Dr. Robert Saxe, associate professor of history at Rhodes College, is author of a new book titled Daily Life for Americans During World War II (Bloomsbury Academic, 2026). The book provides a lens into the day-to-day realities of war, both on the battlefront and at home in the United States.
On Thursday, Nov. 12, Saxe will present a public book talk at 4:30 p.m. in Blount Auditorium of Buckman Hall on the Rhodes campus. The event will be followed by a reception and Rhodes alumni mixer.
According to the publisher of Daily Life for Americans During World War II, “Readers will gain insight into how families coped with the absence of loved ones, how communities rallied together to support the war effort, and how soldiers found moments of levity amidst the chaos of war. The economic impact of the war, including rationing and the role of women in the workforce, is also explored in depth.”
In his talk, Saxe will discuss the difficulties of writing about one of America’s most studied wars while trying to capture the diverse experiences of those who lived through it.
Saxe earned a bachelor’s degree from Reed College and a doctorate in history from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is also the author of Settling Down: World War II Veterans′ Challenge to the Postwar Consensus (Palgrave, 2007).
At Rhodes, Saxe teaches courses in 20th century U.S. history, specifically focusing on war and society and U.S. politics.
Saxe’s talk on Nov. 12 is free and open to the public, but attendees are asked to pre-register using this link: https://fs22.formsite.com/webmanagerrhodesedu/8ooqyaa8jo/index
Those with specific inquiries about the Rhodes event can contact the Department of History at 901-843-3662.