I'm looking for more books, real or fiction, written by or about everyday civilians leading up to and during a significant historical war. WW2 in particular, but other wars, revolutions, etc as well.
Basically, I want to see more of this:
(How the everyday person dealt with the certainty or need of impending war)
*"It does not take a long time to strike a man with Lightning," said Defarge.
"How long." demanded madame, composedly. "does it take to make and store the lightning? Tell me."
Defarge raised his head thoughtfully, as if there were something in that too.
"It does not take a long time," said madame, "for an earthquake to swallow a town. Eh well! Tell me how long it takes to prepare the earthquake?"
"A long time, I suppose," said Defarge.
"But when it is ready, it takes place, and grinds to pieces everything before it. In the meantime, it is always preparing, though it is not seen or heard. That is your consolation. Keep it."*
by rioichi4