Just a Line from West Bay: The Story of a Dorset Harbour and Resort in Postcards

Just a Line from West Bay: The Story of a Dorset Harbour and Resort in Postcards is an essential inclusion for any list of Paul Atterbury's best works, particularly for those interested in his deep dives into British social history and the power of visual ephemera. Atterbury, renowned for his keen eye for the past and his ability to weave compelling narratives from often overlooked sources, masterfully employs a collection of vintage postcards to chart the evolution of West Bay. This book showcases his signature talent for contextualizing everyday objects, transforming simple images into windows onto a bygone era, revealing the changing fortunes of a specific place and the lives of the people who shaped it. What truly elevates "Just a Line from West Bay" to a "best of" status is Atterbury's unique approach, demonstrating not just a passion for collecting but a profound understanding of how postcards served as intimate touchstones of communication and personal memory. He doesn't merely present the images; he meticulously analyzes their content, captions, and postage marks to construct a vivid and accessible history. This book exemplifies Atterbury's skill in making history tangible and engaging, proving that even the most unassuming of objects, when illuminated by his expertise and engaging prose, can tell a rich and captivating story of a beloved Dorset location.