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The Little Wartime Library

A gripping, heart-wrenching WW2 page-turner based on real events

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About this listen

 London, 1944.

Clara Button is no ordinary librarian. While the world remains at war, in East London Clara has created the country's only underground library, built over the railway tracks in the disused Bethnal Green tube station. Down here a whole community thrives: with hundreds of bunk beds, a café and a theatre offering shelter from the bombs that fall above.

Along with her glamorous best friend and assistant librarian, Ruby Munroe, Clara ensures the library is the beating heart of life underground. But as the war drags on, the women's determination to remain strong in the face of adversity is tested to the limits when it seems it may come at the price of keeping those closest to them alive.

Based on true events, The Little Wartime Library is an inspiring and heart-wrenching story of life on the homefront, and of the strength of courage required to fight for what you believe in.

(P) 2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited©2022 Kate Thompson 20th Century Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction War & Military Women's Fiction Heartfelt War England

Critic reviews

A heartwarming story of how friendship and the written word sustain us in the toughest times. Based on a little-known true story, Kate Thompson's meticulous research and love of libraries shine through. Perfect for fans of Dear Mrs. Bird.
Gripping, emotional and uplifting
A captivating tale about the power of libraries and how they connect us . . . Meticulously researched, readers will be entranced by this fascinating slice of history
I was totally immersed in The Little Wartime Library. Kate has such a talent for bringing history to vivid life. Utterly transporting, vivid and fresh.
Books help win the day in this splendid warm-hearted novel of wartime resilience and romance, based on a true story
Remarkable . . . Heartbreaking and inspiring, this brilliantly researched book also captures the essence of the story through its evocative words and thoughtfully written characters
A perfect wartime tale of hope against the odds
A compulsive read . . . enthralling
Libraries create writers! And here's a book as wrapped up in libraries as it could be . . .
Fascinating and heartwarming
The almost furtive joy of being able to borrow books to read for free, and the emotional liberation and adventure this ability confers, suffuses every chapter of this novel. Thompson's research is full of love and levity, showing how reading provides succour and sustenance even in the darkest of times
An ode to books, libraries and the resilience of women. Uplifting and heartwarming. The strength of the human spirit shines through
A fascinating forgotten underground library
Riveting
Remarkable
My best book of the year. I loved the feeling this book gave me. The fact that this community, this love of books realty did exist and really did make a difference, was a wonderful thing to discover
Warm and uplifting historical fiction, all made to feel so real because of the historical details seamlessly woven into the story
This is just the story we need right now - a tale of ordinary people doing extraordinary things to keep hope alive and to give a community adrift in wartime a sense of home. The Bethnal Green underground library might be the beating heart of the book's subterranean village, but Clara is the soul of this novel. She's the kind of character you cheer for, cry for, and dream for. Kate Thompson's passion, meticulous research and brilliant storytelling make The Little Wartime Library an utter delight to read
Such a heart-warming story of camaraderie
A powerful, earth-shattering read
The Little Wartime Library was such an immensely heartwarming read. I laughed and cried through the entire thing, completely enraptured. People who love books about books must read this gem!
Captivating and remarkable, it reminds us that stories soothe and help us make sense of the chaos in our lives
All stars
Most relevant
A real place, with documented events and memories from those who lived in those times intertwined in fiction. Then followed by historical insights into the UK library service, with quotes by librarians which opened up a whole new perception of what a library was seen as and used for. I would never before have thought such a subject as fascinating especially as the local library is but a distant memory.

Well worth a listen!

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Didn’t take long to get into this story - only VERY loosely based on real events. Lots of accurate facts and context - highly recommended.

Brilliant

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I enjoyed this much better than I expected.

It was very well constructed and beautifully narrated. I will definitely look for other publications from this author

Wonderful story

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Good story with wonderful contrasting characters Beautifully and sensitively read about such bravery and fortitude

Historically interesting memorable story

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I enjoyed listening to this book. There were several different stories within the book involving different families etc, each one interesting so I found it enjoyable brought back memories of the war and air raids etc.

The Little wartime library

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