Soldiers had to carry everything they owned, so small, portable books became the entertainment of both world wars, and governments printed posters urging the public to donate them. This compact show gathers those appeals from the US, Britain, Canada and Germany, and shows how, by World War II, books had become a symbol of freedom for America and its allies. If you loved When Books Went to War, its author curated this one.
What to expect
The posters line Poster House's lower-level hallways, and the museum suggests about 20 minutes to see them. Expect bold wartime graphics calling for donations of both escapist fiction and educational titles, with context on how reading kept morale up and prepared troops for civilian life.
Good to know
- Plan on about 20 minutes, per Poster House
- Find it in the lower-level hallways
- Poster House rates it G, so it works for curious kids
- Pair it with Designed to Be Red and the Lefor-Openo show in the same building
- Poster House is at 119 West 23rd Street near the F/M and 1 trains
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Common questions
Who curated it?
Molly Guptill Manning, a historian and author of the bestseller When Books Went to War.
How long does it take to see?
Poster House suggests allotting about 20 minutes.
