READER'S DIGEST RECOMMENDED READ: Festive Traditions
Reader's Digest UK|December 2021
The origin of the famous Trafalgar Square Christmas tree is beautifully drawn in this historical read
Stephenie Meyer
READER'S DIGEST RECOMMENDED READ: Festive Traditions

EVERY DECEMBER, Trafalgar Square is famously dominated by a Christmas tree donated by Norway in gratitude for Britain’s help during the war. Indeed, it’s become such a familiar sight that the poignant and stirring story behind it is often forgotten. Now, the ever-prolific A N Wilson’s latest book—aimed at “young and old alike”—gives that story its full due.

He begins on the night of April 8-9, 1940 when Germany launched a surprise invasion of neutral Norway, firmly expecting that it would do the same as other invaded countries: agree to terms that gave the Nazis full control. Things didn’t, however, work out that way. King Haakon VII and the Norwegian government managed to escape to Britain (Haakon’s English wife Maud was George VI’s aunt). They took with them not just Norway’s gold reserves to fund anti-German resistance but, as Wilson puts it, the idea of Norway itself. Their country’s merchant navy helped keep the Allies fed during the Battle of the Atlantic. Norwegian commandos fought on too—most spectacularly by destroying a heavy water plant that threatened to lead to a Nazi atom bomb.

Wilson tells the tales of derring-do—including the king’s escape with the Germans in hot pursuit—in a suitably exhilarating way. But he also fills in the fascinating historical background to Haakon’s reign, which began in 1905 when Norway became independent from Sweden and established itself as an unusually committed liberal democracy.

Bu hikaye Reader's Digest UK dergisinin December 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye Reader's Digest UK dergisinin December 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

READER'S DIGEST UK DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
EVERY SECOND COUNTS: TIPS TO WIN THE RACE AGAINST TIME
Reader's Digest UK

EVERY SECOND COUNTS: TIPS TO WIN THE RACE AGAINST TIME

Do you want to save 1.5 seconds every day of your life? According to the dishwasher expert at the consumer organisation Choice, there’s no need to insert the dishwashing tablet into the compartment inside the door.

time-read
3 dak  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
May Fiction
Reader's Digest UK

May Fiction

An escaped slave's perspective renews Huckleberry Finn and the seconds tick down to nuclear Armageddon in Miriam Sallon’s top literary picks this month

time-read
1 min  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
Wine Not
Reader's Digest UK

Wine Not

In a time of warning studies about alcohol consumption, Paola Westbeek looks at non-alcoholic wines, how they taste and if they pair with food

time-read
3 dak  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
Train Booking Hacks
Reader's Digest UK

Train Booking Hacks

With the cost of train travel seemingly always rising, Andy Webb gives some tips to save on ticket prices

time-read
4 dak  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
JOURNEY TO SALTEN, NORWAY, UNDER THE MIDNIGHT SUN
Reader's Digest UK

JOURNEY TO SALTEN, NORWAY, UNDER THE MIDNIGHT SUN

Here, far from the crowds, in opal clarity, from May to September, the sun knows no rest. As soon as it’s about to set, it rises again

time-read
8 dak  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
My Britain: Cheltenham
Reader's Digest UK

My Britain: Cheltenham

A YEAR IN CHELTENHAM sees a jazz festival, a science festival, a classical music festival and a literature festival. Few towns with 120,000 residents can boast such a huge cultural output!

time-read
6 dak  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
GET A GREEN(ER) THUMB
Reader's Digest UK

GET A GREEN(ER) THUMB

Whether you love digging in the dirt, planting seeds and reaping the bounty that bursts forth, or find the whole idea of gardening intimidating, this spring offers the promise of a fresh start.

time-read
6 dak  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
Under The GRANDFLUENCE Suzi Grant
Reader's Digest UK

Under The GRANDFLUENCE Suzi Grant

After working in TV and radio as an author and nutritionist, Suzi Grant started a blog alternativeageing.net) and an Instagram account alternativeageing). She talks to Ian Chaddock about positive ageing”

time-read
3 dak  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
Sam Quek: If I Ruled The World
Reader's Digest UK

Sam Quek: If I Ruled The World

Sam Quek MBE is an Olympic gold medalwinning hockey player, team captain on A Question of Sport and host of podcast series Amazing Starts Here

time-read
3 dak  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
Stand Tall, Ladies
Reader's Digest UK

Stand Tall, Ladies

Shorter men may be having their moment, but where are the tall women?

time-read
3 dak  |
Reader's Digest May 2024