May 19, 2009 "World War II: 365 Days" Is Subject of Illustrated Book Discussion

Described in a recent review as “one of the best single-volume histories of the war yet published,” “World War II: 365 Days” (2009, Harry N. Abrams in association with the Library of Congress) is a unique compilation of riveting text and more than 600 color and black-and-white images (many of them rarely seen) from the Library of Congress’ collections.

The book will be discussed on Wednesday, May 27, at 12:30 p.m. in the West Dining Room on the sixth floor of the Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C. The event is free and open to the public; no tickets are required. The program is sponsored by the Library’s Center for the Book, Publishing Office and Veterans History Project (VHP).

The event features author Margaret E. Wagner of the Publishing Office, picture editor Athena Angelos and Tom Wiener of VHP.

“World War II: 365 Days” is enriched by material from nearly two dozen VHP collections, including photographs, drawings and hand-drawn maps, as well as moving verbal testaments from American men and women, each of whom played a unique part in this epic conflict that raged across the world’s oceans and in countries from Norway to North Africa and from Britain to Burma.

The book examines many aspects of the war: the carnage and bravery on the battlefield, the air and sea battles, the home-front sacrifices made by people in all walks of life and in all combatant countries, and the miracle of mobilization that made the United States the “arsenal of democracy.”

Copies of the book will be available for sale and signing.

The Center for the Book was created in 1977 to stimulate public interest in books and reading. For information about its programs, publications and national reading-promotion networks, visit www.loc.gov/cfbook/.

The Veterans History Project (www.loc.gov/vets/) of the American Folklife Center collects, preserves and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war.

The Library of Congress, the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution, is the world’s preeminent reservoir of knowledge, providing unparalleled collections and integrated resources to Congress and the American people. Many of the Library’s rich resources and treasures may be accessed through the Library’s website, www.loc.gov, and via interactive exhibitions on myLOC.gov.