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The War Comes to Plum Street Kindle Edition

by Bruce C. Smith (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 20 ratings
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How World War II changed New Castle, Indiana. “This is a unique look at the war, far from the front lines, but equally impacting life on the home front.” —Bookviews.com

The War Comes to Plum Street brings to life the Second World War through the eyes of a small group of neighbors from a Midwestern town. Bruce C. Smith presents their stories just as they happened, without explanation or interpretation. To experience the war as they did, insofar as it is possible, we must understand how they perceived everyday events and recognize the incompleteness of their knowledge of what was taking place in Europe and the Pacific. The inhabitants of Plum Street in New Castle, Indiana, resemble many other average Americans of their day. As we discover how they experienced those fateful years, these Americans may have something to teach us about how we live in our own turbulent time.

“This remains a superb story. Bruce C. Smith has a wonderful eye for detail and a compelling perspective and voice. We care about this place and the people who live here.” —James H. Madison, author of Hoosiers: A New History of Indiana

“The book is worth reading for what it offers about the emotional life of the times. Smith recognizes that in a small community and, more particularly, on a single street, lives are enmeshed . . . Ultimately, this book is deeply personal, but it reminds us that life is lived at a deeply personal level.” —HistoryNet.com
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  1. Print length
    319 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Indiana University Press
  5. Publication date
    February 16, 2005
  6. File size
    3652 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a unique look at the war, far from the front lines, but equally impacting life on the home front. April 2009"―Bookviews.com

"A superb story. Smith has a wonderful eye for detail and a compelling perspective and voice. We care about this place and the people who live here."―James H. Madison, author of Slinging Doughnuts for the Boys: An American Woman in World War II

Review

A superb story. Smith has a wonderful eye for detail and a compelling perspective and voice. We care about this place and the people who live here.

-- James H. Madison

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00BIP0LO6
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Indiana University Press (February 16, 2005)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 16, 2005
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3652 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 319 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 20 ratings

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Bruce C. Smith

Bruce C. Smith

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Customer reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
4.9 out of 5
20 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

mark t. spears
5.0 out of 5 stars Family History
Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2023
Verified Purchase
I accidentally came across this book while doing some family research. This is an extremely well-written work that captures the day to day lives and struggles of pre-war American families and follows them and their town through the changes of the early 1940's brought on by the Second World War. My father spent a lot of time in New Castle during the summers in the late 1930's and early 1940's visiting his cousins, Earl and Jeanne Spears. I have a postcard written by Earl and sent to my grandfather while Earl was still in basic training. Earl's father, my Dad's uncle, was George Thomas Spears, who went by Tom, and my middle name is also Thomas, being named after uncle Tom.
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Philip R. Moore
5.0 out of 5 stars Plume Street in New Castle
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2012
Verified Purchase
I have had a hard time putting the book down. I was raised in New Castle so many of the names are fimeler to me. For instance the Grubbs, lived across the alley from me. I lived on C ave and they lived on B Ave. I knew the Grubbs boys and after she married Vitatoe she had Bob and he and I ran around together. I loved the way the book intraduced the families and the way it explained the War and the rationing. I remember those days but had forgotten some of the rationing. In my Junior and Senior year of High School I worked for Homer Smith at the Main street station. I will be ordering more of the books to have you send to others and I know of others I am going to recommend they buy the book. It is a great book which I will re-read again.
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James E. Humlong
5.0 out of 5 stars WAR COMS TO PLUM STEET
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2011
Verified Purchase
HAVING BEEN RAISED IN NEW CASTLE INDIANA IN THE EARLY 1940'S, I APPRECIATED THIS BOOK EVEN MORE THAN MOST. I KNOW OF THE WRITER AND HIS OTHER PUBLISHED WORKS AND THEY ARE JUST A INCITEFUL.
SINCE I NOW LIVE IN MICHIGAN, I GO BACK TO NEW CASTLE FOR AN ANNUAL TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE AND THE BOOK ADDED TO MY TRIP IMMENSELEY.
THE ACTUAL PEOPLE ON PLUM STREET FEATURED IN HIS BOOK ARE BROUGHT TO LIFE IN MY MIND'S EYE IN
PERFECT VIEW AS I WALK DOWM PLUM AND RECREATE THE STORY TOLD BY THE WRITER
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Family Trials
Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2011
Verified Purchase
This book had special significance to me because I know the town and some of the people in the book. However, it is so well written that it would not matter. You get a feel for what the people left at home went through in order for our boys to win the war. We see war films but not the lives of their wives, children and parents. I would recommend everyone read this book if you are interested in the war.
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PBA
4.0 out of 5 stars Great history from the local view.
Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2011
There are endless "big" history books with long lists of dates and events. This book provides a wonderful view depression era and WWII history from the local perspective. I'm not related to the author, but I'm a Hoosier by birth and have heard similar stories from my father and mother, who grew up in rural Indiana towns. This is a great read and takes you to the daily lives and struggles families in the 1930s and 40s.
One person found this helpful
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Brenda Asberry
5.0 out of 5 stars My hometown
Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2018
Verified Purchase
My neighborhood, I really enjoyed this book! So much that I had to buy my own copy because I had borrowed it from a friend
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Beth T.
5.0 out of 5 stars Baby boomers, read this book to learn about your parents
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2021
I learned about this book when the obituary of one of the main characters, Gemma Smith, was in our local paper a month ago. I read the book in one day, spellbound by the descriptions of life during WWII, both at home in New Castle, Indiana and on the war front. My father served in Europe from D-Day till the end of the war. Meanwhile, his fiancé (my mother) taught school and bought a farm 30 miles east of New Castle. My parents lived till ages 103 and 98 and they told us hundreds of stories, but still there were many facets of the war years described in this book that I had never heard before. I feel like I know my parents better. Many thanks to the author!
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Julie C.
5.0 out of 5 stars Small town - big story
Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2005
The first thing I noticed was the amazing detail Bruce Smith provides of every day life in New Castle during the 1940s. These meticulous snapshots of times past make you wonder how he could "see" events and scenes that occurred before he was born. And then, he expands his visual descriptions to include disturbing world events and their impact on Plum Street residents with such clarity that you begin to feel strongly about the lives of the people in this small community because they were so affected by world changes that they could not forsee, control, or want in their lives.

Dr. Smith tells the story of four sisters (a different set of "little women") and the harsh reality of growing up during WW2. Many aspects of his story-telling made the events come alive for me as I read the accounts. From the beginning, life was hard for these girls and they endured many, many traumas before they grew up -- but they were not alone in their suffering. As I read each line, I actually felt the frustration of rationing, the fear of dreaded messages from the war department, and the joy of brief but passionate moments that newlyweds treasured before each separation, fearful that they may never see each other again. I felt the drama and came away with a new appreciation for this generation whether they struggled at home or away from home.

I have heard many of these episodes before because one of the four sisters happens to be my mother, Maxine. But what was so meaningful to me was how it felt as I read these incidents in context of world events. I kept wondering how I would have reacted and the choices I would have made if this had been my experience instead of my mother's.

The description of my grandmother's first labor was so agonizing that for a brief moment I almost wanted her to give up and find peace -- but then I realized who this woman was and that if she gave up, I wouldn't be here to read the book! For me to be that swept up in the story is a testament to the author and his ability to engage the reader with emotion and interest.

Again, I am amazed at the detail, descriptions, and history that he wove into the fabric of this narrative. It was almost as if he actually lived during this time himself. I believe he was able to capture all of this because of his evident passion for history and his love for his immediate and extended family.

Dr. Smith, you have honored our family and preserved our personal history with dignity and craftmanship. I loved the book! Thank you for your wonderful gift to us!
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