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1. What inspired Larson to write about Churchill's first year as prime minister?

When Larson lived in Manhattan, he realized how different September 11, 2001, had been for New Yorkers, than for Americans who had watched the nightmare from a distance. That got him to thinking about London and the German aerial assault of 1940-41. He wondered how anyone had endured the assault. There had been 57 consecutive nights of bombing followed by a series of nighttime raids over the next six months. He started wondering how Churchill, his family, and his friends endured. So he decided to write about Churchill's first year as prime minister from May 10, 1940, to May 10, 1941.

2. What preparations were made when Britain declared war against Germany on September 3, 1939?

When Britain declared war against Germany on September 3, 1939, the Ministry of Information sent a flyer to millions of home warning them that there would be violent fighting and they had to be ready to evacuate. Church bells went silent. Citizens were told if the bells tolled, they were to disable and hide their bicycles and destroy their maps. They were to disable their vehicles. Town and villages took down street signs and limited the sale of maps to people holding police-issued permits. Farmers left old cars and truck in their fields as obstacles against gliders laden with soldiers. The government issued 35 million gas masks to citizens who carried them everywhere. Mailboxes in London received a special coating of yellow paint that changed color if exposed to poison gas. Strict blackout rules were set in place.

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