![]() |
![]() |
Your cart is empty |
||
Books > Fiction > Genre fiction > War fiction > First World War fiction
ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT is probably the most famous anti-war novel ever written. The story is told by a young 'unknown soldier' in the trenches of Flanders during the First World War. Through his eyes we see all the realities of war;under fire, on patrol, waiting in the trenches, at home on leave, and in hospitals and dressing stations. Although there are vividly described incidents which remain in mind, there is no sense of adventure here, only the feeling of youth betrayed and a deceptively simple indictment of war - of any war - told for a whole generation of victims.
From the bestselling, award-winning author of SKELLIG comes a vivid and
moving story, beautifully illustrated, which commemorates the
hundred-year anniversary of the end of the First World War.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1916) is a novel by Vicente Blasco Ibanez. Published at the height of his career as a popular Spanish author, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse was adapted into a 1921 silent film starring Rudolph Valentino and later into a 1962 feature directed by Vincente Minelli. In 1919, the novel became a bestseller in the United States. "'And when the sun arises in a few hours, the world will see coursing through its fields the four horsemen, enemies of mankind. . . . Already their wild steeds are pawing the ground with impatience; already the ill-omened riders have come together and are exchanging the last words before leaping into the saddle.'" At the outbreak of the First World War, two families-and countless more-are torn apart by hatred and conflict that threatens to bring an end to humanity itself. Julio Desnoyers, a young man of mixed Argentine and French descent, leaves a life of luxury behind in search of glory and romance. Convinced that only sacrifice will win him the hand of his lover Marguerite, he enlists as a soldier in the French army. Meanwhile, his mother is forced to reckon with the marriage of her sister to a German man. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse showcases Blasco Ibanez's sense of tragedy and devotion to the politics of peace, both of which guide his depiction of humanity at war with itself. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Vicente Blasco Ibanez's The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse is a classic of Spanish literature reimagined for modern readers.
Mare Nostrum (1918) is a novel by Vicente Blasco Ibanez. Published at the height of his career as a popular Spanish author, Mare Nostrum was adapted into a 1926 silent film by Irish director Rex Ingram starring his American wife Alice Terry, an icon of early cinema. Believed lost for decades, the film has been recently rediscovered and restored. "All that mankind had ever written or dreamed about the Mediterranean, the doctor had in his library and could repeat to his eager little listener. In Ferragut's estimation the mare nostrum ["Mare Nostrum" (Our Sea), the classic name for the Mediterranean.] was a species of blue beast, powerful and of great intelligence-a sacred animal like the dragons and serpents that certain religions adored, believing them to be the source of life." Raised in a proud Spanish family, Ulysses Ferragut is expected to follow in his father's footsteps by becoming a doctor. Enamored with tales of the Mediterranean as told by his seafaring uncle, nicknamed the Triton, Ulysses chooses to become a sailor instead. As a young man, he finds success as the captain and owner of the freighter Mare Nostrum, but obligations to his wife and son force him to abandon his dream. As the horrors of the First World War wreak havoc on Europe, the demand for shipping makes it impossible for Ulysses to resist a return to the sea. While in Italy, however, he finds more than he bargained for in the form of Freya Talberg, a beautiful Austrian who harbors a dangerous secret. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Vicente Blasco Ibanez's Mare Nostrum is a classic of Spanish literature reimagined for modern readers.
**Pre-order your copy of the brand new novel from highly acclaimed, BBC Radio 2 Book Club Pick author Caroline Scott, The Visitors, a tale of a young war window and one life-changing, sun-drenched visit to Cornwall in the summer of 1923, now!' 'This excellent debut is a melancholic reminder of the rippling after-effects of war' The Times 'A touching novel of love and loss' Sunday Times For fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Where The Crawdads Sing comes a moving story, inspired by real events, about how hope and love will prevail against all odds. 1921 In the aftermath of war, everyone is searching for answers. Edie's husband Francis never came home and was declared 'missing, believed killed'. But when she receives a mysterious photograph of him in the post, hope flares and she begins to search. Harry photographs gravesites on the Western Front, hired by grieving families. Plagued by memories of his last conversation with Francis, he has never stopped searching for his brother. After years apart, their search brings them together. As they uncover the truth they are haunted by the past and their own complex feelings - towards Francis, and towards each other. Are some questions better left unanswered? Perfect for fans of Maggie O'Farrell and Helen Dunmore, The Photographer of the Lost is a beautiful novel, inspired by real events in the wake of the First World War, about love and loss, grief and guilt, and the fleeting, fragile moments of life. Praise for The Photographer of the Lost: 'There's only one word for this novel... and that's epic... A beautifully written must-read' heat 'A gripping, devastating novel about the lost and the ones they left behind' Sarra Manning, RED 'Terrific first novel' Daily Mail 'Scott has done an amazing job of drawing on real stories to craft a powerful novel' Good Housekeeping 'A deeply poignant and immersive novel . . . told in beautiful, elevated prose. I was completely caught up in these characters' stories' Rachel Hore 'What a wonderful debut novel . . . With a mystery at its heart and a moving, but page turning hook, I couldn't stop reading' Lorna Cook 'A sublimely rendered portrait of the search for answers amidst the chaos and devastation left behind in the aftermath of World War 1' Fiona Valpy 'A poignant hymn to those who gave up their lives for their country and to those who were left behind' Fanny Blake 'I was utterly captivated by this novel, which swept me away, broke my heart, then shone wonderful light through all the pieces' Isabelle Broom 'Beautiful, unflinching: The Photographer of the Lost is going to be on an awful lot of Best Books of the Year lists, mine included... unforgettable' Iona Grey 'Momentous, revelatory and astonishing historical fiction!' Historical Novel Society
First published privately in 1929 as The Middle Parts of Fortune, Her Privates We is the novel of the Battle of the Somme told from the perspective of Bourne, an ordinary private. A raw and shockingly honest portrait of men engaged in war, 'that peculiarly human activity', the original edition was subject to 'prunings and excisions' because the bluntness of language was thought to make the book unfit for public distribution. This edition restores them. An undisputed classic of war writing and a lasting tribute to all who participated in the war, Her Privates We was originally published as written by 'Private 19022'. Championed by Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, TS Eliot and TE Lawrence, it has become recognised as a classic in the seventy years since its first publication. Now republished, with an introduction by William Boyd, it will again amaze a new generation of readers with its depiction of the horror, the ordinariness and the humanity of war.
When William Came (1913) is a novel by Saki. Considered a masterpiece of invasion literature, When William Came indulges in the paranoid atmosphere of the leadup to the Great War to weave a sinister tale of espionage, survival, and conspiracy. Keenly aware of the heightening tensions between Britain and Germany, Saki crafts an entertaining story with a political purpose: to call for national conscription in the event of war. Much has changed in London since Murrey Yeovil left for a hunting trip in Eastern Siberia. War came and went, London fell to German forces, and his wife Cicely found a younger lover. Disembarking from the train, he gets into a cab and gives his address, only to discover his driver speaks German. Slowly, he grows accustomed to the rhythms of life under an occupying force, but it is impossible to ignore how many people have been lost. Of those who survived the war, many fled for the countryside or to colonies and nations overseas. They are the lucky ones, who need not fear a trip to the store or a turn down the wrong street might lead to imprisonment-or worse. Soon, Murrey must decide where his true loyalties lie. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Saki's When William Came is a classic of British invasion literature reimagined for modern readers.
'A thoughtful and subtle historical romance with lots of brains and lots of heart.' Kate Forsyth 1917, Italy. Rebecca Quinn is an unconventional woman. At the height of World War I, she has given up the safety of her Sydney home for the bloody battlefields of Europe, following her journalist husband to the frontline as a war correspondent in Italy. Reporting the horrors of the Italian campaign, Rebecca finds herself thrown together with American-born Italian photographer Alessandro Panucci, and soon discovers another battleground every bit as dangerous and unpredictable: the human heart.
An enchanting tale of secrets and deception that stretches from the heaths of Suffolk to the banks of the Seine.Annie Sancerre is looking for love. After her husband was killed in the trenches of the Great War, she found herself putting motherhood before everything else, whatever the cost. So when the kind and gentle Fergus Cameron proposes, Annie realises a life with him could bring both comfort and security. Then she meets debonair lawyer Richard Ross near her home in Kew and her future is thrown into doubt. But why does Richard seem to know more about her past than she does? From bestseller Teresa Crane comes an elaborate mystery of love both lost and found. Praise for Treacherous Waters 'This is compulsive reading' Marina Oliver, author of The Accidental Marriage
WINNER OF THE PRIX LANDERNEAU DES LECTEURS 2018 Described as 'eerie and sensual' by The Guardian, Wild Dog tells the story of a young couple who discover dark secrets in the remote French countryside. 'Reads like a modern fairy tale' New York Journal of Books Franck and Lise, a French couple in the film industry, rent a cottage in the quiet hills of the French Lot to get away from the stresses of modern life. In this remote corner of the world, there is no phone signal. A mysterious dog emerges, looking for a new master. Ghosts of a dark past run wild in these hills, where a German lion tamer took refuge in the First World War ... Franck and Lise are confronted with nature at its most brutal. And they are about to discover that man and beast have more in common than they think. A literary sensation in France, Wild Dog is a dark, menacing tale of isolation, human nature and the infinite savagery of the wild.
A little girl is found abandoned on a beach one chilly Monday in October, alone apart from the body of her mother, cold beside her. Rendered completely silent by her traumatic experience, she is given the name Monday by the woman who discovers her and takes her to the Red Cliffs Ragged School - an old, crumbling building perched above the Torquay bay. Her saviour, twenty-two-year old Sarah Sullivan, has also had a tough life. But when she was summoned to help out at Red Cliffs - a haven for poverty-stricken children from the cities - by her godfather Samuel she also found her own second chance within its walls. Now she will do anything to help the mischievous, loveable children there. Especially Monday whose continued silence tears at her heart. But with Samuel's health failing and his grasping nephew Christian eager to inherit, Red Cliffs is under threat. Sarah needs to fight - the children need her, and surprisingly she find she needs them. Will she be able to save the school and protect the little girl she's come to love so much, the one she's named Monday's Child? Monday's Child is the first in the Red Cliff Ragged School series, soon to be followed by Orphans and Angels. Praise for Linda Finlay 'Warm and atmospheric, you can practically taste the sea breeze' The Express 'Take time out for a page-turner about family mysteries and betrayal' Take-a-Break 'A compelling saga . . . with a surprising and emotional ending which weaves together the storylines in a most satisfying way. Strongly recommended and a great read on a Cornish holiday' cjbrownecrimewriter.com 'A captivating and emotional novel about a strong woman struggling to find her own way in the world when others wish to see her fail' Winstone Books
A beautifully illustrated story celebrating the poppy's history. Michael Morpurgo and Michael Foreman have teamed up with the Royal British Legion to tell an original story that explains the meaning behind the poppy. In Flanders' fields, young Martens knows his family's story, for it is as precious as the faded poem hanging in their home. From a poor girl comforting a grieving soldier, to an unexpected meeting of strangers, to a father's tragic death many decades after treaties were signed, war has shaped Martens's family in profound ways - it is their history as much as any nation's. They remember. They grieve. They honour the past. This book also includes a full-colour, illustrated afterword that explains the history that inspired the story. 1 per hardback from the sale of POPPY FIELD in the UK will be paid to Royal British Legion Trading Limited which gives its taxable profits to The Royal British Legion (Charity no. 219279)
No More Parades (1924) is a novel by Ford Madox Ford. Set during the First World War, the novel is the story of Christopher Tietjens, a brilliant statistician and wealthy aristocrat known as "the last Tory." As he moves from a faithless marriage into an affair of his own, eventually volunteering to fight under dubious-perhaps suicidal-motives, Tietjens appears both symbolic and tragically human, a casualty of a dying era dedicating its final breaths to death, despair, and destruction. Adapted for television twice-a 1964 series starring Ronald Hines and Judi Dench, as well as a 2012 series starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Rebecca Hall-Parade's End is essential to Ford's reputation as a leading novelist of the twentieth century. In the words of W. H. Auden, "There are not many English novels which deserve to be called great: Parade's End is one of them." Having gone to war to leave his troubled romantic life behind him, Christopher Tietjens is late to realize that the glories of battle are a dangerous fiction indeed. Now a Captain, he is responsible for thousands of soldiers on the front lines of France, most of whom were not born into fortune as he was. As a German assault rains fire on their vulnerable position, as Tietjens holds a dying comrade in his arms, as he witnesses the best minds of his generation go mad amid so much destruction, Tietjens attempts to maintain a shred of his own fractured humanity. Back at home, his unfaithful wife takes full advantage of his prolonged absence, but soon longs to draw Christopher back into her life. Tragic and emotionally piercing, No More Parade's is a story of romance, war and betrayal that proves a brilliant sequel to Some Do Not. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Ford Madox Ford's No More Parades is a classic work of British literature reimagined for modern readers.
While Vili has neither the multi-generational sweep nor the moral gravitas of Singer's family sagas, its themes are nonetheless timeless, its struggles archetypal. A father and son grapple with each other, and, in the process, a richly compact narrative emerges: a rebellious son leaves his ancestral home-an unnamed village in Poland-to find adventure among strangers and lose tradition and family along the way. Their respective stories define what is lost and what is gained in the immigrant passage to the new world. The eponymous hero, Volf Rubin-or Willy (Vili) Robin in America-is the rare agon who must share center stage with his antagonist, that is, his more voluble paterfamilias. The sententious Hirsh-modeled on Singer's own painful childhood interactions with the savage brutality of the chief rabbi of Nyesheve-tenaciously holds onto some of the more merciless and "bone- breaking" pronouncements derived from a literalist reading and application of Jewish law. Such is the heavy baggage which, according to Volf, should have been left behind in steerage. Volf's lapsed Judaism is his father's dystopian nightmare. He much prefers nature and farm animals to any form of classroom. Eventually, he leaves home for the New World, and there a whole new story unfolds-or is it so "new"?
A young recruit. A legendary battle. A cataclysmic war. A baptism by fire...Kelly Maguire knew from a young age that he could accomplish great things. As World War I begins, Kelly enlists in the Royal Navy, hoping to win both the war and glory. But from the barbarous battles of Gallipoli to the nightmarish action of Antwerp, Kelly learns the trials a soldier must face: trials that will forge him into a man. As the epic battle of Jutland approaches, everything is at stake. From acclaimed novelist Max Hennessy comes a gritty naval adventure, full of blood, guts and heroism in the face of danger.
A moving and tragic cross-cultural love story for readers of Dilly Court and Kitty Neale. Oxfordshire, 1917 Ellen is growing up in the Oxfordshire countryside. The granddaughter of a Methodist preacher and intending to marry Charlie, a boy from the local village, Ellen's life is mapped out for her. When Charlie is killed on the battlefields of the First World War, Ellen is left heart-broken and lost. But then she meets Sam Loveridge. Mysterious and unruly, Sam is from a local Gypsy community, and unlike anyone Ellen has ever met before. Before she knows what's hit her, Ellen is swept off her feet and shown a world of passion, excitement - and true love. But the conservative world that Ellen is from can't possibly understand or approve of their relationship, and Ellen and Sam are torn apart. Is their love strong enough overcome their cultural distances, or will the hostility and prejudice they face destroy their chance at happiness? The Gypsy Bride is a dramatic new saga for readers of A Village Scandal.
Previously published as The Watercress Girls A warm-hearted and nostalgic family saga from the bestselling author of THE WINTER BABY and THE NURSEMAID'S SECRET. Suffolk, 1914 Twelve-year-old Mattie and her little sister Evie lead an idyllic life in the countryside, exploring the meadows and picking watercress in the streams. But little do they know that this perfect childhood won't last. With the onset of World War I, the country is thrown into turmoil . . . As the years pass, the girls go on to live very different lives. Mattie travels to Canada and America, whilst Evie remains in England. More than fifty years later, through marriages, deaths, births, war, heartbreak and distance, will these sisters finally be reunited to have their time in the meadows again? 'This charming, drama-filled novel certainly packs in all the warmth, wisdom and heartfelt emotions that were the trademarks of Sheila's writing.' My Weekly 'This gently uplifting story is a saga to savour . . . this charming, drama-filled novel certainly packs in all the warmth, wisdom and heartfelt emotions that were the trademarks of her writing . . . a delicious and wonderfully poignant read for long summer evenings.' Lancashire Evening Post - - - Praise for Sheila Newberry: 'So gloriously nostalgic . . . a perfect example of her talent.' Maureen Lee, bestselling author of The Seven Streets of Liverpool 'Like having dinner with your mother in her warm and cosy kitchen.' Diane Allen, bestselling author of For the Sake of Her Family
This was no ordinary war. This was a war to make the world safe for democracy. And if democracy was made safe, then nothing else mattered--not the millions of dead bodies, nor the thousands of ruined lives...This is no ordinary novel. This is a novel that never takes the easy way out: it is shocking, violent, terrifying, horrible, uncompromising, brutal, remorseless and gruesome...but so is war.
'Johanna Bell has hit the jackpot with this striking WW1 story' - Jenny Holmes, author of The Spitfire Girls 1914. While their men fight in France, at home in Britain women are finally seizing the opportunity to make a difference . . . Maggie and her new friends Annie, Irene and Sarah come from very different backgrounds, but they've got one thing in common: they've all signed up for the Women Police Volunteers. They can't wait to show the men just what they're made of. But soon, Maggie realises she's in over her head. Hiding her involvement with the WPV from her tyrannous father is becoming ever more difficult, and when she bumps into an old acquaintance with a big chip on his shoulder, the dangers of her new life become all too clear . . . As Maggie and the girls work together to find their feet on the beat, will their friendship get her through the darkest of times? A gritty, uplifting new saga series about the first ever female police officers, set at the outbreak of the First World War - perfect for fans of Dilly Court, Daisy Styles and Call the Midwife. Praise for THE BOBBY GIRLS: Filled with richly drawn characters that leap from the page, and a plot that's so well researched and well written you will believe you are in the thick of wartime policing, The Bobby Girls is a must-read for all saga fans.' - Fiona Ford, bestselling author of Christmas at Liberty's 'I really enjoyed reading about Britain's first female police officers. A lot of research has gone into this book and it's all the richer and more readable for it. An exciting new voice in women's fiction.' - Kate Thompson, bestselling author of Secrets of the Singer Girls 'I really did enjoy The Bobby Girls. It has a lovely warm feeling about it and is excellently written.' - Maureen Lee, RNA award-winning author of Dancing in the Dark 'A well-researched and interesting story giving a great insight into early women's policing.' - Anna Jacobs, bestselling author of the Ellindale series 'Written with warmth and compassion, the novel gives fascinating insights into the lives of three courageous young women.' - Margaret Kaine, RNA award-winning author of Ring of Clay 'Johanna Bell has hit the jackpot with this striking WW1 story. The author places the focus firmly on the girls' growth into independent members of society in a rapidly changing world. It's a heartening central message conveyed with verve and empathy and remains relevant to today's readers, both young and old.' - Jenny Holmes, author of The Spitfire Girls 'This is a story that needed to be told. As a former Special Constable, I love Johanna Bell from the bottom of my heart for giving a voice to the women who first made a way for me and countless others like me - to work as real police officers in the service of our communities.' - Penny Thorpe, author of The Quality Street Girls 'A lovely story! The author has researched the era and the theme very well. The characters stood out on the page and through their eyes you are transported back to a different age.' - AnneMarie Brear, author of Beneath a Stormy Sky
From The Times bestselling author of The Other Mrs Walker – Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year 2017 – comes Mary Paulson-Ellis's second stunning historical mystery, The Inheritance of Solomon Farthing. Solomon knew that he had one advantage. A pawn ticket belonging to a dead man tucked into his top pocket – the only clue to the truth . . . An old soldier dies alone in his Edinburgh nursing home. No known relatives, and no Will to enact. Just a pawn ticket found amongst his belongings, and fifty thousand pounds in used notes sewn into the lining of his burial suit . . . Heir Hunter, Solomon Farthing – down on his luck, until, perhaps, now – is tipped off on this unexplained fortune. Armed with only the deceased’s name and the crumpled pawn ticket, he must find the dead man’s closest living relative if he is to get a cut of this much-needed cash. But in trawling through the deceased’s family tree, Solomon uncovers a mystery that goes back to 1918 and a group of eleven soldiers abandoned in a farmhouse billet in France in the weeks leading up to the armistice. Set between contemporary Edinburgh and the final brutal days of the First World War as the soldiers await their orders, The Inheritance of Solomon Farthing shows us how the debts of the present can never be settled unless those of the past have been paid first . . . |
![]() ![]() You may like...
Al Qaeda - The Transformation of…
Denise N. Baken, Ioannis Mantzikos
Hardcover
R1,915
Discovery Miles 19 150
3D and 4D Printing of Polymer…
Kishor Kumar Sadasivuni, Kalim Deshmukh, …
Paperback
R5,898
Discovery Miles 58 980
|