We Can Take It! - Softcover

`We Can Take It!' shows that the British remember the war in a peculiar way, thanks to a mix of particular images and evidence. Our memory has been shaped by material which is completely removed from historical reality. These images (including complete inventions) have combined to make a new history. The vision is mostly cosy and suits the way in which the Britons conceive of themselves: dogged, good humoured, occasionally bumbling, unified and enjoying diversity. In fact Britons load their memory towards the early part of the war (Dunkirk, Blitz, Battle of Britain) rather than when we were successful in the air or against Italy and Germany with invasions. This suits our love of being the underdog, fighting against the odds, and being in a crisis. Conversely, the periods of the war during which Britain was in the ascendant are, perversely, far more hazy in the public memory.

We Can Take It

explores how the memory of the Second World War continues to affect British contemporary life and why the war effort holds an important place in British culture, history and national identity. Connelly explores the way in which the British memory of the Second World War was created during the war, and maintained after it through cultural artifacts such as films, comics, art, literature and toys.

Connelly moves away from recent interpretations of the British war effort which have suggested that the rosy vision of cohesion, solidarity and unity is little more than a myth. Britain?s role in the war is seen as something that we should be proud of, and need to come to terms with in order to eradicate problems in our national self-perception.