07:04:00
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.
Some of the books set during the war look specifically at the lives of those fighting at the frontlines. For example, James Jones loosely based 'From Here to Eternity' on his own experiences as a soldier in the Pacific just before the attack on Pearl Harbor. 'Catch-22' by Joseph Heller not only gave English speakers a new term but also described how soldiers had to try and preserve their sanity when all around them madness prevailed.
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.
Before war broke out, life was quite carefree for many people but this changed as the bombs started dropping. The characters in 'Atonement' by Ian McEwan are only some of the people who had to see their lives irrevocably changed by war. If you're interested in civilian life in London at the time but you also like something different, try Connie Willis' 'Blackout' as well as the follow-up 'All Clear', which involve time travel to this very period.
Towards the end of the war, one of the hardest-hit countries was Germany. Entire towns and city neighborhoods were left completely in ruins by the bombs dropped on them. People also had to deal with the difficult choice between doing the right thing and simply surviving. For example, in 'The Book Thief' by Markus Zusak a German family puts their lives at risk by hiding a Jew in their basement. The narrator of the story is Death.
While German civilians had a hard time, it was even worse for Jewish people in Germany. They were rounded up and sent to concentration camps where millions were killed in the gas chambers. In 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas', John Boyne tells the story of the concentration camps through the eyes of a German boy whose father is a Nazi camp commander.
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.
Many WWII historical fiction novels were made into not-to-be-missed films. 'Two Women', for instance, starred Sophia Loren, who won an Academy Award for her performance. For the book version of 'Two Women' and other novels about the war, an online search is an easy way to find what you're looking for but you can also browse the shelves of your local library or bookstore.
Some of the books set during the war look specifically at the lives of those fighting at the frontlines. For example, James Jones loosely based 'From Here to Eternity' on his own experiences as a soldier in the Pacific just before the attack on Pearl Harbor. 'Catch-22' by Joseph Heller not only gave English speakers a new term but also described how soldiers had to try and preserve their sanity when all around them madness prevailed.
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.
Before war broke out, life was quite carefree for many people but this changed as the bombs started dropping. The characters in 'Atonement' by Ian McEwan are only some of the people who had to see their lives irrevocably changed by war. If you're interested in civilian life in London at the time but you also like something different, try Connie Willis' 'Blackout' as well as the follow-up 'All Clear', which involve time travel to this very period.
Towards the end of the war, one of the hardest-hit countries was Germany. Entire towns and city neighborhoods were left completely in ruins by the bombs dropped on them. People also had to deal with the difficult choice between doing the right thing and simply surviving. For example, in 'The Book Thief' by Markus Zusak a German family puts their lives at risk by hiding a Jew in their basement. The narrator of the story is Death.
While German civilians had a hard time, it was even worse for Jewish people in Germany. They were rounded up and sent to concentration camps where millions were killed in the gas chambers. In 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas', John Boyne tells the story of the concentration camps through the eyes of a German boy whose father is a Nazi camp commander.
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.
Many WWII historical fiction novels were made into not-to-be-missed films. 'Two Women', for instance, starred Sophia Loren, who won an Academy Award for her performance. For the book version of 'Two Women' and other novels about the war, an online search is an easy way to find what you're looking for but you can also browse the shelves of your local library or bookstore.
About the Author:
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.
0 comments:
Post a Comment