Learning About The Past Through Historical Fiction About WWII

By Angel Dudley


A tremendous amount has been written about World War two. Many people still enjoy reading books that focus on this exciting, but devastating part of our history. Some readers like factual accounts of what really happened, whilst others enjoy historical fiction about WWII. There are so many excellent and varied works that there is sure to be something to please every reader.

Many books are written from a military perspective. The main characters are members of one of the armed forces and the story unfolds through their eyes. This is one of the best ways to give the work a human face. The deepest feelings and emotions can be explored and also the fear. In most factual work the extent of fear and suffering is not seen. However, by exploiting the genre of historical fiction the writer can show the tragedy and suffering of war.

Many novels have been written from a military perspective. There are so many ways to approach this type of writing. Many authors place their characters in the midst of the fighting, as an infantry man on the Eastern front. Others are with the Panzer divisions of the German army. The D Day landings also provide rich material for authors to create engaging books that recount the action and horror of the Normandy landings.

Len Deighton is another well known author with an impressive resume. He is best known for his fast paced spy novels. Yet his book Bomber is hailed as one of the best works of fiction set in the wartime era. It is about the Lancaster bomber squadrons and their raids on the Rhuh Valley. Deighton spent years researching the book and talked to some of the actual bomber crews, along with emergency service providers in Germany who helped victims of these devastating raids.

Len Deighton spent many years researching before putting pen to paper and writing Bomber. This outstanding book tells the story of a Lancaster bomber crew. Deighton wanted to get every detail just right and spoke with both flight and ground crew of the actual Lancaster's. He also interviewed people in Germany who served with the emergency services.

Some specific events really lend themselves well to becoming works of fiction. For example, Robert Harris wrote Enigma about the code breakers and their race to crack the German codes. The legendary Von Stauffenberg bomb plot has also been interpreted as a novel, with gripping tension and compelling characters. The fact that the reader already knows that the plot will fail does not detract from the merits of the book.

Children and teens can also enjoy stories set during the war. Nina Bawden's excellent book Carrie's War tells the story of a young girl and her brother evacuated from London and sent to live in the country. As the children struggle to adjust they also have to deal with the eccentric personalities of the family they live with. This book is one of the best choices for introducing young readers to the harsh realities of war.

Historical fiction about WWII is a great way to learn just how brutal war really is. There are works that show how lives were changed in every corner of the earth. Families were devastated and lives destroyed. Reading these stories is a great way to instill in people the tragedy of war.




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