Vae victis! Romanzo

by Annie Vivanti

"Vae victis! Romanzo" by Annie Vivanti is a novel written in 1917. Set in a Belgian village during the German invasion of World War I, the story follows three women—a young mother, her ten-year-old daughter, and eighteen-year-old sister-in-law—who face brutal violence when enemy soldiers storm their home. After escaping to England, the survivors must confront devastating consequences and impossible choices. The novel explores themes of trauma, sacrifice, and compassion that transcend national boundaries, offering a feminine perspective on war's most harrowing human costs.