, a nursery, a café, and even a theatre, all designed to provide comfort and a sense of normalcy amidst the chaos.

However, as the war drags on, the women's unwavering determination to remain strong in the face of adversity is put to the ultimate test. They face the agonizing decision of whether to sacrifice their loved ones in order to protect themselves and the library. The weight of this choice hangs heavy over their hearts, threatening to tear them apart.

The Little Wartime Library, inspired by true events, is a gripping and heart-wrenching novel that pays tribute to one of the most remarkable resistance stories of the war. It weaves together a tapestry of characters, each with their own unique struggles and triumphs, as they navigate the treacherous waters of war and emerge stronger on the other side.

Through its pages, readers are transported to a world of resilience, camaraderie, and unwavering love. The library becomes a symbol of hope, a place where people can find solace, inspiration, and a reminder of the power of human connection in the darkest of times.

As the war comes to a close, Clara and Ruby must confront the harsh reality of the aftermath. They must reckon with the loss of loved ones, the destruction of their community, and the emotional scars that will forever mark them. But even in the face of adversity, they remain steadfast in their belief that the library's legacy will live on, inspiring future generations to stand up against oppression and fight for a better world.

The Little Wartime Library is a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the power of literature to transcend time and place. It reminds us that even in the darkest of times, there is always a glimmer of light and a reason to hope.

Weight: 738g
Dimension: 163 x 240 x 45 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529348712