Food shortages, air raid shelters and recruitment into civil defense and military units take centre stage in the book, “Islands at War: Trinidad and Tobago during World War II,” which was presented to the National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS) on November 19, 2020.

This new publication, co-authored by Professor Bridget Brereton, Emerita Professor of History, University of the West Indies (UWI) and former Chair of the Board of NALIS, and Dr. Karen Eccles, Faculty Liaison Librarian, Alma Jordan Library, UWI, is set between 1939 and 1945.

The book explores Trinidad and Tobago’s political, economic and socio-economic condition during World War II, provides an historical depiction of the Trinidad and Tobago as a British Colony, and recounts the role of women in wartime. The authors also dedicated a chapter in the book to how the war helped to shape Carnival, calypso, steel band music and literature, and to accelerate a shift from British to American cultural influences.

Paula Greene, NALIS’ Executive Director (Ag.) and Charmaine Glasgow, Director Heritage Library Division (Ag.) accepted the book from Dr Eccles. At the presentation, they discussed the importance of Trinidad and Tobago’s history being taught to children at a young age so that they can develop a better understanding of this country and value their significance in the world. The book will be added to the Heritage Library’s collection for use by researchers. The Heritage Library is responsible for preserving and promoting Trinidad and Tobago’s heritage information.