Wob News

Reuniting a piece of WWII history

wwii letter found

In November, we discovered moving hand-written letter hidden inside a used book, written by a British soldier serving in Italy.

The soldier, Lance Corporal John Wheldon-Williams, had received a package from a schoolgirl – Miss Pat Moore – containing a pair of mittens she had knitted to provide some comfort. He was so touched by this gesture, he decided to reply to let her know just how important her contribution to the war effort was.

We’re delighted to announce that following a campaign to uncover more about the story behind the letter, we’ve been able to reunite this with Pat’s daughter – and discover more about the soldier that penned it.

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General Chatter, Impact and Sustainability

2020: A Year in Review

2020 world of books year in review

We don’t need to tell you what a rollercoaster of a year 2020 was; we’re all on the same ride! In the midst of all the uncertainty, one thing we’re certain of is how very fortunate we are at World of Books to be able to provide books to your homes.

In the last year, books have been a fantastic source of entertainment while we had to stay at home, courage and inspiration when we had to face the worst, education when we turned homes into schools, and the ultimate escape when we just needed a break from it all.

We’d like to look back on 2020 for all its good bits! So here’s a year in review of what we’ve been up to at World of Books.

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Wob News

WWII letter discovered in a secondhand book

WWII letter found in second hand book


Discovering a piece of World War II history

At World of Books Group, we have discovered a moving and poignant hand-written letter from a British World War II soldier who was serving in Italy.

The note, written to thank a schoolgirl who had spent time knitting mittens for troops in the trenches, was found tucked away inside a book. During the war, those on the home front were encouraged to knit comforts for serving soldiers, with widespread initiatives run by organisations such as the British Red Cross. See photos of the WWII letter below, read the transcript here!

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Book Reviews

Playing Nice – JP Delaney | Book Review

playing nice j p delaney

It’s Vanessa, the lover of crime fiction, back again with another book review. Check out my last review of Harriet Tyce’s compelling debut, Blood Orange. I’m here reviewing another new thriller, JP Delaney’s Playing Nice. I enjoyed reading other JP Delaney books, with The Perfect Wife and The Girl Before as firm favourites. This new psychological thriller, Playing Nice, was published in August 2020. Still pretty hot off the press, it is perfect reading for colder, darker nights!

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