When Books Went To War

When Books Went to War: The Stories That Helped Us Win World War II (2014), a work of historical nonfiction by Molly Guptill Manning, explores the consequences of book burning during World War II, and how a group of librarians campaigned to save these books. A New York Times bestseller, the book received a positive critical response for shedding light on a significant area of American publishing history. Manning currently serves as an attorney at the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. She also writes for law journals and legal publications.

At the heart of When Books Went to War is the idea that books can change the world. Books bring comfort to those who need it and unite us in times of great difficulty. Manning explores how stories from all genres brought comfort and hope to soldiers struggling through the horrors of World War II, and how librarians fought against censorship.

Manning explains that, without the efforts of librarians, publishers, and writers campaigning against book burnings and book bans, some much-loved stories would have been lost forever. Significantly, When Books Went to War highlights how reading became a pastime enjoyed by all classes instead of remaining a hobby for the wealthy elite.



Manning also examines how soldiers returning from the war found the courage to apply for college courses after having read so many books, and how the book exchange changed the face of American education forever. The World War II book campaign was an exercise in making literature accessible to the masses; the campaign was very successful.

When Books Went to War begins with a chapter titled “A Phoenix Will Rise.” In this chapter, Manning describes how Germans burned books that didn’t align with the German spirit. The book burning takes place in the years leading up to World War II; books by Jewish authors are especially targeted.

Manning asserts that, although student groups were largely responsible for physically burning the books, the Nazi Party supported the endeavor, encouraging the students to burn every book they deemed inappropriate. This nationwide book burning became impossible to control and censorship overran the country. Before long, other countries noticed what was happening in Germany and publicly condemned it.



In Paris, H.G. Wells established the Library of Burned Books. Here, German refugees could leave their books in safe hands so that the Nazis couldn’t destroy them. In America, people protested this so-called “literary holocaust,” demanding the Germans be held accountable for their actions. Manning contends that these feelings of anger persisted and intensified when the war broke out, explaining why Americans were so determined to see every book possible in the hands of American soldiers on the front lines.

Manning describes how American librarians responded to the censorship crisis and supported the American war effort in their own unique way. When America entered World War II, librarians launched a campaign to send paperback and hardback donations to American troops. The campaign was a great success, raising more than 20 million hardcovers to ship out. However, there was one problem, Manning explains—not all the books were suitable. Although the donations are well intended, soldiers didn’t necessarily want to read about medieval history or knitting. They wanted hope, inspiration, comedy, and excitement. A campaign was launched to find out which books soldiers wanted to read, and another to petition for donations. By 1943, the publishing industry realized it was ill-equipped to answer the demand, needing help from the War Department.

Together, major American publishing houses and the War Department came up with a plan—they produced small, lightweight paperback editions of the most popular books to ship out to troops. The books were so compact they easily fit into rucksacks and pockets, so soldiers could read them at any opportunity. These books became known as the Armed Services Editions because they were uniquely printed for service personnel.



Manning considers the most popular books and how much they meant to the soldiers reading them. She shares personal stories from American soldiers who are happy to talk about their favorite books and how these stories inspired them. For example, Manning shares the story of a young Marine who read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn while he was hospitalized with malaria. The book changed his outlook on life and helped him recover from depression. It gave him the strength to cry, laugh, smile, and feel human again.

Books about home and family made soldiers feel like they were back home with their own families, and the short breaks from reality gave them the resolve they needed to carry on. Manning says that, unsurprisingly, books with heavy romantic and sexual content were popular with soldiers of all ages.

For Manning, what is important about these personal stories is how they prove that storytelling brings people together, reminding us of our shared humanity. The Armed Services Editions and the literary campaigns are a part of America’s publishing history we should never forget.