‘I thought the story was finished’: Sheffield author overwhelmed as first 100 Blitz collector’s editions land across Britain
Sixteen years after believing his Sheffield Blitz journey had come to an end, Sheffield author and social historian Neil Anderson has completed what he describes as the biggest project of his career, with the first 100 copies of his new ‘Sheffield’s Date With Hitler - 85th Anniversary Collector’s Edition’ now arriving with readers across Britain.
“I thought I had finished telling Sheffield’s Blitz story in 2010,” said Neil.
“This week, I stood surrounded by 100 parcels heading to homes across Britain and realised the story had one final chapter left to tell.”
Scores of people placed their faith in the project by ordering before the finished edition even existed. Every copy has been individually signed, hand-numbered and packed in Sheffield before being despatched nationwide.
“Watching those first 100 parcels leave Sheffield was an incredibly emotional moment,” he said.
Neil believed his work on the Blitz had ended when the original ‘Sheffield’s Date With Hitler’ was published 16 years ago.
Instead, survivors continued to come forward, families uncovered forgotten photographs, new archive film emerged and previously unseen documents transformed his understanding of the raids.
“I kept thinking, ‘I can’t leave this out,’” he said. “Before I knew it, what began as a revised book had grown into one of the biggest and most demanding projects I’ve ever undertaken.”
The new collector’s edition combines an expanded anniversary edition with rare archive film, eyewitness interviews, reproduced German military intelligence maps, exclusive behind-the-scenes research, a numbered certificate of authenticity and access to more than four hours of digital content, including Neil’s companion Sheffield Blitz walking app.
“For me, this has never just been about publishing another book,” Neil added.
“Every year we lose more people who experienced the Sheffield Blitz. Once those voices are gone, they can never be replaced. I feel privileged that so many people trusted me with their stories, and I hope this edition preserves them for generations to come.”
Limited to just 250 individually numbered copies, you can find out more about the ‘Sheffield’s Date With Hitler 85th Anniversary Collector's Edition’ here: