The top 12 historical fiction books set during world war. Best novels about world war 2 list of wwii fiction books. Jul, 2018 it remains not just one of dicks best works, but one of the best examples of alternative world war ii fiction, period. Though set long after the end of the war, peter tieryas united states of japan, also set in an america occupied by japan, works as a sort of spiritual followup to dicks masterwork. This category has the following 7 subcategories, out of 7 total. Jul 01, 2014 faulkss episodic novel isnt primarily set during the great war. Katherine tomlinson is a former reporter who prefers making things up. If stories are anything to go by, wartime life in the 30s and 40s was marked by dread, apprehension, and a fear of the unknown. Set in the rural french farmland and forest west of verdun, this world war ii story is filled with intrigue, action, and romance. New world war ii fiction written from a fresh perspective by a new author. People have been writing fiction about the second world war for seventy years.
I had not intended to write a first world war novel. Released in 1969, slaughterhouse five was one of the first novels to mix absurdist postmodernism and pop culture with straightfaced accounts of the second world war. While the entire genre is booming, novels set during world war ii are particularly popular. The best novels set during wwii score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book.
So for fans of historical fiction, weve compiled a selection of some of the best novels about world war two, set in europe and beyond. Immerse yourself in stories during one of the most turbulent times in history. The best novels set in world war two pan macmillan. Alphonse deboy and his three grandchildrenaurelie, josette, and luchave been supplying food to their american visitor, maj. The other was about some boy scouts in a coastal american town, and involved uboats and a spy. The outbreak of war in 1939, as in 1914, brought to an end an era of great intellectual and creative exuberance.
Some of the best thriller fiction comes from the war. This book highlights the atrocities committed by stalin during world war 2, which rival those of the germans towards the jews during the same time period. Indianapolis and the extraordinary story of its survivors. World war 2 was the most widespread war in history and was marked by the deaths of millions of civilians due to the use of nuclear weapons and the holocaust.
May 16, 2018 dont miss any of the best world war 2 books in my list below. Most people will remember learning about the war from poring over history books in class, listening to elderly family members, or by watching the countless repeats of war films on the telly. With her novels set in victorian times, anne perry is up there in the top rank of contemporary historical novelists. After yesterdays world war ii fiction post, now its time for the nonfiction. For the most part, ive left out novels set in the pre and postwar. It ended may 8, 1945, and the world was left picking up the pieces from the battlefield. There are a slew of world war 2 books from which to choose. This list is a chronological collection of significant events from such fiction.
From sweeping love stories to family sagas, discover the historical fiction novel that takes. Oct 22, 2015 trouble is the engine of fiction, and a novel set during world war ii has the advantage of plenty of trouble. Yet it is squarely based on the reallife experiences of lale eisenberg, a young slovak jew who was transported to auschwitz in april 1942. The book consists of the first two parts of what was intended to be a fivenovel suite about the war in france. Mar 22, 2019 the action in many of the novels by furst and kerr takes place either before or after the war and do not appear on this list.
Discover the best world war ii historical fiction in best sellers. In stark contrast to joanne harriss previous novels, five quarters of the orange is rather dark historical fictiona recounting of the german occupation of france during world war ii. Here are 12 historical fiction books set during world war. The untold story of the men who risked all for the greatest rescue mission of world war ii mans search for meaning company commander. On this list youll find historical fiction to give context for the time period and convey what it really felt like for fighters on the front lines, kids and families back home, and jews in hiding or sent to concentration camps. This fastpaced novel focuses upon the life of the primary character, lady sophia somerville, who begins life as the daughter of the charismatic but unscrupulous earl nigel somerville and his wife, the. Whether it was families separated by duty, the bombs of the blitz, or strict rations, the constant state of uncertainty left plenty of room for whatifs these cozies capture the feelings of the wwii era, as people adjusted to a newer, darker kind of life. Inspired by the unbelievable life of a real world war ii heroine, martha hall kellys 2016 debut novel is a beautiful story of love, bravery, and the fight for justice. There were novels written during the war, in its immediate aftermath, in the fifties, sixties, seventies and so on. Listing the 10 best novels about world war ii, plus two dozen others, including both. In these cozy mysteries set in world war ii, detectives solve crimes in a time when the future was uncertain. Written by aj sidransky world war ii and the excesses of the nazi regime have provided endless inspiration for crime and thriller writers. She was editor of astonishing adventures magazine and the publisher of dark valentine magazine.
We follow yankel, a jewish boy protecting his younger brother at all costs and yasia, a. The best early spy novels it can be genuinely argued that literature within the spy genre is something that is almost uniquely british. By downloading libby to your smartphone, you can access thousands of ebooks and audiobooks from your library for free anytime and anywhere. So, that can make finding the best world war 2 books very difficult. Many of these works are key examples of the war novel genre. Discover book depositorys huge selection of world war 2 fiction novels online. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers.
Philip kerr wrote three detective novels that have been anthologized under the title berlin noir. Many you have probably heard of because they have won awards or have been turned into movies. Jan 22, 2014 people have been writing fiction about the second world war for seventy years. At times it can feel as though we know all there is to know about world war ii, which lasted from 1939 to 1945. Trouble is the engine of fiction, and a novel set during world war ii has the advantage of plenty of trouble. Both books available on kindle and part of the apocalypse now series. World war ii fiction recommendations historical fiction.
Once again culling from the excellent comments left in my original post on the topic from a while back, here are the books many readers suggested anthony beevors books stalingrad and the fall of berlin 1945. In remembrance of the great war, the massive online book club that is goodreads has pooled together 20 of the most highly rated novels about the conflict. The top 12 historical fiction books set during world war ii she reads. English literature english literature the literature of world war ii 193945. The amount of detail and research into the books is absolutely astounding. There is no other world war 2 novel that comes anywhere close to it in terms of the twisted mindset that underpinned the war in europe. Willow grove abbey is the first novel in the somerville trilogy, set in england, and spanning the years of world war ii from 1935 to 1945. Absolutely heartbreaking world war 2 historical fiction. I write fiction set during ww2 and though my books do have a romance in them, they cant technically be classified in the romance genre as its not the central part of the story. Similarly, it is beyond doubt that british involvement in the world of intelligence gathering was, until the end of the second world war, preeminent. Set in the closing months of world war ii in an american bomber.
Here are 18 world war 2 books to add to your shelf. Does anyone know of any boys adventure fiction set during world war 2. Laurie also points to a terrific bibliography of world war ii novels from a community college library in kansas city. Many readers suggested anthony beevors books stalingrad and the fall of berlin 1945. They feature stories about world war 2 paris, medieval scotland, royal england, and so much more if you enjoy historical fiction, weve compiled a list of the biggest, best books 2018 has to offer. Feb 26, 2018 this post on world war ii books is sponsored by libby. Possibly the best books on this topic are the bernie gunther series by philip kerr. The following 200 pages are in this category, out of approximately 441 total. Often times, historical fiction books capture the mood of an era just as deftly as their nonfiction counterpartsand the following novels are no exception. What are the best childrens books on the second world war.
Steve recommends some intriguing genre fiction that takes place during the war era. But what are the best historical books about world war 2. From sweeping love stories to family sagas, discover the. Historical fiction set during world war ii penguin. Still, they are definitely love stories, and im hoping there will be crossover potential for historical fiction and romance and mainstream. And if that wasnt enough, think about how waughs surname is pronounced covenant with death john harris. Jun 06, 2017 prussian blue by philip kerr is the 12th bernie gunther novel, where the former berlin bull and unwilling ss officer bernie gunthers cover is blown, so he must reenter a catandmouse game that continues to shadow his life a decade after germanys defeat in world war 2. The top 12 historical fiction books set during world war ii. Below youll find two lists, with the 10 best novels about world war ii listed first. It includes events that were set in world war ii but have never occurred.
But it is her five book series centred around the cambridge academic joseph reavley which deals with world war i. Not to be confused with another novel with a similar name, this book is amazing, enriching, and well worth a read. Apr 19, 2018 discover book depositorys huge selection of world war 2 fiction novels online. When the tree sings 1981 haviaras novel is a powerful story about the second world war and the subsequent greek civil war, seen through the eyes of a young boy in a remote village. They are set in berlin in 1933, 1938 or so just prior to kristallnacht and in postwar berlin around 1946. Kitty mcculley faces the challenges of being a nurse amidst the turmoil of war. These novels set during the wwii era are some of the most inspiring, heartbreaking, and powerful reads you will ever encounter and each of them gives us a new perspective on the time. By turns disturbing and heroic, they represent some of the greatest works of world war ii literature, offering a multicultural perspective of the deadliest conflict in human history.
The tattooist of auschwitz, set largely in the death camp itself, offers a fictional picture of life there from 1942 until the end of world war ii. Once again culling from the excellent comments left in my original post on the topic from a while back, here are the books. World war ii historical fiction, historical fiction, books. An epic and heartbreaking love story set in world war two. Mcculley deals with the overt racism of her colleagues as they provide care to injured soldiers and vietnamese civilians at the china beach medical facilities. One was about a fighter pilot in the mediterranean who liked to eat pie in meetings, and got in trouble for doing so. The healers war is set in the vietnam war era where lt. Online shopping from a great selection at books store.
Set in the rural french farmland and forest west of verdun, this world war ii. The best novels set in hawaii the fiction addiction. These books will help kids understand the events of one of the most interesting periods of modern history. A farewell to arms is a novel by ernest hemingway set during the italian campaign of world war i.
This list may not reflect recent changes learn more. Dicks brainwarping story is set in a world where the axis powers won world war ii, and america has been divided between japan and nazi germany the brain twisting bit. Dont miss these 100 must read world war ii books, including fiction, ya. The narrative is lyrical, almost folkloric in its tone, despite the brutality and turmoil of the events it describes. What are some good historical fiction novels set in world. Longlisted for the womens prize for fiction in 2018, a boy in winter is a short but powerful novel set over three days during the german occupation of ukraine in 1941. English literature the literature of world war ii 1939. Nov 10, 2016 to mark remembrance day and pay my respects to the official end of the first world war ive complied a list of my favourite books set in the two world wars and some of the ones on my tbr. The islands at the end of the world and the girl at the center of the world, both by austin aslan, are survival scifi set in hawaii. World war 2 books are a trendy topic for historical fiction recently. Historical fiction novel set on bora bora during world war ii. But the physician protagonist of my initial project, set in interwar vienna, needed a backstory. Weve compiled some of the best novels that take place during world war ii set all around the world, from london to shanghai. Weve compiled a selection of some of the best novels and fictional books about the second world war, inspired by the tumultuous years of conflict in europe and beyond.
All the light we cannot see by anthony doerr, the huntress by kate quinn, the tattooist of auschwitz by. First, a moment to mourn philip kerrs passing, just over. The classic infantry memoir of world war ii inferno. In the summer of twentyoneyearold anne calloway, newly engaged, sets off to serve in the army nurse corps on the pacific island of borabora. Morris wrote two mystery novels set in the great war bretherton 1929 and behind the lines 1930. Her dark fiction has appeared in shotgun honey, a twist of noir, luna station quarterly, and eaten alive, as well as anthologies, including weird noir, pulp. World war i, or the great war, was meant to be the war that ended all wars. People who voted on this list 223 sofia 2410 books 54 friends shanshad.
A sweeping world war ii saga of thwarted love, murder, and a longlost painting. Sep 04, 2018 possibly the best books on this topic are the bernie gunther series by philip kerr. English literature the literature of world war ii 193945. Written by alan furst political thriller writer alan furst is the master of storm clouds massing over europe novels, set in the 1930s. From actionpacked eyewitness accounts such as guadalcanal diary to devastating holocaust memoirs like the diary of anne frank and night to the thrilling espionage tale of operation mincemeat, world war ii is the subject of some of the most fascinating and influential nonfiction books ever written each year, seemingly dozens of new titles emerge to offer fresh. Check out the 10 most consequential events of world war ii and 15 good books about the holocaust, including both fiction and nonfiction. My favourite second world war set book is empire of the sun by jg ballard, a childseye view of war which is both startlingly. I love great historical novels, so i was looking forward to this book set at the cusp of world war ii, but i wasnt expecting it to be so good, or so impactful. You might also be interested in my post, 5 top nonfiction books about world war ii plus many runnersup and 20 most enlightening historical novels plus dozens of runnersup. The noted critic cyril connolly proclaimed waughs series to be the finest novels to have come out of the war. Beevors stalingrad is the better of his two books on the war. Novels bring world war ii to life for a new generation the.
Its called suite francaise and its by irene nemirovsky. Dont miss any of the best world war 2 books in my list below. They cover a variety of genres from action stories set on the. Jun, 2016 historical fiction is having a renaissance, and publishers of youngadult novels say they are seeing special interest in books set during this period. May 08, 2015 what are the best childrens books on the second world war.
Weve compiled a selection of some of the best fictional books set in ww2 books, inspired by the tumultuous years of conflict in europe and. Historical fiction set during world war ii penguin random house. Altar of resistance world war two series, book 2 by. World war ii historical fiction, historical fiction, books barnes. Dick you cant discuss alternate history without bringing up the man in the high castle.
May 22, 2019 todays thriving historical fiction genre provides readers with an escape from everyday life and a glimpse into a different time period in history. What are some good historical fiction novels set in world war. Many types of fiction have involved events in the world war ii time period. Soldiers, spies, diplomats, refugees, commandos, secret police, prisoners of war. This is a list about the best novels about world war 2 basically a genre onto itself considering how extensively it has been covered in literature and art. To mark the 70th anniversary of ve day, childrens authors including shirley hughes, michael morpurgo, sf said, piers torday and katherine rundell, together with childrens books site members.
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