I received a free copy of this book. The following review is of my own thoughts, and has not been influenced by the author, the publisher or by NetGalley.

This one was extremely surprising. I didn't think that I would fall in love with this book; with the same fierceness of enjoyment as the books written by James Holland. Alan Allport, through this audiobook alone, has made me seek out if he had any other books. The sequel to this book (Advance Britannia: How the Second World War Was Won 1942-1945) is coming out in on the 25th of November, and I didn't even have to think. I've pre-ordered it on audiobook, and have asked for the physical copy as my Christmas present this year.

The narrator (James Langton) definitely enhances this book, but the writing of Alan Allport is more than enough to make this a book that you don't want to put down. I'd sit down, or go out on a walk, and tell myself I only had about an hour before I had to do something else. Yet, over two hours later, I'd still be listening, still be so enamoured by the story of various people during the War, that I wouldn't want to click that button to stop the audiobook.

That is what one of the greatest strengths of this book. The various people mentioned in it. Everyone is given a voice, even if it's only a snippet of their lives. There is the major sweep of the world before World War II, and then during the war itself, but interspersed is information that I never knew. Information that I had never thought of. He's not only writing of the English people, but also by the people that are affected by the English people. The various countries under the rule of Empire Britannia: Indie, Northern Ireland, etc. I don't remember any other book,, writing about how Britain was affected by World War II, that pulled in how the countries still controlled by the British Empire, and the ones who had won their independence, were thrown into the war as well. I can recall mentions of how, during the war, these countries committed troops to fighting the Axis, but not an in-depth look into how entangled they still were with Britain. Alan Allport's decision to begin this book at 1938, gives a fantastic background into what the world was like before the War. How Britain was like, before it got pulled into the War.

The author manages a brilliant balance of why Britain got involved in the war, and how. He also doesn't shy away from showing the faults of the country. Of how the politicians messed up, but not annihilating them in the process. He makes these people well-rounded, not exactly apologising for their faults but showing why they came to the conclusion they did. Chamberlain, while making some of the stupidest decisions considering Hitler, did have similar views to many others within the British government due to problems at home, and also views that there were other areas of the world that needed more immediate attention. British interests that were being threatned by other countries, such as in Asia.

I'd highly recommend this book. Yes, it's quite a long one but it is worth it. I've found a new history writer that I love.

Please place this on your TBR pile. I think you would be pleasantly surprised at how 'smooth' and 'easy' this book is, whether you are reading or listening to it. Alan Allport has taken a difficult subject, and made it not only accessible, but also portrayed it from a different angle.

5 Stars.

Thanks to Profile Books Audio | Profile Audio, the author and NetGalley for an LRC in return for an honest review

As I put in my ear pods, I took a deep breath and hoped that this was not going to be a 21 hour long boring history audiobook, narrated by someone who would make it feel like it was a 41 hour long boring history audiobook...I need not have worried! As soon as I heard the opening lines read by the wonderful James Langton, I knew I was in safe hands. I was also intrigued by the author's surprising literary angle - J R R Tolkien!

Alan Allport opens Britain at Bay by unpacking the enduring 'Shire Folk' myth - the self-image of the British people as modest, peace-loving, home-oriented and reluctant warriors, akin to Tolkien’s Hobbits.

The first chapter begins with praise from Major Warren Lewis (brother of C S Lewis), in his 1949 diary, for an early draft of The Lord of the Rings and his speculation that readers might see the Shire as England and Sauron as a totalitarian threat. Although Tolkien rejected allegory, he admitted “applicability,” and the parallels to pre-war Britain are striking: an isolated, complacent, rural idyll facing a growing evil from the east.

Allport traces how Britain shed the aggressive imperial 'John Bull' persona for the modest “Little Man” in the interwar years. Writers such as Harold Nicolson and J. B. Priestley, and later Winston Churchill, used this image to explain both Britain’s sluggish response to Nazi aggression and its eventual resilience. Priestley’s broadcasts, especially his romanticised Dunkirk tale, entrenched the 'People’s War' idea: a nation of humble amateurs rising to the occasion. Churchill’s memoirs reinforced it, painting himself as a prophetic Gandalf figure warning an oblivious 'Shire' nation.

The myth’s charm lay in its flattering duality: naïve in the 1930s, yet steadfast under threat. Left and right alike could embrace it. But Allport stresses it was still a myth - partly true, partly misleading. The Britain of 1939–45 was not so innocent, not so unprepared and certainly not universally 'nice.'

As an opening to a work of history, 'Shire Folk' is masterful. The writing is vivid, layered and accessible, weaving literary criticism with political and cultural history in a way that will engage even those with little prior knowledge of the era. His affectionate yet sceptical tone ensures this is not mere nostalgia; it’s an invitation to rethink the war’s most comfortable myths.

The audiobook is elevated still further by James Langton’s magnificent narration. His warm, conversational delivery perfectly matches Allport’s engaging style, making this very long audiobook flow effortlessly. He has a gift for pacing and emphasis, bringing out the sly humour in Allport’s prose and the weight in its more serious moments. A lesser narrator could easily make such a long, detail-rich history book feel even longer but Langton makes it feel brisk, intimate and absorbing. His performance transforms the book from excellent history into a genuinely immersive listening experience.

I can't wait for Part 2!

#BritainatBay #NetGalley

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Profile Books Audio and Alan Allport for the opportunity to listen to a review copy of the audiobook.
Britain at Bay is a fresh look at Britain’s early years in WWII, covering 1938–1941. I absolutely loved how he dives into the political, military, and social history, challenging familiar myths about Chamberlain and Churchill. His writing is smart and witty without ever feeling dense or dry, and the wealth of detail—from high-level strategy to everyday life—is fascinating.
James Langton’s narration is clear, polished, and well-paced - at times a little monotone during some of the longer sections, but it suits the serious, thoughtful tone of the book and brings out Allport’s subtle humour nicely.
Highly recommended for fans of well-researched history that’s both informative and compelling!