Coventry and Warwickshire 1914-1919: Local Aspects of the Great War, Vol 2, [ed] by Chris Holland, Warwickshire Great War Publications, 2014, 172pp, £9.95. ISBN: 978-0-9574216-3-9. Available from Chris Holland, Plott Bungalow, Plott Lane, Stretton on Dunsmore, Rugby, CV23 9HR.

Following on from Volume 1 in 2012, Chris Holland and his fellow contributors have produced another set of ten fascinating articles on the effects of the Great War on Warwickshire. In this centenary year, it is appropriate to be reminded of how this war, unlike previous conflicts, affected all parts of society in this country. As in Volume 1, there are well-researched items on local aspects of how the war affected Warwickshire. It is clear that most local people did not expect war in 1914 and, of course, no-one could have predicted its extent and the ensuing slaughter of millions. The ten articles cover a wide range of topics, including the treatment of suspect ‘enemy aliens', the contributions of the upper classes, the effect on schools and the Zeppelin raids. Each article is accompanied by relevant photographs and illustrations. Having taught history for some years and lived near Coventry in the 1970s, I found particularly intriguing the information on the ‘German' Mayor of Coventry in 1914 and on the Coventry ‘Peace Riots' of 1919, both of which topics were previously unknown to me. Obviously, this book, like Volume 1, will appeal very much to those who know Warwickshire, but it will also appeal to a wider audience, with an interest in local history and in how the Great War affected people at home.