This book covers the daily lives of ordinary working-class people from the outbreak of the Second World War to the end of the century. It attempts to detail every aspect of day-to-day living in the Black Country during this period, from the impact of the war on family lifestyles, marriage, courting, National Service and teenage years, as well as a description of a typical domestic week for housewives.The impact that new innovations, such as the wirelesses, television and cinema, had on society and family life plus the challenges that existed after the war with slum housing and shortages of food and other goods are all explored. The book also details appalling health conditions, pollution, childhood games and hobbies, morality and crime in the region, before finally taking a look at the decline of the region’s crucial industries.