When the Wind Blows: The bestselling graphic novel for adults from the creator of The Snowman

A wonderful read and exploration of life back then.Written during the days of real James Bonds, the Cold War and of the Iron Curtain; this little book not only eloquently portrays the anguish of these times (through which many of us lived) but also the heartache of blissful (wanton) ignorance of Truth; the deniability of the truth, by fear.I was recently reminded of this book by Sam, (thank you) the animation of which I had seen only in parts. Having read the book now, I feel that with the current polarisation of public/political views and opinions, this little book is a poignant reminder of the unstable times in which we now live; and that to trust our own observations rather than banded straplines and sensationalist headlines, will always be a personal rather than a manipulated choice."When the Wind Blows" by ©️ Raymond Biggs, first published in 1982 and animated in 1986 staring Peggy Ashcroft and John Mills.

Sometimes the best stories to deal with complex issues are the simplest, in plot and form; like Orwell's 'Animal Farm' or Raymond Briggs' 'When the Wind Blows'.I suppose you could say this book conjured up a strange mixture of feelings in me. For one thing, it dealt with subjects related to the British identity which had been frustrating me for some time, such as the obsessive nostalgia for the national 'glory days' of the second world war. The old couple are way out of their time and completely without a clue. As well as tugging on our heartstrings, sometimes you just want to grab them and shake them, as they attempt to deal with the horrors of a nuclear attack with that typical British attitude of 'carrying on' and 'stiff upper lip' and 'getting by'; completely unaware of the drastic changes in warfare since the days of Churchill and Old Hitler, 'when everything made sense'. The husband keeps up a blind faith in 'the powers that be' while his wife fusses over the house and her domestic duties; even when their situation rapidly changes from bad to worse. There is cruel but sometimes hilarious black comedy at work here.But of course, with all great British works, as well as the comedy there is the tragedy. You know from the start that this couple is doomed, with their lack of knowledge and understanding in international affairs and modern warfare. It is clear that the reason they indulge in nostalgia for their pasts, keep faith in the authorities and keep telling themselves that the nuclear damage is not as bad as it looks is that they're trying to stop themselves from breaking down. Even as their bodies weaken and fall apart from the radiation, as the vibrant colour is slowly drained from Brigg's devastatingly simple, rosy artwork, the characters keep hope. We want to help them but we can only watch. A terribly human, heartbreaking story and a horrific vision of what might have been and what could be. It is difficult to imagine a nuclear holocaust in the English countryside but Briggs brings us up to harsh, tear jerking reality. A haunting little masterpiece.

A masterpiece. Raymond Briggs isn’t given his due.Briggs writes some of the time for children, some of the time for adults, is British, and in his adult works mostly covers the English life 40 to 80 years ago and writes in a down to earth way.For all these reasons, talk of the greatest of all graphic novels usually leaves Briggs out. This is despite anyone who knows When the Wind Blows regarding it as extraordinary.It is simple and devastating, a graphic novel written a number of years before the breakout works for the genre: Maus, Watchmen, Batman the Dark Night, and not included in this group of early great works that remained some of the very best things to arrive as graphic novels.The book looks at “the bomb”, a nuclear situation for ordinary people relying on what they have been fed by the media and trying to integrate the bomb into the daily life they understand.

Excellent story in graphic form making it accessible to all of what could happen in a Split Second!This book should be compulsory in ALL educational facilities

I always remember watching this film adaptation but now have the book

When the Wind Blows is not like Raymond Briggs's other works. Unlike The Snowman, Father Christmas or Fungus the Bogeyman, it is not aimed primarily at children. It is a tragic story set during the cold war of a naive retired coupled who misunderstands nuclear war and put too much faith in the futile advice that the government provides to them.Like most all of Briggs work it is very well illustrated, the nuclear blast is particularly well done, as is the slow decline and decay of the couple as the succumb to the effects of radiation sickness. Not a story for the faint of heart.

I discovered this comic by accident. Raymond Briggs was a name I recognised from 'The Snowman', which I used to watch at Christmas. 'When the Wind Blows' seemed dated, because it referred to the Nuclear Panic of the Eighties, but I trusted the artist and took it off the library shelf.Having read this comic, I understand why adults of the Eighties feared the event of nuclear war. It achieves what Alan Moore did in 'Watchmen', but on a smaller scale. This might be the reason the comic dazzles the reader as it does: it shows how international politics impacts upon the working poor.Everybody who reads this comic will recognise the main characters: a middle-aged married couple, living in the English countryside. They remember the Second World War and, wrongly, assume that a nuclear exchange would present the same challenge. With empathy and tragedy, Mr Briggs proves otherwise.For this work alone, Mr Briggs should be remembered. It should also be required reading for the students of politics. This is what happens when those at the top forget those at the bottom. One could also argue that a nuclear exchange is not the only way in which such tragedies could occur ...

Amazing story and astonishing illustration, you feel like you’re actually in the book. If you love graphic novels and stories about war then definitely buy it. FIVE STARS 🤌

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Wenn man sich überzeugen will, wie wenig lernfähig wir sind, wie sehr wir Schläue mit Weisheit verwechseln, sollte man diese kleine graphic novel lesen.....

Poco se puede decir de un clásico del cómic tan maravilloso como este. La edición respeta el tamaño original, se lee claramente y se aprecian todos los detalles del dibujo del autor.La portada debería haber sido la del cómic original, no la de la peli de animación.

The book came in damaged, it was bent and crushed. Really sad cause I was looking for this book for a long time. Have raised a return