|
|
Reviewed by Alan Pennington in the August 2000 ed. of "Communication," the monthly Journal of the British DX Club. Reprinted with permission.
In "On the Short Waves," well-known
American DXer and BDXC member Jerry Berg gives a fascinating account
of the history of short-wave radio and the listener community
that was attracted to it.
Organised in three parts, the first 60 pages charts the "Early
Days": the first pioneering Broadcast Stations, the
"excitement and mystique of early radio and electronics which
turned the science of the day into an adventure for millions"
and the "arrival of the first American (private) short-wave
stations (there was no government VOA until 1942).
The second, and largest part (circa 130 pages) tells the story
of short-wave's "Coming of Age" in the 1930s--the stations
of that decade, including the many U.S. private stations, the
SW receivers and radio magazines of the 30s and the early listener
clubs and QSLs of the era.
The third and final part (45 pages) details short-wave radio during
the Second World War to 1945, the stations and voices on the air
during the war years, and shortwave listening during WWII.
The text is well-researched and cross referenced and there are
extensive notes and a list of further reading at the end of the
book to induce you to delve deeper! Naturally, as Jerry
Berg is American, the book is written from an American perspective,
in particular some of the chapters (e.g. on the Radio Popular
Press and Radio Clubs). However, as a non-American, I still
found the book full of fascinating facts and anecdotes throughout--indeed,
the American perspective has its plusses, e.g. the wealth of information
on U.S. SW stations I've never read about over this side of the
pond, and ABSIE (the American Broadcasting Station in Europe)
which transmitted from England from April 1944 to July 1945.
Radio history about many world broadcast stations (e.g. Radio
Brazzaville, the Voice of Free France) made "On the Short
Waves" difficult to put down at times! And it's
written in a very clear and readable style--in no way a dry academic
history textbook.
As Jerry Berg is chair of "The Committee to Preserve Radio
Verifications," he obviously had access to a lot of early
QSLs and other early radio ephemera, and as a result the book
is well-illustrated throughout with radio station postcards, verifications,
receiver adverts, historical radio magazine covers and even reproduced
whole pages. It's this rich profusion of pictorial material
that really makes the book for me!
"On the Short Waves, 1923-1945" is highly recommended
reading for anyone with an interest in the history of short-wave
radio and our hobby of shortwave listening and DXing.
The book is available through Amazon.co.uk for 38.25 pounds (Tel.
0800 279 6620) or from Amazon.com in the U.S.A. for $42.50--both
quote delivery time of 4-6 weeks. Postage is extra.
(Thanks to Allan McKellar for the kind loan of this review
copy which he won in one of Dr. Kim Elliott's VOA "Communications
World" competitions! I must get a copy myself now!!)