Second World War fiction

Book SynopsisWorld War II has begun. As war rages, and the evacuation of Dunkirk approaches, the women of south London have their own battles to fight. Helen Carey''s LONDON ROAD is a compelling novel perfect for fans of Lilian Harry, Kate Thompson and Annie Murray. September 1939As the nation braces itself for war, the residents of Lavender Road are dealing with troubles of their own.With her husband in jail, Joyce Carter is never sure where her family''s next meal will come from. And her troublesome daughter, Jen, isn''t helping matters by refusing to work until she achieves her dream of becoming an actress.Pam Nelson is struggling to deny the distance growing between her and her husband - which isn''t helped by her secret attraction to their handsome new lodger. And unfortunately Pam isn''t the only one to fall for his seductive charm...As the threat of a German invasion looms, the lives of the women on this south London street are about tTrade Review'Written with a lightness of touch, an emotional integrity and an historical accuracy which has brought her respect from critics and readers alike' -- Louis de Bernières'Sparkling storytelling!' * Evening Standard *'One of the best books I've read in a long time. I laughed and cried and didn't want it to end' -- A Goodreads Member

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE BETTY TRASK AWARDSHORTLISTED FOR THE HWA DEBUT CROWNLONGLISTED FOR THE POLARI FIRST NOVEL PRIZESarah Day''s MUSSOLINI''S ISLAND is a novel of sexuality and desire, of hidden passions and the secrets we keep locked within us. Based on the true story of the rounding up of a group of Sicilian gay men in 1939, this book is sure to appeal to readers of the Elena Ferrante novels, Anthony Doerr''s ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE or Virginia Baily''s EARLY ONE MORNING.''A fascinating debut...the setting and characters are strong and the story is written with verve. Day is a talent to watch'' - The Times Francesco has a memory of his father from early childhood, a night when life for his family changed. From that night, he has vowed to protect his mother and to follow the words of his father: Non mollare. Never give up.As Francesco is herded into a camp on the island of San Domino, he reaTrade ReviewA fascinating debut...the setting and characters are strong and the story is written with verve. Day is a talent to watch * The Times *Startling. A compassionate and clear-eyed debut which illuminates a grim chamber of 20th century history -- Patrick Gale, author of A PLACE CALLED WINTER[An] impressive debut... Day handles her neatly structured plot with great dexterity as she nudges her readers, one revelation at a time, towards the truth about what has happened and about Francesco's hidden history * Sunday Times *Sarah Day's debut novel is striking: a fascinating evocation of a cruel time in Italian history -- Amanda CraigA beautiful and sadly relevant story of desire, oppression and defiance. I loved this book -- Anna Mazzola, author of THE UNSEEINGStunning... a wonderful haunting evocation of this forgotten and neglected story of war -- Mary ChamberlainA thoroughly absorbing and moving novel, one that convincingly illuminates a strange and largely forgotten aspect of life in Fascist Italy -- Andrew GreigBased on a true story, this is a haunting fictional account of oppression, survival and resilience and a powerful portrayal of sexuality and war * Attitude Magazine *Day's style reminds me of Somerset Maugham - the book is sexy, scary, enraging and beautiful - with a murder mystery at the centre that will keep you guessing * The Pool *A genuine standout amongst literary debuts. This complex, brave and powerful novel, both tender and hard-hitting, features fine writing and a transporting sense of place -- Isabel Costello * The Literary Sofa *A complex, tender psychological love story, combined with a murder mystery that will keep you guessing * The Reith Lectures, Radio 4 *

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Book SynopsisPam Evans'' heartwarming London saga, DANCE YOUR TROUBLES AWAY, is set during the Second World War and is sure to appeal to fans of Katie Flynn and Cathy Sharp.When Polly Pritchard learns that her husband has been killed in action, she brings up their young daughter Emmie alone. To make ends meet she gets a job at the Cherry Ballroom in West London and it is here that she meets James, a Canadian airman, and they fall in love. But then Polly''s husband turns up, very much alive...Life is even harder for Polly after the war; James has gone; her husband is involved in a criminal gang; and their daughter suffers from an illness that leaves her deaf. But Polly''s spirit remains strong and with courage and determination she find the happiness she and her daughter deserve.Trade ReviewPraise for Pam Evans' well-loved family sagas: 'A touching novel' * Daily Express *An unforgettable tale of life during the war * Our Time *Nostalgia, heartbreak, danger and war: all the ingredients of an engrossing novel * Bolton News *There's a special kind of warmth that shines through the characters * Lancashire Evening Post *This book touched me very, very much. It's lovely * North Wales Chronicle *

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Book SynopsisWhen all seems lost, will her mother''s legacy keep her safe?Praise for Anne Baker''s Merseyside sagas: ''A stirring tale of romance and passion, poverty and ambition'' Liverpool EchoAimee Kendrick is no stranger to heartache. Having lost her father during the Great War and her mother, a famous French impressionist painter, in a tragic accident, Aimee is brought up by her troubled grandparents on the banks of the river Mersey. She works hard at her art lessons and is encouraged to believe she has inherited her mother''s gift, but it is her childhood friend and fellow student Frankie Hopkins who shows greater talent. When Frankie joins the Kendrick''s textile mill to work on new fabric designs, Aimee begs her grandfather to teach her how to run the business. Working together, Aimee and Frankie become much more than friends but then they find themselves involved in family problems and it is impossible to know what the future holds.Trade ReviewPraise for Anne Baker's gripping Merseyside sagas: 'A stirring tale of romance and passion, poverty and ambition - Liverpool EchoA heartwarming saga - Woman s WeeklyBaker's understanding and compassion for very human dilemmas makes her one of romantic fiction's most popular authors - Lancashire Evening PostTruly compelling...rich in language and descriptive prose - Newcastle Upon Tyne Evening ChronicleWith characters who are strong, warm and sincere, this is a joy to read - Coventry Evening Telegraph

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Book SynopsisDelving deeper into the weird world of Konflikt ''47, this supplement presents a range of new material for the game, including: - New units: Options for troops and technology that can be added to the armies presented in the rulebook. - Special characters: Field the best of the best, elite men and women who may single-handedly be the crucial element between victory and defeat. - New background: The history of the world of Konflikt ''47 is detailed in more depth. - New rules: All-new means of waging war, including material previously published online.

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Book SynopsisThe Battle of France saw German forces sweep across the Low Countries and towards Paris, crushing Allied resistance in just six weeks. From Fall Gelb and the British withdrawal from Dunkirk to the decisive Fall Rot, this new supplement for Bolt Action allows players to take command of the bitter fighting for France, and to refight the key battles of this campaign. Linked scenarios and new rules, troop types, and Theater Selectors offer plenty of options for novice and veteran players alike.

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Book SynopsisFrom an author who lived through - and served in - the conflict, a brilliant novel set in an English village at a turning point of the Second World War.Trade ReviewThese fabulous, often funny stories have the authentic, freewheeling atmosphere of a time when all bets were off. * Daily Mail *A wonderful read, packed with incident, colour and detail. * Telegraph *The book captures the anxieties, heightened emotion and community spirit that marked this epoch-defining chapter in the nation's long and colourful history. * Yorkshire Post *There Was a Time vividly evokes life in a Lincolnshire village in 1940. Elegantly written and with beautifully-drawn characters, this absorbing story, amusing and poignant by turns, tells of the impact of the last War on a small, close-knit community. -- Gervase PhinnHe writes beautifully - poignantly and with humour. * Telegraph & Argus *White depicts unique, worried, caring individuals who it is not difficult to warm to and who are memorable. * Lincolnshire Life *A tender evocation of a unique period in history * Sunday Mirror *

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Book SynopsisA dramatic family saga set in the East End of 1958, with a spirited heroine determined to fulfill her dreams of becoming a dancer - and put her brother's killers away for good.Trade ReviewUnbridled passions run riot * Daily Mail *She brings the East End to life * Barbara Windsor *Sizzles with passion * Guardian on WILD HOPS *A rich, vivid, three-dimensional, gutsy and sexy narrative which has you turning the pages into the early hours * Eastern Daily Press on WILD HOPS *

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Book SynopsisA gripping family saga from Sally Worboyes, author of Wild Hops and Docker's Daughter.Trade ReviewSizzles with passion * Guardian on WILD HOPS *A rich, vivid, three-dimensional, gutsy and sexy narrative which has you turning the pages into the early hours * Eastern Daily Press on WILD HOPS *Unbridled passions run riot * Daily Mail *She brings the East End to life -- Barbara Windsor

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Book SynopsisA heartbreaking wartime saga from Sally Worboyes, author of Down Stepney Way and At the Mile End Gate.Trade ReviewUnbridled passions run riot * Daily Mail *She brings the East End to life -- Barbara WindsorA rich, vivid, three-dimensional, gutsy and sexy narrative which has you turning the pages into the early hours * Eastern Daily Press on WILD HOPS *Sizzles with passion * Guardian on WILD HOPS *

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Book Synopsis‘A heartbreaking portrait of an ordinary family shattered by a war they didn’t want’ The Times They've wrecked the world, these men, and still they're not done. They'd take the sky if they could. Germany, 1945, and the bombs are falling. In Heidenfeld, Etta and her husband Josef roam an empty nest: their eldest son Max is fighting on the frontlines, while fifteen-year-old Georg has swapped books for guns at a Nürnberg school for the Hitler Youth. At home, news of the war provokes daily doses of fear as the planes grow closer, taking one city after the next. When Max is unexpectedly discharged, Etta is relieved to have her eldest home and safe. But soon after he arrives, it’s clear that the boy who left is not the same returned. With Georg a hundred miles away and a husband confronting his own difficult feelings toward patriotic duty, Etta alone must gather the pieces of a splintering family, determined to hold them together in the face of an uncertain future.Trade ReviewBinder was born in Germany herself and evokes great sympathy for Etta and her painfully fractured family, while opening up unusual angles on the terrible conflict. Written in purposefully even prose that is nonetheless harrowing, it’s an intimate tragedy that’s all the more powerful for refusing the ending we fervently hope for * Daily Mail *A moving tale of a family destroyed by war . . . Inspired by her family's history, Binder unfolds a harrowing tale in limpid, expressive prose * Sunday Times *Binder’s debut explores familiar territory from a fresh perspective. The result is an engrossing novel peopled by believable and sympathetic characters * Mail on Sunday *Achingly beautiful . . . Binder's work is subtle and compassionate yet also clear and devastating in its depiction of a nation - and its people - suffocating under the weight of an insidious and inhuman ideology, one that ultimately devastates those who believe its illusions. Enduringly relevant * The Advertiser *Eloquent, and painfully human * Irish Examiner *An empathic portrayal of the human cost of war . . . Binder's etched prose, her unwillingness to whitewash complicty, and the focus on Etta, a mother trying to hold her family together as madness and horror descend, offers a genuinely tragic vision * Sydney Morning Herald *Heartwarming and exciting . . . This book, along with movies such as Hitler’s SS, A Portrait of Evil, and JoJo Rabbit, explain how the strands of hatred reached out and entrapped whole families in a web of evil * Jerusalem Post *The novel has an unfussy, understated feel - reflected in Binder's calm prose - that belies its powerful impact. It's alternately subtle and striking, quiet and then, suddenly, deafeningly loud * Country and Town House *A Time to Love and a Time to Die by Erich Maria Remarque has always been one of my favourite books, and Reunion by Fred Uhlman I consider a masterpiece, so it was with great pleasure that I read The Vanishing Sky, which told the same story from a completely different angle -- Jeffrey ArcherIn her intimate and epic debut novel, L. Annette Binder lifts the lid on one family’s darkest story to offer vital insight into daily life under the last days of the Third Reich. The Vanishing Sky is a heartrending and blazingly lucid depiction of Nazi Germany as not a simple monolith of evil but as an oppressive, fanatical political regime that was encountered, accommodated, rejected, and survived by ordinary people, people just like you and me -- Miriam Toews, author of 'Women Talking'L. Annette Binder’s The Vanishing Sky is so fiercely imagined, so wondrously conjured, that what you hold not only pulls you into its history but into a world of pure yearning, determination, struggle and hope. This is a story – in all its rich layers – that dazzles, breaks your heart, clutches you and gets you back up again. I’m grateful to have experienced it, and grateful to Binder for the gift she has given us -- Paul Yoon, author of 'The Mountain'L. Annette Binder is a stunningly talented writer. Her stories are the stories of outsiders, gripping and heartfelt, heightened with hidden undertones of the surreal. It is this tension that makes the worlds she creates so vibrant, and allows her readers to see so deeply into these characters' souls -- Hannah Tinti, author of 'The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley'The challenge in humanising the Western world’s most tortured history proves no match for Binder’s intellect, compassion, and unflinching gaze; one gets the feeling this writer, in the stunning precision of her painterly details, would prove virtuosic with any material she was handed to use. A hugely ambitious novel whose consummate, patient artistry is moving beyond measure -- Matthew Thomas, New York Times-bestselling author of 'We Are Not Ourselves'L. Annette Binder arrives with worlds of empathy and strange surprise -- Praise for 'Rise', Ron Carlson, author of 'Return to Oakpine'Oustanding . . . A must read if you are fan of WWII historical fiction * The Portugal News *

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Book SynopsisA fast-unfolding, untold tale of deception, betrayal and romance leading to a tense life-or-death climax in occupied France. The strange brigadier who hardly speaks... Leo, his feisty pilot daughter... Labrador, the vengeful Pole... Henry Dunning-Green, Leo's boring suitor... Adrian Russell, the treacherous master spy... ... All linked by SOE Somerville, the top secret Second World War finishing school for spies on England's south coast, and its local community: A melting pot of intrigue and counter-intrigue. This is the first fictional treatment of life at the famous Special Operations Executive 'finishing school' for spies, SOE Beaulieu in the New Forest (renamed SOE Somerville). It's also the first fully realised fictional portrait of master spy and traitor Kim Philby (renamed Adrian Russell) who lectured at SOE Beaulieu. Many of the events actually took place.Trade ReviewA novel for anyone who loves the New Forest. Andrew Duncan captures its beauty, history and sense of magic. - Dan Snow; Thrilling wartime adventure and a sensitive story of relationships. - Lizanne Lost in a Good Book; This tale of deception, betrayal and romance links a feisty ATA pilot, her boring boyfriend, an enigmatic Pole hellbent on vengeance and a treacherous master spy. The action starts in the bucolic New Forest and unfolds between the SOE school for spies, the skies above southern England and occupied Normandy. The life and death climax will have you on the edge of your seat. The author's mother was an ATA pilot and he captures the ATA life very well. - Maidenhead Heritage Centre/ATA Museum

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Book SynopsisTwo wonderfully evocative short novels from the author of There Was A Time - surely the last novel about the Second World War to have been written by someone who served in it.Innocence is paired here with a complementary story, A Morse Code Set, first published in 1964 and available recently only as an eBook.In A Morse Code Set, set in Manchester in 1939, a boy finds his world turned upside down by the outbreak of war. When his own father is called up by the Army and Freddy accepts an offer from the father of one of his friends to repair his beloved morse code set, the youngster sets in motion a potentially tragic turn of events.In Innocence, young Tony grapples with the consequences of his father leaving his family, and a growing awareness of his own sexuality. The narrative brilliantly conjures a place and time - a Yorkshire village in the 1960s - and is yet quite universal, a story of family, community and heartbreak, of growing up and growing away.Trade ReviewA wonderful read * Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE SWEDISH ACADEMY'S NORDIC PRIZE 2023'A book like a blade of light, searching out and illuminating the darkest corners of history . . . It's vivid, unputdownable, alive, and written with unerring artfulness and subtlety.' Neel MukherjeeGunnar Kampen grows up in Iceland during the Second World War in a household fiercely opposed to Hitler and Nazism. At nineteen he seems set for a conventional, dutiful life. And yet in the spring of 1958, he founds a covert, anti-Semitic nationalist party, a cause that will take him on a clandestine mission to England from which he never returns. Inspired by one of the ringleaders of a little-known neo-Nazi group that was formed in Iceland in the 1950s, Sjón's portrait of an ardent fascist is as thought-provoking as it is disturbing. As this taut and fascinating novel suggests, the seeds of extremism can be hard to detect - and the ideology of the far-right remains dangerously potent.Trade ReviewSjón's policy of omission-of drama, psychology, violence, grandeur of any kind-results in a delicious tension. He tempts us to expect so much of the novel, and though he never provides the relief of clean culminations, he manages to keep the reader wanting. * Asymptote Journal *A slim forensic novel to strike a chill. * Saga *Sjón's prose is appropriately sharp and precise, illuminating the murky corners of his topic. -- Pippa Bailey * New Statesman *This is a landscape proper to a child's imagination, dreamlike but solid, with all the pronounced lucidity and wild agency that objects and colors assume . . . Sjón makes us think again about what empathy can - and frequently enough simply can't - achieve. -- Erica Banks * 4Columns *Like Iceland itself, Sjón's books are simultaneously tiny and huge, weird and normal, ancient and modern. Reading them feels like listening to that story of the beached whale: a wild invention that is actually a straight-faced confession. His books dance - with light, quick steps, never breaking eye contact - all over the line between the mythic and the mundane. -- Sam Anderson * New York Times *What Sjón leaves out of his work is as powerful as what he puts in. His fiction never seems to break into a sweat, yet it takes you a long, long way. * David Mitchell *The chapters move like the prose equivalent of flip-book images, quick and evocative . . . Sjón's story, based on research into a real-life band of Icelandic neo-Nazis, dovetails nicely with current preoccupations about the resurgence of fascism . . . By tarrying for a while with the everyday - the ultimate site of real politics - Sjón gets at how endlessly interesting it can be, and how much it can contain and conceal. -- Peter C. Baker * New York Times Book Review *

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Book SynopsisOUT NOW: the second volume in the bestselling, exhilarating WWII treasure-hunt thriller series for fans of Dan Brown*** RATED 5 STARS BY REAL READERS *** November 1941. Germany is about to win the war. Only one thing still separates the Nazis from a certain victory: they must find the three remaining all-powerful swastikas and reunite them with a fourth that is safely hidden away in Himmler's mountain stronghold. Churchill has no choice but to mobilize his best man, double agent Tristan Marcas, and employ the most risky techniques to beat them to it. It all comes to a showdown at a ball in Venice...

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Book SynopsisFreedom worth fighting for. Love worth waiting for.'The French House is a beautifully wrought exploration of love of all kinds. It's utterly gorgeous, convincingly written and completely captivating. Make sure you read it'MY WEEKLY'I was gripped from the start by the characters and the setting. A wonderful read'RUTH DRUART'A raw and honest love story, filled with a wealth of historical detail. The French House is a powerful depiction of the brutal intricacies of island relationships and loyalties in a time of war' FIONA VALPY'Deeply involving . . . A fantastic debut by a gifted storyteller' JILL MANSELL'A story of fraught secrets and tested loyalties . . . I found this beautifully told tale hard to put down' ANITA FRANK'Heart-wrenching . . . A truly special novel' LOUISE FEIN'Accomplished and atmospheric . . . I really enjoyed this uncliched yet deeply moving love story'TRACY REES'A vividly written, refreshingly different World War Two love story, with a central character I adored. Just brilliant!'GILL PAUL'Such an emotionally gripping novel portraying how love can be betrayed yet still endure' SUZANNE GOLDRING'I have been swept away by Jacquie Bloese's gorgeous writing, completely transported into the rich, atmospheric, and incredibly moving pages of The French House. . . this is an absolutely stunning, beautifully original novel'JENNY ASHCROFT'The writing is incredibly strong . . . a compelling read with a highly satisfactory ending'GUERNSEY PRESS***In Nazi-occupied Guernsey, the wrong decision can destroy a life... Left profoundly deaf after an accident, Émile is no stranger to isolation - or heartbreak. Now, as Nazi planes loom over Guernsey, he senses life is about to change forever.Trapped in a tense, fearful marriage, Isabelle doesn't know what has become of Émile and the future she hoped for. But when she glimpses him from the window of the French House, their lives collide once more. Leutnant Schreiber is more comfortable wielding a paintbrush than a pistol. But he has little choice in the role he is forced to play in the occupying forces - or in his own forbidden desires. As their paths entwine, loyalties are blurred and dangerous secrets forged. But on an island under occupation, courage can have deadly consequences...Lyrical, moving and compelling, this is a novel about wanting to hear and learning to listen - to the truths of our own hearts. Perfect for lovers of The Nightingale, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and All the Light We Cannot See.'A wonderful story, powerfully written with beautiful characters'JAMES KENT, director of Testament of Youth'A brilliantly moving historical novel' - 2020 Caledonian Novel Award panelTrade ReviewA brilliantly moving historical novel * 2020 Caledonian Novel Award *A raw and honest love story, filled with a wealth of historical detail. The French House is a powerful depiction of the brutal intricacies of island relationships and loyalties in a time of war -- FIONA VALPY, bestselling author of THE DRESSMAKER'S SECRETDeeply involving . . . A fantastic debut by a gifted storyteller -- JILL MANSELL, Sunday Times bestselling authorA story of fraught secrets and tested loyalties . . . I found this beautifully told tale hard to put down -- ANITA FRANK, author of The ReturnHeart-wrenching . . . A truly special novel -- LOUISE FEIN, author of People Like UsA vividly written, refreshingly different World War Two love story, with a central character I adored. Just brilliant! -- GILL PAUL, author of The Collector's DaughterA wonderful story, powerfully written with beautiful characters -- JAMES KENT, director of Testament of YouthIn the way that the astonishing All the Light we Cannot See takes you into the world of a young blind girl during the occupation of France, so we are transported into the experiences of profoundly deaf Emile, during the occupation of Guernsey. The writing is lyrical, melancholy and breathtaking. Life under the Nazi jackboot is subtly explored, but the blistering love story between Emile and Isabelle leaves a longer lasting impression. Beautiful, utterly absorbing and memorable. -- Kate Thompson, author of THE LITTLE WARTIME LIBRARYI was gripped from the start by the characters and the setting. A wonderful read -- Ruth Druart, author of WHILE PARIS SLEPT

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Book SynopsisWhen a modern woman inherits a Parisian apartment undisturbed since WWII, she discovers that it may hold the key to unraveling her cold great-grandmother's secret life -- a past of sacrifice during a mission to protect those she loved.1940, ParisAs the heiress to a wealthy Parisian family, Lise Allard grows up immensely privileged, but barely knowing her absentee parents. Instead, she finds her own sense of family among a close circle of friends. Yet when war breaks out and Paris is occupied, she sees her friends taken away one by one. Heartbroken, Lise vows that she will do whatever it takes to help defeat the Germans.2017, ParisWhen Aurelia Leclaire's great-grandmother passes away, the last thing Aurelia expects to inherit is a tiny Paris apartment untouched for over half of a century. But even more shocking is the massive collection of priceless jewelry and fine art secreted inside. When she discovers an unknown painting cherished by Lise, she realizes that it may be the key to unlocking her great-grandmother's story.Art appraiser Gabriel Seymour is contacted by a woman who claims to have found a painting by his great-great-grandfather. While unearthing its story, Gabriel and Aurelia discover a hidden cache of weapons, encrypted letters, and faded passport photos revealing intertwining family connections and betrayals from the past.

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Book Synopsis**SHORTLISTED FOR THE CARNEGIE AWARD**'Powerful . . . shattering . . . a masterpiece' The Times'Testament of love and sacrifice . . . a masterpiece' Joshua Ferris, Guardian'Transcendent and timeless . . . masterpiece' Washington PostAron is a nine-year-old Polish Jew, and a troublemaker. His mother despairs of him. His father beats him. He tries to be good. But in 1939, as the walls go up around the Jewish ghetto in Warsaw, as lice and typhus rage, families starve and fight, it is Aron who finds a way - however dangerous, however treacherous - to survive. It isn't until he lands at the feet of Janusz Korczak - orphanage director and reluctant hero - that he learns of something greater than survival.**With new exclusive endmatter, featuring a biography of Korczak and questions for book clubs**Trade ReviewThe Book of Aron is a novel of profound and delicate simplicity - passivity, almost - but one which calmly and indelibly delivers the bluntest of impacts. In other words, it's a knock-out (though you never saw it coming) * Jim Crace *A remarkable novel destined to join the shelf of essential Holocaust literature. Although relentless in its portrayal of systematic evil, The Book of Aron is, nonetheless, a story of such startling candour about the complexity of heroism that it challenges each of us to greater courage . . . Let's set aside puffery about the best novel of the month or even the year; Shepard has created something transcendent and timeless in this slim masterpiece . . . Shepard dares to move his narrative down the asymptote of despair, and the moral heroism he describes on that path toward infinity, you will never forget -- Ron Charles * Washington Post *Any number of writers have published fiction about the Holocaust, but few have succeeded in producing a work as simple and yet so moving as The Book of Aron . . . Shepard chronicles with compassion and clarity what happens as the Nazi persecution grows ever worse * Sunday Times *The horrors are described from the child's point of view; there is no reflection, no judgement. This is what the world is like. The pared prose is affecting . . . Unlike many of the books and films featuring children in the Holocaust, The Book of Aron reeks of the real * Spectator *By reclaiming an insignificant voice and deploying it to observe a great man, Shepard turns hell into a testament of love and sacrifice. The Book of Aron is his best novel yet, a short and moving masterpiece -- Joshua Ferris * Guardian *It is extraordinary how Shepard, using the voice of a poorly educated boy, can conjure up such a powerful story. Despite the inevitability of the conclusion, it is utterly shattering. The Book of Aron is a masterpiece -- Antonia Senior * The Times, Book of the Month *Shepard is one of America's very finest writers . . . By focusing on the trauma of one young boy, he personalises the descent into hell . . . He has not only created something shocking, haunting and truly special, but captures the essence of humanity and its opposite, compassion as well as cruelty. An unforgettable book -- Billy O'Callaghan * Irish Examiner *Compelling . . . [Aron's] voice is as intent in hope and his mind as quelled by reality . . . Here is a world to quell any reader . . . Sometimes 'old people' can be more childlike than children - a grace that Shepard presents poignantly * Tablet *The technique is a kind of under-writing - emotional bathos - the sort of annalistic approach endorsed by Berel Lang [...] when he suggested that Holocaust writing at its sincerest and most compelling takes the form of history, rather than fiction or poetry. The Book of Aron has a biblical feel: a rascal's End of Days. Its narrator is, from the outset, an unruly force of nature . . . Moving * Times Literary Supplement *The Book of Aron is not the first Holocaust novel to stir its readers in this way, but it carries the burden of its subject with a mordant frankness at once heartbreaking, refreshing and - hardest won of all - enchanting. Jim Shepard's novel enters a crowded canon and it stands there, head and shoulders, with the best -- Toby Lichtig * Jewish Quarterly *Jim Shepard, a writer of extraordinary historical vision, psychological acuity, and searing irony, presents a profoundly moving portrait of its young narrator Aron; explores, with awe, our instinct to adapt and survive; and through the evolving consciousness of his phenomenally commanding young narrator, exposes the catastrophic impact of war and genocide on children * Carnegie Award *Book of the Year: A masterful depiction of life in the ghetto and the demands of heroism. The conclusion, although inevitable, is devastating * The Times *Heartbreaking, shattering, charming and brilliant - there isn't one word that isn't the young boy's. Jim Shepard has written some of the best books I've read. The Book of Aron is his best * Roddy Doyle *Harrowing, comic and deeply human . . . This book needs to be read * Anthony Doerr *

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Book SynopsisHer heart died in the war – can she breathe new life into it? Dora Simon and Joe O’Cleary live in separate countries, accepting of their twilight years. But their monochrome worlds are abruptly upended by the arrival of Barbara Hummel, who is determined to identify the mysterious woman whose photograph she has found among her mother’s possessions. Forced to confront a time they thought buried in the past, Dora and Joe’s lives unravel – and entwine. For, trapped on the Channel Islands under the German occupation in the Second World War, Dora, a Jewish refugee, had concealed her identity; while Joe, a Catholic priest, kept quite another secret... This is a story of love and betrayal, shame and survival. But can a speck of light diffuse the darkest shadows of war?Trade Review‘A powerful and raw, elegantly written, character piece dealing with inhumanity and endurance, firmly grounded in real events.’ * The Herald *‘Recent novels such as The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society have taken the occupation as their subject, but none so potently as Mary Chamberlain’s The Hidden… As Chamberlain’s narrative moves between past and present…the realities of life under a ruthless occupying power are slowly, skilfully revealed.’ * Sunday Times *‘A heart-breaking yet hope-filled tale.’ * Woman's Own magazine *'A powerful story, well told.' * Choice magazine *'Set against the backdrop of the Nazi occupation of the Channel Islands, The Hidden is a powerful, heart-wrenching story of deception and guilt, love and loss; I was completely engrossed, seduced by its strong characters and atmosphere, and intrigued by the mystery at the heart of the novel.' * Saskia Sarginson, author of The Twins *'Beautiful, shocking and utterly absorbing, The Hidden casts light on an episode in our wartime history which is so rarely told... Mary Chamberlain writes beautifully about war, love and survival, brilliantly portraying the struggles of individuals, especially women, forced into desperate acts in order to endure.' * Sarah Day, author of Mussolini's Island *'This compelling and heart-rending novel is a potent reminder that the horrors of war aren’t limited to the battlefields. Nor do they cease when the guns fall silent. There are those who will carry the scars – emotional, physical and psychological – for the rest of their lives. There is scant justice. But in The Hidden, Chamberlain gives them credence and a voice.' * Herald Scotland *'A riveting World War saga taking place in the unusual setting of Jersey. A tale about the lives that persist in the shadow of an occupation: the devastating things that happen to people; the soul-destroying things they are made to do; the miraculous things they make happen; and the secrets and ramifications they are left to live with for the rest of their lives.' * Cecilia Ekbäck, author of Wolf Winter *'Shines a piercing light on the shrouded history of human trafficking and labour camps in the Channel Isles during WW2. A fascinating and powerful story of love, endurance, betrayal and guilt.' * Anna Mazzola, author of The Unseeing *'Hauntingly atmospheric, historian and author Mary Chamberlain takes the reader to the dark days of the Channel Islands under German Occupation, and tells a hugely moving tale of love, survival, and betrayal.' * The Bookbag *'It's a superbly told tale which will keep you guessing all the way to the end.' * Country Style Australia *'Historian Chamberlain does a terrific job of moving beyond dry records, underlining the fact that although women have a different wartime story to men, it is no less wrenching. She researched the topic in great detail and spares no one for, as a protagonist points out, war makes monsters of everyone.' * SA Weekend, (Adelaide Advertiser) *

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'Captivating' Heather Morris 'Beautiful' Andrew Miller 'Hugely poignant' Independent 'Moving' Sunday TimesLonglisted for the Desmond Elliot Prize * Winner of the Bath Novel Award * Winner of the Harpers Bazaar Big Book of the Year * Shortlisted for the Best First Novel Award *Of everyone in her complicated family, Eva was always closest to her grandfather. She is making a film about his life. She is with him when he dies. It is only when she finds the letter from the Jewish Museum in Berlin, hidden in his painting studio, that she realises how many secrets he kept.As she uncovers everything he endured in the Holocaust - and what it took to learn to live again - Eva is confronted by the lies that haunt her family, and a truth that changes her own identity.Kim Sherwood's hope-filled first novel is a powerful portrait of survival echoing through the generations; a testament of love, legacy, and all the important questions we leave unasked.

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Book SynopsisOne man miraculously survives the Atomic Bomb of Hiroshima. Two days later he catches the last train home. Home to Nagasaki.He arrives just 90 minutes before the world''s second atomic bomb explodes into his life.As he battles through the scene of apocalyptic destruction, surrounded by unthinkable suffering, he is plagued by one constant question: is he lucky, or unlucky? This is his answer: he''s the luckiest man alive.Compellingly vivid, the most sustained description of apocalypse since Robert Harris's Pompeii. The Financial Times

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Book SynopsisUSA TODAY BESTSELLER 'We'd heard stories about the nurses in tent seven. A secret mission, stolen money, and spies...' In 1944, four American nurses disappeared for five days. No one knew what happened to them. Until now. When Kit and Red set foot on French soil during the Normandy landings, they know they have to rely on each other. As they head for the battlefield, their aim is simple: save lives. But when they're called away on a top-secret mission to patch up a few men behind enemy lines, everything changes. Alongside fellow nurses, Roxy and Gail, they're told to prepare for the worst, trading in their nurses' fatigues for civilian clothes and hiding medical supplies under their skirts. But it's a lie. Their real mission tasks them with the impossible – to infiltrate the Reich and steal something the Nazis desperately need to win their losing war. In an ultimate test of courage and comradeship, each woman must decide what she is prepared to risk and what she has to live for. Praise for The Girls From The Beach. 'One of my favorite books of 2021 and a true must-read for all fans of the genre. It's not just a story of friendship, but a story of patriotism, heroism, and selfless sacrifice in the name of freedom. Absolutely riveting!' – Ellie Midwood, USA Today bestselling author of The Violinist of Auschwitz. 'A wild ride of a book, laced with beautifully flawed characters, impeccable research and a story that will make you cry with tears of joy and sorrow. A resounding five-star read!' – Terry Lynn Thomas, USA Today bestselling author of The Silent Woman 'What a story! The Girls from the Beach took me on a rollercoaster ride of mystery and suspense. The Girls from the Beach is a testimony to courage, integrity and female friendship. And that ending – wow!' – Gill Thompson, bestselling author of The Oceans Between Us 'The Girls from the Beach is a unique and incredibly imaginative story inspired by the nurses who worked on the front line in World War Two. It is action-packed and full of unexpected drama around every turn – I just had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next! Readers who enjoyed Newton's earlier books will be sure to love this one' – Louise Fein, bestselling author of People Like UsTrade ReviewOne of my favorite books of 2021 and a true must-read for all fans of the genre. It's not just a story of friendship, but a story of patriotism, heroism, and selfless sacrifice in the name of freedom. Absolutely riveting! -- Ellie Midwood, USA Today bestselling author of The Violinist of AuschwitzA wild ride of a book, laced with beautifully flawed characters, impeccable research and a story that will make you cry with tears of joy and sorrow. A resounding five-star read! -- Terry Lynn Thomas, USA Today bestselling author of The Silent WomanWhat a story! The Girls from the Beach took me on a rollercoaster ride of mystery and suspense. Newton's writing is taut and vivid, her dialogue intense. The Girls from the Beach is a testimony to courage, integrity and female friendship. And that ending – wow! -- Gill Thompson, bestselling author of The Oceans Between UsA unique and incredibly imaginative story inspired by the nurses who worked on the front line in World War Two. It is action-packed and full of unexpected drama around every turn – I just had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next! Readers who enjoyed Newton's earlier books will be sure to love this one -- Louise Fein, bestselling author of People Like Us

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Book Synopsis'An unmissable reading treat' Lancashire Evening PostA heartwrenching and evocative wartime novel, perfect for fans of Santa Montefiore, Rachel Hore and Lucinda Riley.Two mothers. Two daughters. Two families torn apart forever.Paris, 1939. Elise and Juliette are certain nothing can come between them. So, when war breaks out and Elise is forced to flee, she entrusts Juliette with her daughter, playmate to Juliette's own little girl.More than a year later, with the war finally ending, Elise returns to reunite with her daughter, only to find her friend's bookstore reduced to rubble – and Juliette nowhere to be found. What happened to Mathilde in those last terrible moments? Juliette has seemingly vanished without a trace, taking all the answers with her. Elise's desperate search leads her to New York – and to Juliette – one final, fateful time.The Paris Daughter is a story about mothers and daughters, the way loss transforms us, and the roads we find to beginning anew in the face of impossible odds.PRAISE FOR KRISTIN HARMEL:'Kristin Harmel is firmly in the top echelon of WW2 storytellers' HEATHER MORRIS'A master storyteller' SANTA MONTEFIORETrade Review'The Paris Daughter tore up my heart and put it back together again' -- New York Times bestselling author Martha Hall Kelly'A gorgeous, gut-wrenching read!' -- New York Times bestselling author Kate Quinn 'The Paris Daughter is a heartrending, uplifting novel . . . a powerful reminder of the importance of moving on from the past before we become trapped there' -- Janet Skeslien Charles, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Library'Harmel exemplifies the best in historical fiction' -- New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline'A powerful exploration of the depths of a mother's love and the impossible choices that must be made during times of war . . . It was unputdownable' -- New York Times bestselling author Jill Santopolo'Her exquisite and gut-wrenching novel reveals that even in the darkest times, there are rays of light' -- New York Times bestselling author Lisa Barr'Powerful, deeply emotional, and sure to be on everyone's "must read" list' -- New York Times bestselling author Susan Elizabeth Phillips'The Paris Daughter is an all-consuming tale of war, love and family, and at its core is a heart touching look at a mother's love and the sacrifices we make for our children' -- Sadeqa Johnson, bestselling author of The House of Eve'A heart-wrenching wartime story of motherly sacrifice, guilt, and above all, love' -- Jennifer Rosner, award-winning author of The Yellow Bird Sings and Once We Were Home'Brilliantly crafted and heart-shatteringly beautiful . . . This is a timeless book of survival, strength, courage, a forever lasting song calling for peace' -- Nguyen Phan Que Mai, internationally best-selling author of The Mountains Sing and Dust Child'An unmissable reading treat' * Lancashire Evening Post *

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Book SynopsisIt is autumn 1942, and young Balbriggan teacher Matt Duggan arrives on his first posting at the small town of Rathisland in the Irish midlands, barely alive to the global war raging outside. Lawn tennis alternates with Church and classroom politics, as rehearsals take place for a staging of Hamlet. Beneath the surface are pockets of support for Germany, and plans afoot to link up with the Wehrmacht. Matt has a mesmerizing first encounter with nineteen-year-old Madelene Coll and, as she edges her way out from the watchful eyes of her aunts, she and Matt enter a world they will remember for the rest of their lives. When a Messerschmitt crash-lands in the locality that world is knocked from its axis. Before long the inherent contradictions of Emergency Ireland boil to the surface, involving Matt and Madelene in a misadventure with deeply tragic consequences. This nuanced coming-of-age story rehearses the inner narrative of neutral Ireland as public perception contends with private experience in a series of convergent tableaux. Beautifully evoked and implosive, divided personal loyalties mirror the wider dramas of the wider European stage. South of the Border is a gem of narrative that brings the reader into the heart of a reality that was wartime Ireland.Trade Review‘This is the work of a major historical novelist. But it is something more than that too: the term “historical novel” has a reductive ring to it, as would the description “political novel”. What we get here is imaginative fiction of a high order, built on reliable documentation and a historian’s insight, all written with impeccable style and narrative compulsion. Writers who combine this degree of accomplishment with serious historical insight are rare indeed.’ – Bernard O’Donoghue, The Irish Times

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Book SynopsisThe Tottenham family is falling apart. There is no money to maintain the crumbling house and farm in County Westmeath, so decisions have to be made. Brothers Nick and Tony, with no prospect of a future in rural Ireland, make the long journey to their uncle’s ranch in Australia. As World War Two looms, the entire family signs up to fight: mathematician mother Eleanor calculates flight paths; sister Rose repairs radar masts in Lincolnshire; Nick and Tony, like thousands of others, enlist in Australia; even their ageing father Gerald signs up for duty in the Far East. Little does each foresee what terror, starvation and heartache lay ahead, and what it would take to survive. In a gripping narrative that spans four generations and encompasses the battlefields of Syria and Egypt, the Australian outback, night sorties over Germany, English airfields and the horrors of a Sumatran prison camp, this is a harrowing story of hardship and heroism, based on an Irish family’s experience.Trade Review‘Beautifully written, fast-paced … The ending was particularly poignant and uplifting.’ – Jilly Cooper OBE ‘A story of heroism, it is beautifully told.’ – Sue Leonard, Irish Examiner ‘Preston’s moving tale … gives an affecting insight into the sacrifices and resilience of both men and women involved in the Second World War.’ – Louisa Carroll, The Sunday TimesHer scope is commendable, with the various narrative strains offering diverse perspectives that bring the conflict to life. -- Sarah Gilmartin * The Irish Times *

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Book Synopsis"Simply miraculous... As her saga becomes ever more spellbinding, so does the reader's astonishment at the magic she creates. This is a story about the triumph of the human spirit over bigotry, intolerance and cruelty, and at the center of The Book of Harlan is the restorative force that is music." - Washington PostHarlan and his best friend are invited to perform at a popular cabaret in the Parisian enclave of Montmartre, but after the City of Light falls under Nazi occupation, they are thrown into Buchenwald-the notorious concentration camp in Weimar, Germany-irreparably changing the course of Harlan's life.Trade Review"Simply miraculous . . . This is a story about the triumph of the human spirit over bigotry, intolerance and cruelty, and at the center of The Book of Harlan is the restorative force that is music."“McFadden packs a powerful punch with tight prose and short chapters that bear witness to key events in early twentieth-century history . . . McFadden presents a remarkably crisp portrait of one average man’s extraordinary bravery in the face of pure evil."

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Book SynopsisAmerica, 1970s: Hannah struggles with forgiveness after her mother, Lieselotte's, death. Germany, 1930s: Lieselotte's father quickly ascends the Nazi Party ranks, and Lieselotte's in love - with the wrong man. As their stories unfold, Hannah must decide if she can atone for her family's tragic past and help reshape the future.

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Book SynopsisAfter a long and difficult trek from the north, the Lü family is finally reunited in Kunming. Yet the war is not yet done with them, and in the furnace of a country driven to the edge, danger still prowls the very skies above them.Disoriented in unfamiliar surroundings, and abandoned by a crumbling state, they do their best to rebuild some semblance of a normal life amid the hardships of rural living and the constant Japanese bombing raids.And yet, despite the myriad challenges they face, the rugged beauty of Yunnan province's deep blue skies and the kaleidoscopic colours of the flowers blooming as far as the eye can see still make a deep impression on them that even the trials and tribulations of war cannot expunge.In the struggle to survive, the youngest of the Lü's, May and Kiddo, must take on burdens meant for someone much older, all the while trying to piece together a shattered childhood.Meanwhile, for those family members, friends and colleagues left behind in Beiping, life proves insufferable and, in some cases, fatal.

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Book SynopsisFollowing heroic victories on the battlefield, a former soldier faces his greatest challenge from the enemy within. Yu Erlong, a veteran guerrilla captain of the Chinese Communist Party, returns to a remote place to confront his past. Stone lake was where he grew up in poverty on a fishing boat and then fought against the Kuomintang and the Japanese for control of his motherland. It was also the scene of the shooting of his beloved wife, Luhua. Thirty years after that cowardly murder, Erlong, with flowers in hand, is determined to find Luhua's remains and solve the mystery of who pulled the trigger. The second volume of Li Guowen's award-winning Spring in Winter explores a web of personal relationships against the backdrop of four decades of tumultuous political change in China, from the civil war in the 1930s to the end of the Cultural Revolution in the 1970s.

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Book SynopsisA Man and His Horse is the story of a young man who is forced to flee Beijing during the Cultural Revolution. Coming from an intellectual family that is being torn apart by political campaigns, Wen Bo is barred from signing up with the Inner Mongolia Production and Construction Corps that he desperately wants to join in order to avoid the fate of being sent to an even poorer and more remote rural area. He decides to take a chance by sneaking aboard a train carrying new recruits bound for Inner Mongolia. Once there, deprived of the love of the girl who helped him escape, Wen Bo finds solace in a unique kind of love that he establishes with a feisty black horse.This autobiographical novel is based on the real-life experiences of a physician in Beijing. It shows how love, even one between a man and his horse, can compensate for what the Cultural Revolution tried to destroy.

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Book SynopsisThis diverse collection of short stories, all relating to aviation during WWII, is written from the perspectives of a group of disparate individuals. A war-weary American pilot is trapped in a loveless marriage and an ATA girl gets caught up in Operation Chastise. A mother's perspective is chronicled along with the experiences of an Afro-Caribbean Pathfinder and also a German ace, fearful for the life of his younger brother. Even the exploits of a courier pigeon are penned! Corkscrew Port Go! is based on the memoirs of Lancaster bomber wireless operator Reg Payne whose painting, First Wave, was chosen for the book cover. 'I was captivated by the quality of the writing: the language captures beautifully the atmosphere, mood and innocence of a bygone era' Craig Moore, former RAF flight engineer.

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Book SynopsisCan a love story survive in an economically challenged Brooklyn on the verge of World War II?Marie and Benjamin are in love, but World War II is approaching and so is the military draft for Benjamin. But one adversity after the other forces them to separate.Heartbroken, Marie can only keep surviving while hoping that Benjamin comes back to her. But while he's away, another man comes knocking on her heart. Pushed to marry him by everyone around her, Marie needs to make a tough decision-waiting for Benjamin and following her dreams to see the world or move on with her life with another man?Trade ReviewA vivid and immersive story that speaks to the centre of human desire. -- Jendella Benson * author of Hope & Glory *Harkening back to literary greats like Ann Petry and Kristin Hunter, Kerika Fields' WITH YOUR BAD SELF is an emotional knockout. In Marie, we meet a woman whose desires were curtailed, but never killed, allowing us to interrogate the true natures of loss, liberation, and love. With an ear fine-tuned to the intricacies of language, and a compassionate heart calibrated to the many meanings of longing, Fields reminds us that life, though never perfect, can be a beautiful dance if we only allow ourselves to move with, and not against, it. I couldn't love this book more if I tried. -- Mateo Askaripour * author of Black Buck *With a tone reminiscent of Nella Larson's Quicksand, With Your Bad Self leaves everything on the page; hope, regret and commitment to the choices we make, good or bad. A witty, heartfelt and sometimes gut-wrenching read from Fields-definitely a writer to watch. -- Maame Blue * author of Bad Love *A lyrical and beautifully composed exploration of love in all its complexity. The prose captures you from the start while the story keeps you reading until the very last word. Simply stunning. -- Frances Mensah Williams, author of Strictly Friends

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Book SynopsisLondon,1999. Michael Keats is mourning the death of his wife, killed in a hit and run accident in Northern Italy. His discovery that she had been having an affair devastates him and he sets out to find the identity of her lover. That journey leads him to the villages of the Valtellina, where he becomes embroiled in a crime of treachery and revenge. The brutal repercussions of the war are still reverberating, and as Michael uncovers the truth of his wife's affair, he reveals five decades of duplicity and deception.Trade Review‘Kerr brings brilliantly to life a north Italian community in his debut crime title’. The Times Crime Club. ‘A well-paced novel that keeps the curiosity piqued throughout’ Glasgow Herald. ‘An enthralling story of love and betrayal’ Books Scotland. ‘Riveting. I absolutely loved the book’ Alan Giles, former MD, Waterstones

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Book SynopsisIn novels such as Silence, Endō Shūsaku examined the persecution of Japanese Christians in different historical eras. Sachiko, set in Nagasaki in the painful years between 1930 and 1945, is the story of two young people trying to find love during yet another period in which Japanese Christians were accused of disloyalty to their country.Trade ReviewAn extraordinary novel by one of Japan’s literary masters, Sachiko is a testament to shared experiences, cruelty, loss, and the persistence of love and faith. * Foreword Reviews, Starred Review *A profound meditation on the meaning of love, sacrifice, and the spiritual dilemma of Christian beliefs vying against the demands of the nation-state. . .Sachiko is yet another example of Endō Shūsaku’s stunning literary artistry that demands more than one reading. Highly recommended. * Historical Novels Review *Haunting in its content and breathtaking in its prose. . .This is a book I will be thinking about for a long time. * Dynamic Book Nerd *In telling the story of two friends wrestling with faith and their lives in a nationalistic state, Endō offers a morally dense and thought-provoking read. Sachiko does not shy away from the horrors of war or genocide, and Endō’s novel unsettlingly depicts the ways in which people can become complicit in horrific political systems. * Words without Borders *There’s such a profound kindness in these pages...[S]itting with this novel is much like sitting at a master craftsman’s table. One sitting is insufficient to learn its lessons. * Englewood Review of Books *Sachiko is a beautiful work, part love story, part tragedy, a tale of two young people caught in the wrong moment of history * Tony's Reading List *An important work of historical fiction that raises profound questions about the moral legitimation and human cost of war, transnational relationships, and the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. -- Kevin M. Doak, author of A History of Nationalism in Modern Japan: Placing the PeopleBeautifully translated by Van Gessel, the doyen of Endō scholars, Sachiko confirms once again the stature of this prolific author. The parallel stories bring a fresh urgency to Endō’s profound understanding of the conflicting aims of culture and spirituality. -- J. Thomas Rimer, coeditor of The Columbia Anthology of Modern Japanese LiteratureSet during World War II in Nagasaki and Auschwitz, Endō’s novel Sachiko provides a powerful portrait of a woman who pursued a life of faith, hope, and love. This translation highlights Van Gessel's deep compassion and understanding of Japanese history, tradition, and culture. I cannot more highly recommend this outstanding and delicate translation. -- Emi Mase-Hasegawa, author of Christ in Japanese Culture: Theological Themes in Shusaku Endo's Literary WorksEver since his arrival on the literary scene in the 1950s, Endō has continued to fascinate and challenge his readership in equal measure. In the wake of Martin Scorsese’s recent movie adaptation of his best-selling work, Silence, interest in Endō‘s oeuvre has been renewed and Sachiko provides us with further evidence of the author’s extraordinary storytelling ability. -- Mark Williams, author of Endō Shūsaku: A Literature of ReconciliationSachiko is the best Catholic novel I have read in a long time. Avoiding a sappy and simplistic depiction of a harsh reality, Endō honestly presents the doubts and dilemmas of Christians – Japanese, American, Polish – amidst hostile surroundings in a world where violation of the Fifth Commandment was the norm. * Catholic World Report *Endō presents a touching study of the spiritual and moral dilemmas faced by a community forced to confront the very meaning of patriotism and Christianity during a time of war. * Times Literary Supplement *If you read only one new novel this year, let it be the great Japanese novelist Shusaku Endo’s Sachiko . . . The novel is the achievement of a master of world literature, a work that, rooted in time and place, speaks movingly to persons and places far beyond the Japanese islands. * National Review *Table of ContentsTranslator’s IntroductionAcknowledgments1. His Arrival2. Sachiko3. A Spy4. A Minor Secret5. Dark Surging Waves6. The Place of Death7. The Student Dormitory8. A Conversation About Love9. Anguish10. Escape11. Girlish Innocence12. A Summer Ablaze13. The Death of Kolbe14. Step by Step15. That Day16. A Decision17. As Though There Were No War18. Letters from Shūhei19. Dark Days20. 194421. And Sachiko . . .22. Requiem23. August24. AftermathAuthor’s AfterwordAppendix: Synopsis of Kiku’s Prayer

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Book SynopsisIn novels such as Silence, Endō Shūsaku examined the persecution of Japanese Christians in different historical eras. Sachiko, set in Nagasaki in the painful years between 1930 and 1945, is the story of two young people trying to find love during yet another period in which Japanese Christians were accused of disloyalty to their country.Trade ReviewAn extraordinary novel by one of Japan’s literary masters, Sachiko is a testament to shared experiences, cruelty, loss, and the persistence of love and faith. * Foreword Reviews, Starred Review *A profound meditation on the meaning of love, sacrifice, and the spiritual dilemma of Christian beliefs vying against the demands of the nation-state. . .Sachiko is yet another example of Endō Shūsaku’s stunning literary artistry that demands more than one reading. Highly recommended. * Historical Novels Review *Haunting in its content and breathtaking in its prose. . .This is a book I will be thinking about for a long time. * Dynamic Book Nerd *In telling the story of two friends wrestling with faith and their lives in a nationalistic state, Endō offers a morally dense and thought-provoking read. Sachiko does not shy away from the horrors of war or genocide, and Endō’s novel unsettlingly depicts the ways in which people can become complicit in horrific political systems. * Words without Borders *There’s such a profound kindness in these pages...[S]itting with this novel is much like sitting at a master craftsman’s table. One sitting is insufficient to learn its lessons. * Englewood Review of Books *Sachiko is a beautiful work, part love story, part tragedy, a tale of two young people caught in the wrong moment of history * Tony's Reading List *An important work of historical fiction that raises profound questions about the moral legitimation and human cost of war, transnational relationships, and the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. -- Kevin M. Doak, author of A History of Nationalism in Modern Japan: Placing the PeopleBeautifully translated by Van Gessel, the doyen of Endō scholars, Sachiko confirms once again the stature of this prolific author. The parallel stories bring a fresh urgency to Endō’s profound understanding of the conflicting aims of culture and spirituality. -- J. Thomas Rimer, coeditor of The Columbia Anthology of Modern Japanese LiteratureSet during World War II in Nagasaki and Auschwitz, Endō’s novel Sachiko provides a powerful portrait of a woman who pursued a life of faith, hope, and love. This translation highlights Van Gessel's deep compassion and understanding of Japanese history, tradition, and culture. I cannot more highly recommend this outstanding and delicate translation. -- Emi Mase-Hasegawa, author of Christ in Japanese Culture: Theological Themes in Shusaku Endo's Literary WorksEver since his arrival on the literary scene in the 1950s, Endō has continued to fascinate and challenge his readership in equal measure. In the wake of Martin Scorsese’s recent movie adaptation of his best-selling work, Silence, interest in Endō‘s oeuvre has been renewed and Sachiko provides us with further evidence of the author’s extraordinary storytelling ability. -- Mark Williams, author of Endō Shūsaku: A Literature of ReconciliationSachiko is the best Catholic novel I have read in a long time. Avoiding a sappy and simplistic depiction of a harsh reality, Endō honestly presents the doubts and dilemmas of Christians – Japanese, American, Polish – amidst hostile surroundings in a world where violation of the Fifth Commandment was the norm. * Catholic World Report *Endō presents a touching study of the spiritual and moral dilemmas faced by a community forced to confront the very meaning of patriotism and Christianity during a time of war. * Times Literary Supplement *If you read only one new novel this year, let it be the great Japanese novelist Shusaku Endo’s Sachiko . . . The novel is the achievement of a master of world literature, a work that, rooted in time and place, speaks movingly to persons and places far beyond the Japanese islands. * National Review *Table of ContentsTranslator’s IntroductionAcknowledgments1. His Arrival2. Sachiko3. A Spy4. A Minor Secret5. Dark Surging Waves6. The Place of Death7. The Student Dormitory8. A Conversation About Love9. Anguish10. Escape11. Girlish Innocence12. A Summer Ablaze13. The Death of Kolbe14. Step by Step15. That Day16. A Decision17. As Though There Were No War18. Letters from Shūhei19. Dark Days20. 194421. And Sachiko . . .22. Requiem23. August24. AftermathAuthor’s AfterwordAppendix: Synopsis of Kiku’s Prayer

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Book SynopsisInspired by true events, this gripping coming-of-age tale of friendship, sacrifice, and the power of unrelenting hope during WWII follows three friends from Mobile, Alabama, as they struggle to survive the Bataan Death March and make it home to their families--and the girl they left behind.

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Book SynopsisBerlin, 1933: as Hitler rises to power, the law - designed to protect and serve - becomes twisted to the will of those who dream of a pure Aryan race. SS Officer Walter Gunther is intensely loyal to the Third Reich. His readiness to kill without question or remorse would seem to make him the ideal candidate to lead the T4 euthanasia programme. SS Officer Karl Muller, a trainee doctor and engineer, is also brought into the programme, and assured that his work is consistent with the Hippocratic oath he's due to take. Their mandate: to kill the "unworthies" - not just the Jews, but crippled children, the mentally ill, homosexuals. Hedda, Walter's wife and old acquaintance of Karl, has no idea of what their work entails. Until, that is, the fate of their families is at stake, and each must confront afresh the choices they have made. This dark, tense novel is a compelling story of human tragedy, and man's potential to revel in, or fight against, the evil actions of a corrupted nation.

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Book SynopsisTHE SEVENTH CLIFFEHAVEN NOVEL BY SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR ELLIE DEANMay 1942. War can bring hope as well s heart ache . . . Kitty Pargeter loves the life she's leading as a talented young pilot, serving her country. But tragedy strikes when she is forced to crash-land and is badly injured. She is taken to a specialist hospital in Cliffehaven, where she must come to terms with the disabling injury that threatens her career. Then comes the shattering news that her beloved brother has been shot down and presumed dead. And she wonders if she'll able to find the courage and fortitude to carry on.As Kitty slowly recovers with the help of Peggy Reilly and her family at Beach View boarding house she is more determined than ever to return to the job she loves, whatever it takes.A fabulous, heart-warming Second World War novel in Ellie Dean''s bestselling Cliffehaven series (previously called the Beach View Boarding HousTrade ReviewTHE SEVENTH CLIFFEHAVEN NOVEL BY SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR ELLIE DEANMay 1942. War can bring hope as well s heart ache . . . Kitty Pargeter loves the life she’s leading as a talented young pilot, serving her country. But tragedy strikes when she is forced to crash-land and is badly injured. * from the publisher's description *

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Book SynopsisLiverpool, 1936. Molly Penelope Hardwick has been abandoned in Haisborough Orphanage. Desperate to discover her background, she befriends another orphan, Lenny Smith. Together they sneak out to roam the city of Liverpool, and hatch plans for their escape.But when Molly is forced to leave the orphanage, Lenny has no idea where she's gone. And when war is declared, he soon forgets about his childhood best pal to focus on his posting with the RAF in Scrimpton. What Lenny doesn't know is that Molly is desperate to join the war effort, and with her sights set on joining the WAAF, chances are they will see each other again. But will things ever be the same after all this time?Trade ReviewA relaxing, easy read, with lots of twists and turns, lively characters and enough detail to give a flavour of wartime without slowing the story down. A welcome in many a Christmas stocking for sure. * Frost Magazine *A winter warmer of a novel that moves along at a brisk pace. ***** * People’s Friend *

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Book Synopsis

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