With 2008 being the 90th anniversary of World War I and the BBC doing a documentary on Vera Brittian in November, this has plenty of marketing potential. As if not enough, her previous book "Testament of Youth" continues to sell over 4000 copies every year. This is the wartime correspondence of Brittain withis 4 young men, and reflects their story of idealism, disillusionment and personal tragedy.

Mark Bostridge is the co-author of Vera Brittain: A Life (Chatto & Windus 1995), which was shortlisted for several prizes. Alan Bishop is Professor of English at McMaster University in Ontario and has edited three volumes of Vera Brittain's diaries.