Second World War fiction

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 SynopsisTrade Review"Starring Adele Astaire peels back the layers on Adele Astaire’s life beyond the stage while highlighting how ferociously an intrepid dreamer must fight for an edge into the spotlight. Eliza Knight’s in-depth research brings these stories to life in exquisite, vibrant detail that will captivate readers everywhere." — Madeline Martin, New York Times and international bestselling author "Just as Adele Astaire received standing ovations for her performances, so too does Eliza Knight deserve to be similarly acclaimed for this book. I can’t believe I’d never heard of this incredible woman and I loved how the novel shone a well-deserved spotlight on this less famous but exceptionally talented Astaire sibling. Bravo Eliza Knight – and please take a bow. You’ve written a showstopper of a story.” — Natasha Lester, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Orphan “Impeccably researched and beautifully written, Starring Adele Astaire is a peak behind the curtain of what it was like to be a woman and a performer in the 1920s-1940s. Eliza Knight explores the timeless question of whether a woman can truly have it all in this fascinating novel filled with love, heartbreak, resilience, and ultimately friendship.” — Jillian Cantor, USA Today bestselling author of Beautiful Little Fools “From the stages of Hollywood to the war Front, Starring Adele Astaire dances with life and emotion, paying homage to a largely overlooked persona in Hollywood’s illustrious line-up of characters. Knight’s admiration for Adele Astaire—her talent and her passions, on stage and off—shines in this touching and compelling tale of a woman who strives to realize her dreams. A winner!" — Heather Webb, USA Today bestselling author of Strangers in the Night "Long before Ginger Rogers came along, Fred Astaire’s dance partner was his sister Adele who positively dazzles in Eliza Knight’s latest work of historical fiction. We follow the spirited Adele from New York to London and beyond as she takes a young dancer under her wing. As their friendship grows, the women learn to juggle fame, love, loss and the devastation of war. Knight’s fan will surely appreciate how she once again seamlessly weaves her research into this rich tale, delivering another winner!" — Renee Rosen, USA Today bestselling author of The Social Graces "Be swept away to London and New York between the wars with Starring Adele Astaire, a bittersweet true-life tale of one of early last century's greatest dancers and most famous siblings. By so deftly and compassionately bringing Adele to life, Knight gives us a most memorable and vital heroine for any age." — Natalie Jenner, internationally bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society "Fascinating, well-researched historical details about the lives of women in show business, many famous people, and World War II make this an emotionally satisfying retelling of the simultaneously privileged and tragic life of a real but mostly forgotten superstar. Will resonate with readers interested in show business, dance, and the history of women’s lives from the 1920s to World War II." — Library Journal "With inviting characters inhabiting a richly described environment, the novel follows two women as they fall in love, survive terrible losses, and eventually find a way to stand on their own two feet. An intriguing piece of historical fiction that will engage readers and bring to light a rapidly changing world through the eyes of an early-twentieth-century star.” — Booklist

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