1947: When Now Begins

Interweaving the social, political, and personal, in 1947 Elisabeth Åsbrink chronicles the year that ‘now’ began.

In 1947, production begins of the Kalashnikov, Christian Dior creates the New Look, Simone de Beauvoir writes The Second Sex, the CIA is set up, a clockmaker’s son draws up the plan that remains the goal of jihadists to this day, and a UN Committee is given four months to find a solution to the problem of Palestine.

In 1947, millions of refugees flee across Europe looking for new homes, among them Elisabeth Åsbrink’s father.

In 1947, the forces that will go on to govern all our lives during the next 70 years first make themselves known.