This box set collects two of the Imperial War Museums’ most popular historical publications: Wise Eating in Wartime and Keeping Well in Wartime. Both were published by the UK Ministry of Information in the middle of World War II and were aimed at ordinary British citizens who were beginning to suffer under increasingly strict rationing. As previously commonplace British staples like tea, butter, and milk became ever more tightly controlled, the constant and severe alteration in diet eventually began to be felt in the nation’s morale and health, resulting in a wave of media attempting to revive citizens’ attitudes and lifestyles. These two books exemplify the official response—and signal the start of a “how-to” renaissance that arose in those years of the war. Viewed today, they are charming reminders of a difficult time, even as the advice they offer remains practical and relevant.
