In the Dark Streets Shineth by David McCullough

This very small gift book which comes with a DVD tells the story of Christmas 1941.

Three small stories set the tone. The story of the Christmas carols " O Little Town of Bethlehem" and " I'll Be Home For Christmas"

When one thinks of the setting of the latter, soldiers away from home, fighting overseas missing their loved ones there may not be another song as moving.

The other story told is that of the visit if Winston Churchill to Washington at Christmas 1941 and the small story of that Christmas Eve ceremony held. The official program for the event does not mention Churchill as his visit was top secret as the head of Great Britian crossing the Atlantic was a significant security risk.

The book is tiny, the stories small but heartfelt, the pictures from the era quite compelling.

$19.95 would be hard to spend, you could read it standing at the bookstore in 5 minutes but from the library surely a worthwhile read for someone interested in what America faced and faced together. That in itself is a telling lesson for us today.