On the Home Front: Melbourne in Wartime: 1939-1945

An evocative study of Melbourne during World War II, this newly revised account illustrates life in an Australian city during wartime, drawing upon the memories of the men and women who lived through these turbulent years. Investigating the work, leisure, relationships, and fears of the families left behind, this record also covers topics such as Australian nationalism and identity, the challenged traditional roles of mothers and wives, and the issues of drunkenness, gambling, and sexuality on the home front. In effect, society’s responses to the tensions between increased government interference and new opportunities for social and sexual freedoms are thoroughly captured in this compelling narrative.