There is nothing pretty about war. The hardships that people from all walks of life have to go through during times of armed conflict have inspired many writers to produce great works of fiction. The Second World War forms the backdrop for a wide variety of books and if you want this period in history to come alive for you, one way to do it is by reading WWII historical fiction novels.
The war had many different aspects and the variety of novels about the time reflects this fact. For example, the lives of the soldiers themselves are a fascinating theme. In his classic 'Catch-22', Joseph Heller describes how fighters had to try and preserve their sanity in a crazy situation. Author James Jones was stationed in the Pacific during the war and used his experiences to inspire 'From Here to Eternity'.
The fighting brought many risks for the soldiers involved and sometimes death seemed like the preferable outcome. In 'The English Patient', Michael Ondaatje describes how being badly wounded affected not only the victim but also those who had to nurse him back to health. Soldiers who were captured faced hardships of a different kind. 'The Bridge over the River Kwai' is an acclaimed novel by Pierre Boule about what it was like to be a prisoner of war.
The war brought about great changes in people's lives. Where they once had a relatively carefree existence, they now had to join the war effort. Ian McEwan's 'Atonement' touches on this theme. Connie Willis used the concept of time travel in her science-fiction novels 'Blackout' and 'All Clear' to show what life was like for civilians in the United Kingdom, which was frequently under attack from German bombers.
German civilians had a very hard time too, as evidenced by the many towns and cities left in ruins by the end of the war. If Germans wanted to do what was right, things were even more difficult. The fact that Death is the narrator in 'The Book Thief', the haunting debut of Markus Zusak, is a sign of things to come.
One of the groups of people who suffered most during the war was European Jews. They were killed by the millions in Nazi concentration camps. The son of a camp commander is the naive narrator of John Boyne's tragic 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas'.
Women had to survive amid serious food shortages and with the constant threat of rape. Mass rapes became commonplace by the final months of the war, especially in Germany as Allied soldiers swept through. In 'Two Women', the Italian author Alberto Moravia describes the effect of being gang-raped by the soldiers who were supposed to liberate them on a mother and daughter in Italy.
The film version of 'Two Women' earned Sophia Loren an Oscar for her heart-wrenching performance. This is only one of many WWII historical fiction novels that were adapted for the big screen. If you prefer to read the books, though, you can order them online, borrow them from the library or buy them from a good bookstore.
The war had many different aspects and the variety of novels about the time reflects this fact. For example, the lives of the soldiers themselves are a fascinating theme. In his classic 'Catch-22', Joseph Heller describes how fighters had to try and preserve their sanity in a crazy situation. Author James Jones was stationed in the Pacific during the war and used his experiences to inspire 'From Here to Eternity'.
The fighting brought many risks for the soldiers involved and sometimes death seemed like the preferable outcome. In 'The English Patient', Michael Ondaatje describes how being badly wounded affected not only the victim but also those who had to nurse him back to health. Soldiers who were captured faced hardships of a different kind. 'The Bridge over the River Kwai' is an acclaimed novel by Pierre Boule about what it was like to be a prisoner of war.
The war brought about great changes in people's lives. Where they once had a relatively carefree existence, they now had to join the war effort. Ian McEwan's 'Atonement' touches on this theme. Connie Willis used the concept of time travel in her science-fiction novels 'Blackout' and 'All Clear' to show what life was like for civilians in the United Kingdom, which was frequently under attack from German bombers.
German civilians had a very hard time too, as evidenced by the many towns and cities left in ruins by the end of the war. If Germans wanted to do what was right, things were even more difficult. The fact that Death is the narrator in 'The Book Thief', the haunting debut of Markus Zusak, is a sign of things to come.
One of the groups of people who suffered most during the war was European Jews. They were killed by the millions in Nazi concentration camps. The son of a camp commander is the naive narrator of John Boyne's tragic 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas'.
Women had to survive amid serious food shortages and with the constant threat of rape. Mass rapes became commonplace by the final months of the war, especially in Germany as Allied soldiers swept through. In 'Two Women', the Italian author Alberto Moravia describes the effect of being gang-raped by the soldiers who were supposed to liberate them on a mother and daughter in Italy.
The film version of 'Two Women' earned Sophia Loren an Oscar for her heart-wrenching performance. This is only one of many WWII historical fiction novels that were adapted for the big screen. If you prefer to read the books, though, you can order them online, borrow them from the library or buy them from a good bookstore.
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If you are interested in WWII historical fiction novels, see our selection found at www.ginnyzaparcohen.com today. You can learn more by clicking on the links at http://www.ginnyzaparcohen.com now.
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