Subject
World War, 1914-1918 -- Fiction Books
Best books
Richard Dehan
That Which Hath Wings: A Novel of the Day
"That Which Hath Wings: A Novel of the Day" by Richard Dehan is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story centers around the lives of Francis, Viscount Norwater, and his wife Margot, who navigate the trials and tribulations of their newlywed life just before the onset of World War I. Their passionate romance is juxtaposed against societal expectations and Miss Margot's struggle with the idea of motherhood which complicates their relationship. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to Franky and Margot on the occasion of their wedding in January 1914. The narrative captures their vibrant courtship, set against the backdrop of a glamorous but superficial social scene. Yet, their idyllic life takes a drastic turn as Margot grapples with the implications of impending motherhood and societal pressure, leading to poignant conversations between the couple. This opening sets the stage for the exploration of love, societal norms, and the looming shadows of war that threaten to reshape their lives.
John Buchan
The Thirty-Nine Steps
"The Thirty-Nine Steps" by John Buchan is an adventure novel published in 1915. Richard Hannay, a mining engineer from Rhodesia, finds himself caught in a deadly conspiracy when his neighbor is murdered in his London flat. Possessing only a cryptic coded notebook, Hannay flees to Scotland, pursued by both police and German spies seeking to steal Britain's naval secrets. Racing against time before war erupts across Europe, he must decipher the mystery of the thirty-nine steps and stop an international plot that could change history.
John Buchan
Mr. Standfast
"Mr. Standfast" by John Buchan is a novel published in 1919. Brigadier-General Richard Hannay is pulled from the Western Front for a dangerous secret mission: hunting a German spy network operating in Britain. Disguised as a pacifist, he must work undercover to track enemy agents across the country and into the Swiss Alps. With coded messages hidden in "Pilgrim's Progress" and allies in unexpected places, Hannay faces his most complex assignment yet—one that could determine the fate of Europe.
Ernest Hemingway
A farewell to arms
"A farewell to arms" by Ernest Hemingway is a novel first published in 1929. Set during World War I's Italian campaign, it follows American lieutenant Frederic Henry, who serves in the Italian ambulance corps. When he meets English nurse Catherine Barkley, a passionate love affair develops against the brutal backdrop of war. As battle intensifies and their relationship deepens, the lovers face devastating choices that will test whether their bond can survive the chaos surrounding them.
E. Phillips (Edward Phillips) Oppenheim
The Zeppelin's Passenger
"The Zeppelin's Passenger" by E. Phillips Oppenheim is a novel likely written in the early 20th century, set during World War I. The story begins with a group of characters, including Captain Griffiths and Helen Fairclough, discussing a mysterious Zeppelin incident, sparking a mixture of curiosity and concern. The narrative seems to center around themes of espionage, loyalty, and romantic entanglements against the backdrop of the war, particularly focusing on Helen and her fiancé, Major Felstead, who has been reported missing. The opening of the book takes place in a comfortable library where tea is being served to guests. The conversation reveals concern over a Zeppelin's observation car that has landed unexpectedly. The characters engage in light banter, yet an underlying tension is present due to the war and the fate of Major Felstead, who has been captured. Helen expresses anguish over her fiancé's situation, while Captain Griffiths appears to be harboring deeper, more personal feelings towards Helen. This mix of ordinary concerns and the strain of war sets the stage for a story intertwined with suspense and emotional depth as the narrative unfolds.
Robert W. (Robert William) Chambers
The Girl Philippa
"The Girl Philippa" by Robert W. Chambers is a novel written in the late 19th century. This work intertwines themes of espionage and romance, capturing the tumultuous socio-political landscape leading up to World War I. The central character, Philippa, is situated in a precarious position where her life becomes entwined with a secretive British man named Halkett, whose mission and the dangerous individuals pursuing him become pivotal to the story. At the start of the novel, we find ourselves amidst the historical backdrop of the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand, which catalyzes a series of events affecting many characters, including the girl Philippa. Her life is complicated by Wildresse, her protector and an underworld figure, who insists she spy on Halkett—an attractive but mysterious Englishman she has helpfully befriended after he approaches her in a crowded market. The narrative reveals hints of danger as Halkett eludes enemies determined to seize an important envelope in his possession, all while Philippa navigates her own complicated feelings and the demands of the dangerous world around her. As events unfold, her loyalties will be tested against the backdrop of impending war, revealing deeper themes of trust, identity, and survival.
Erich Maria Remarque
All quiet on the Western Front
"All Quiet on the Western Front" by Erich Maria Remarque is a semi-autobiographical novel first published in 1928. The book follows Paul Bäumer, a young German soldier fighting on the Western Front during World War I. Through his eyes, readers experience the extreme physical and mental trauma of trench warfare and the devastating detachment soldiers feel from civilian life. As Paul and his comrades endure brutal battles for meaningless scraps of land, they watch friends fall one by one, slowly losing their humanity and will to live.
Richard Aldington
Death of a hero : $b a novel
"Death of a Hero: A Novel" by Richard Aldington is a novel written in the early 20th century. It follows George Winterbourne—from his Victorian-bred upbringing through his service on the Western Front—to dissect the hypocrisies of family, love, and patriotism, and the psychic wreckage of war, as told by a sharp, disillusioned friend-narrator. Expect a mordant anti‑war portrait featuring George, his self-dramatizing mother, ineffectual father, wife Elizabeth, and mistress Fanny, with the narrative doubling as an indictment of a generation’s moral bankruptcy. The opening of the novel sets its method and mood: in a letter-preface the author declares he will ignore conventional form—a “jazz novel” and a threnody for a lost generation—followed by a note on censorship. The prologue recounts George’s death near the Armistice and, with savage irony, shows how little he is mourned: his father retreats into mawkish Catholic piety and is soon killed in an accident; his mother turns the news into theatrical self‑pity and erotic consolation with a “clean, straight” officer, quarrels over George’s effects, and remarries; his wife receives the telegram while returning home tipsy with a Swedish painter and coolly notifies Fanny; Fanny later moves on and marries. The narrator recalls his frontline friendship with George, charts his nerve collapse after long service, and suggests his death may have been a form of self‑destruction; a spare, military funeral leads to the narrator’s vow to “atone” by telling George’s life. Part One then rewinds to 1890s England, sketching George’s parents: George Augustus, a timid solicitor dominated by his pious mother, and Isabel Hartly, vigorous but vulgar and poor; their marriage, built on pretence and sexual ignorance, begins with a painful wedding night, grinding dependence, and humiliations in the in‑laws’ house. Isabel’s resentment hardens, yet she becomes fiercely devoted to her baby—George—whose birth closes this opening canvas of origins.
John Buchan
Greenmantle
"Greenmantle" by John Buchan is a novel published in 1916. Richard Hannay is drawn into a dangerous intelligence mission to investigate rumors of a German-orchestrated Muslim uprising during World War I. Traveling through enemy territory with trusted companions, Hannay must decode cryptic clues, assume false identities, and navigate a web of spies and conspirators. Their perilous journey leads to Constantinople and beyond, where they race to uncover the mystery of "Greenmantle" and prevent a plot that could change the course of the war.
H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
Joan and Peter: The story of an education
"Joan and Peter: The story of an education" by H. G. Wells is a novel published in 1918. Following two orphaned children through late-Victorian and Edwardian England, the story chronicles their turbulent upbringing as competing guardians battle over their education. Peter and Joan navigate questionable schools, social upheaval, and personal conflicts while growing up as wards. As World War I erupts, their experiences crystallize into deeper understanding about life, love, and the future. Wells crafted this ambitious work as both a critique of English education and a reflection on war's impact on society.
Henri Barbusse
Under Fire: The Story of a Squad
"Under Fire: The Story of a Squad" by Henri Barbusse is a novel published in December 1916, among the first works about World War I. Based on Barbusse's experiences as a French soldier on the Western Front, it follows a squad of French infantry through journal-like anecdotes of trench warfare. The novel became a phenomenal success and profoundly influenced the Lost Generation movement, particularly Ernest Hemingway and Erich Maria Remarque. Its unflinching realism and courage in depicting the war's brutality earned it the Prix Goncourt in 1916.
Vicente Blasco Ibáñez
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
"The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez is a novel published in 1916. When an Argentinian landowner's daughters marry French and German men, their families are torn apart by World War I, forced to fight on opposite sides. At the center is Julio Desnoyers, a spoiled young man in Paris who must choose between his carefree life and the brutal reality of war that threatens to consume everything he knows.
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