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Books > Fiction > Genre fiction > War fiction > Second World War fiction
Secrets will be uncovered . . . 'I was absolutely gripped . . . the
atmospheric setting of Greyfriars intertwined with the grim reality
of the war camps of Singapore was inspirational.' Linda Finlay 'A
thought-provoking and atmospheric read.' Evie Grace An epic,
sweeping drama about a family with secrets and a house shrouded in
mystery, Greyfriars House is perfect for fans of Rachel Hore, Kate
Morton, Kate Riordan and Tracey Rees. On a remote Scottish island
sits Greyfriars House 1939 Nine-year-old Olivia Friel is delighted
to be spending the summer at Greyfriars House, a place where her
parents, their family and friends are always happy. But this year
there's an underlying tension that Olivia doesn't understand. Then
one night she sees something she's not meant to, and accidentally
lets slip a devastating betrayal. 1984 Charlotte Friel gets a call
from her ailing mother, asking something she's never asked before:
for Charlotte to come home. There are things Olivia needs to tell
her daughter before it's too late, secrets to be shared about
forgotten relatives and a mysterious house. Left reeling by recent
events, Charlotte is unsure what path to follow. But eventually her
curiosity, and a desire to escape her own life, lead her to
Greyfriars House. Will she find the answers she needs to make peace
with the past? Praise for Emma Fraser: 'A gripping tale . . .
romance, adventure and an intriguing underlying mystery' -
Lancaster Guardian 'A heartbreaking novel of love and loss' -
Blackpool Gazette 'A powerful and at times gritty tale of love and
loss . . . a great, insightful read' - Novelicious 'An epic tale of
one woman's determination to follow her dreams' - People's Friend
'First rate' - Lovereading 'Engaging and enjoyable' - The
Historical Novel Society ?
'Captivating' Heather Morris 'Beautiful' Andrew Miller 'Hugely
poignant' Independent 'Moving' Sunday Times Longlisted 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.
England, 1940. Can Maggie keep her family - and her secret - safe?
An emotional and heartbreaking wartime novel for fans of Diney
Costeloe, Dilly Court and Mandy Robotham. When Maggie's new job
takes her from bombed-out London to grand Snowden Hall in the
Cotswolds she's apprehensive but determined to do her bit for the
war effort. She's also keeping a secret, one she knows would turn
opinion against her. Her mother is German: Maggie is related to the
enemy. Then her evacuee sister sends her a worrying letter, missing
the code they agreed Violet would use to confirm everything was
well, and Maggie's heart sinks. Violet is miles away; how can she
get to her in the middle of a war? Worse, her mother, arrested for
her nationality, is now missing, and Maggie has no idea where she
is. As a secret project at Snowden Hall risks revealing Maggie's
German side, she becomes even more determined to protect her
family. Can she find a way to get to her sister? And will she ever
find out where her mother has been taken? Readers LOVE A Wartime
Secret! 'A must for fans of WWII stories. It has everything I enjoy
in a book. Intrigue, romance, adventure and true friendship. Highly
recommended.' NetGalley reviewer, 'Gorgeous story. I really enjoyed
it.' NetGalley reviewer, 'If you love wartime and family saga you
will love this book.' NetGalley reviewer, 'Enjoyable... An
entertaining, heart-warming novel that I can thoroughly recommend.'
NetGalley reviewer, 'Plenty of twists (and some pleasingly teasing
romances too)... Humour and spot-on period detail... Great fun to
read... A hugely satisfying story. Highly recommended. NetGalley
reviewer,
*FROM SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE NIGHTINGALE GIRLS,
DONNA DOUGLAS* 'A fascinating portrait of everyday life on the home
front in wartime, with its hopes and hardships, and will leave
readers counting down to the next visit to Jubilee Row.' Lancashire
Post Spring, 1941. The families of Jubilee Row are still reeling
from the loss of one of their own, and as the Blitz on Hull
intensifies, it seems as if there will be more tragedies to come.
As the street braces itself, Iris Fletcher returns home from the
hospital, where she has been recovering after the death of her best
friend and youngest child. But Iris has no time to mourn -
devastated by the loss of their little sister, Archie and Kitty
desperately need their mother. Meanwhile, Edie Copeland is besotted
with her infant son. Being a single mother is hard, but Edie finds
support in the form of Jack Maguire who, like Edie, is raising his
boys alone. As the pair grow closer, Edie begins to wonder whether
they could ever be anything more than friends. Capable mum, Ruby
Maguire takes charge as usual, bolstering spirits and lending a
hand, as well as trying to keep her flighty sister Pearl on the
straight and narrow. But the unexpected appearance of a face from
her past threatens Ruby's future far more than Hitler's bombs. For
fans of Dilly Court, Rosie Goodwin and Katie Flynn this is the
second book in the Yorkshire Blitz Trilogy from the bestselling
author of The Nightingale Girls.
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Transit
(Paperback)
Anna Seghers; Translated by Margot Bettauer Dembo; Introduction by Stuart Evers
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R268
Discovery Miles 2 680
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Ships in 5 - 7 working days
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INTRODUCED BY STUART EVERS: 'A genuine, fully fledged masterpiece
of the twentieth century; one that remains just as terrifyingly
relevant and truthful in the twenty-first' An existential,
political, literary thriller first published in 1944, Transit
explores the plight of the refugee with extraordinary compassion
and insight. Having escaped from a Nazi concentration camp in
Germany and a work camp in Rouen, the nameless narrator finds
himself in the dusty seaport of Marseille. Along the way he was
asked to deliver a letter to Weidel, a writer in Paris whom he
discovered had killed himself as the Nazis entered the city. Now he
is in search of the dead man's wife. He carries Weidel's suitcase,
which contains an unfinished novel - and a letter securing Weidel a
visa to escape France. Assuming the name Seidler - though the
authorities think he is in fact Weidel - he goes from cafe to cafe
looking for Marie, who is in turn anxiously searching for her
husband. As Seidler converses with refugees over pizza and wine,
their stories gradually break down his ennui, bringing him a deeper
awareness of the transitory world they inhabit as they wait and
wait for that most precious of possessions: transit papers. 'This
novel, completed in 1942, is in my opinion the most beautiful
Seghers has written . . . almost flawless' - Heinrich Boll
**THE FRENCH PHOTOGRAPHER is now available in ebook** THE
INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER 'This has to be the most beautiful book
I've read in a very long time' ***** 'The best book I have read!'
***** 'Superbly written with characters I truly cared and worried
about' ***** 'If you like Kate Morton or Lucinda Riley, you'll like
this too' ***** Crossing generations, society's boundaries and
international turmoil, The Paris Seamstress is a beguiling,
transporting story perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley, Kate
Furnivall, Kate Morton and Penny Vincenzi. *************** What
must Estella sacrifice to make her mark? 1940: Parisian seamstress
Estella Bissette is forced to flee France as the Germans advance.
She is bound for Manhattan with a few francs, one suitcase, her
sewing machine and a dream: to have her own atelier. 2015:
Australian curator Fabienne Bissette journeys to the annual Met
Gala for an exhibition of her beloved grandmother's work - one of
the world's leading designers of ready-to-wear. But as Fabienne
learns more about her grandmother's past, she uncovers a story of
tragedy, heartbreak and secrets - and the sacrifices made for love.
PRAISE FOR NATASHA LESTER... 'Fascinating and impeccably
researched' GILL PAUL 'A fantastically engrossing story. I love it'
KELLY RIMMER 'A beautiful story in every way' THE LADY 'Intrigue,
heartbreak... I cannot tell you how much I loved this book' RACHEL
BURTON 'If you enjoy historical fiction (and even if you don't) you
will love this book' Sally Hepworth 'A gorgeously rich and romantic
novel' Kate Forsyth 'Stunning . . . Will have you captivated' Liz
Byrski 'This romance will have you enchanted' Woman's Day 'Natasha
Lester is our generation's Louisa May Alcott' Tess Woods 'What a
GEM!' Sara Foster 'Natasha Lester brings bold, brave women to life'
Courier Mail 'I love this book' Rachael Johns 'Exquisite!' Vanessa
Carnevale 'Engaging' Herald Sun 'An essential addition to
Australian fiction' AusRomToday 'Utterly compelling' Good Reading
'Emotion that will touch your heart and soul deeply' Jodi Gibson
'Fascinating, evocative and meticulously researched' Annabel Abbs
'Entertaining and provocative' Perth Festival 'Lester has woven a
fine, original story of everlasting quality.' BetterReading 'A
captivating tale' Daily Examiner 'A delightful and multi-faceted
romp through the jazz era' Natalie Salvo 'Excellent historical
fiction' The Book Muse 'You will love this even if you're not a
regular reader of historical fiction' Jess Just Reads 'Storytelling
at its finest' Great Reads & Tea Leaves
THE ELEVENTH NOVEL IN THE BESTSELLING SHIPYARD GIRLS SERIES
Sunderland, 1944 As the promise of victory draws closer, this
Christmas will surely be one to remember. It should be a magical
time for Dorothy, who has just been proposed to by her sweetheart
Toby. But with each day that passes, Dorothy's feelings for someone
else are growing stronger. Now she has an impossible choice to
make. Gloria is thrilled that her sweetheart Jack is finally home
after more than two years away. But his past is continuing to catch
up with them both - creating untold heartache for Gloria and
everyone she holds dear. Meanwhile Helen must contend with the
fall-out of a shocking family secret that has repercussions for all
the Shipyard Girls, while holding out hope for her own happy
ending... Can a little festive magic help them win the day?
___________________________________________ Praise for Nancy
Revell: 'Nancy Revell knows how to stir the passions and soothe the
heart!' Northern Echo 'Stirring and heartfelt storytelling'
Peterborough Evening Telegraph 'Emotional and gripping' Take a
Break
An Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestseller. From the USA Today
bestselling author of A Curve in the Road comes a spellbinding
novel about one woman's love, loss, and courage during wartime.
After a crushing betrayal by the man she loves, Gillian Gibbons
flees to her family home for a much-needed escape, but when she
finds an old photograph of her grandmother in the arms of a Nazi
officer, Gillian's life gets even more complicated. Rattled by the
discovery, Gillian attempts to unravel the truth behind the photos,
setting her off on an epic journey through the past... 1939.
England is on the brink of war as Vivian Hughes falls in love with
a handsome British official, but when bombs begin to fall and
Vivian's happy life is destroyed in the blitz, she will do whatever
it takes to protect those she loves... As Gillian learns more about
her grandmother's past, the old photo begins to make more sense.
But for every question answered, a new one takes its place. Faced
with a truth that is not at all what she expected, Gillian attempts
to shine a light not only on the mysteries of her family's past but
also on her own future. This gorgeously written multigenerational
saga is a heart-wrenching yet hopeful examination of one woman's
struggle to survive, perfect for fans of The Nightingale and
Beneath a Scarlet Sky.
The great Russian 20th-century novel from the Sunday Times
bestselling author of Stalingrad. Life and Fate is an epic tale of
a country told through the fate of a single family, the
Shaposhnikovs. As the battle of Stalingrad looms, Grossman's
characters must work out their destinies in a world torn by
ideological tyranny and war. Completed in 1960 and then confiscated
by the KGB, this sweeping panorama of Soviet Society remained
unpublished until it was smuggled into the West in 1980, where it
was hailed as a masterpiece.
Thirty-something Parisian artist Billie is working towards her next
exhibition when she receives the news that her mother, with whom
she has had no contact for years, has drowned in the river near her
nursing home. In an attempt to understand the circumstances of her
death, she returns to V, the village where she grew up in the
parched, sun-drenched hills above the Mediterranean. When she
arrives there, Billie finds herself reliving memories of another
river drowning, 20 years earlier, memories she had tried to
obliterate. What happened to Billie's dear friend Lila back then,
at the age of 16, and why is Billie stalked by guilt? Sunlight
Hours paints a picture of three generations of women, united by the
secrets of a river.
"This is a beautiful book, a masterpiece of brevity and depth" New
European "This tense novella builds to a final reckoning" The Times
In October 1944, a thirteen-year-old girl arrives in a tiny farming
community in Lower Austria, at some distance from the main theatre
of war. She remembers very little about how she got there, it seems
she has suffered trauma from bombardment. One night a few months
later, a young, emaciated Russian appears, a deserter from forced
labour in the east. He has nothing with him but a canvas roll,
which he guards like a hawk. Their burgeoning friendship is
abruptly interrupted by the arrival of a group of Wehrmacht
soldiers in retreat, who commandeer the farm. Paulus Hochgatterer's
intensely atmospheric, resonant novel is like a painting in itself,
a beautiful observation of small shifts from apathy in a community
not directly affected by the war, but exhausted by it nonetheless;
individual acts of moral bravery which to some extent have the
power to change the course of history. Longlisted for the Austrian
Book Prize 2017, this subtle, evocative novella will appeal to
readers of Hubert Mingarelli's A MEAL IN WINTER and Jenny
Erpenbeck's THE END OF DAYS. Translated from the German by Jamie
Bulloch Jamie Bulloch is the translator of novels by Timur Vermes,
Steven Uhly, F. C. Delius, Daniela Krien, Joerg Fauser, Martin
Suter, Roland Schimmelpfennig and Oliver Bottini. For his
translation of Birgit Vanderbeke's The Mussel Feast he was the
winner of the Schlegel-Tieck Prize. With the support of the
Creative Europe Programme of the European Union
Based on the experience of real-life Auschwitz prisoner Dita Kraus, this is the incredible story of a girl who risked her life to keep the magic of books alive during the Holocaust.
Fourteen-year-old Dita is one of the many imprisoned by the Nazis at Auschwitz. Taken, along with her mother and father, from the Terezín ghetto in Prague, Dita is adjusting to the constant terror that is life in the camp. When Jewish leader Freddy Hirsch asks Dita to take charge of the eight precious volumes the prisoners have managed to sneak past the guards, she agrees. And so Dita becomes the librarian of Auschwitz.
Out of one of the darkest chapters of human history comes this extraordinary story of courage and hope.
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Red Milk
(Hardcover)
Sjon; Translated by Victoria Cribb
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R423
Discovery Miles 4 230
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Ships in 10 - 15 working days
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'A book like a blade of light, searching out and illuminating the
darkest corners of history . . . It's vivid, unputdownable, alive,
and written with unerring artfulness and subtlety.' Neel Mukherjee
Gunnar Kampen grows up in Iceland during the Second World War in a
household fiercely opposed to Hitler and Nazism. At nineteen he
seems set for a conventional, dutiful life. And yet in the spring
of 1958, he founds a covert, anti-Semitic nationalist party, a
cause that will take him on a clandestine mission to England from
which he never returns. Inspired by one of the ringleaders of a
little-known neo-Nazi group that was formed in Iceland in the
1950s, Sjon's portrait of an ardent fascist is as thought-provoking
as it is disturbing. As this taut and fascinating novel suggests,
the seeds of extremism can be hard to detect - and the ideology of
the far-right remains dangerously potent.
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My Little War
(Paperback)
Louis Paul Boon; Translated by Paul Vincent
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R298
Discovery Miles 2 980
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Ships in 10 - 15 working days
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Following in the footsteps of C?line and Joyce, and anticipating
the gritty worldview of Burroughs and Bukowski...
TO SAVE HER CHILD, A MOTHER MUST MAKE AN IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE.
'Heartrending. Riveting. Definitely on my list of Ten Best Books of
the year' Sharon Maas, author of The Violin Maker's Daughter 'The
characters and their moving stories will haunt you long after you
finish the last page' Shirley Dickson, author of The Orphan Sisters
*THE LIGHTHOUSE SISTERS, THE NEW NOVEL FROM GILL THOMPSON, IS
AVAILABLE NOW* _____ Prague 1939. Young mother Eva has a secret
from her past. When the Nazis invade, Eva knows the only way to
keep her daughter Miriam safe is to send her away - even if it
means never seeing her again. But when Eva is taken to a
concentration camp, her secret is at risk of being exposed. In
London, Pamela volunteers to help find places for the Jewish
children arrived from Europe. Befriending one unclaimed little
girl, Pamela brings her home. Then when her son enlists in the RAF,
Pamela realises how easily her own world could come crashing
down... Inspired by the children who escaped the Holocaust. Perfect
for readers of The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris and My
Name is Eva by Suzanne Goldring. _____ Thousands of readers around
the world have lost their hearts to THE CHILD ON PLATFORM ONE: 'OH
MY HEART! Moved me deep from within. I cannot recommend it enough'
The Writing Garnet 'Such a gorgeous book. I loved and believed in
all the characters, and thoroughly enjoyed their stories.
Incredibly researched, it felt authentic. And the ending moved me
to tears *****' 'OMG What an incredible read. It was so emotional
about a Jewish girl. I was engrossed from start to finish and would
highly recommend this book *****' 'This book was incredible... The
story is realistic and believable. Once you start reading you will
not want to stop *****' 'An emotional, haunting book filled with
secrets throughout. Excellent *****' 'I loved the book and the way
it was written. I will be reading more novels by Gill Thompson in
the future as her interweaving of events with fictional characters
is remarkable *****' 'This was a great book! There are secrets you
will not see coming, but it makes it more heartwarming *****' 'It's
not your normal evacuee story as it's intertwined with other
stories which I really enjoyed. It had me gripped. I will be
looking out for more books by this author *****' 'This is a very
good book. I recommend you read *****'
A new series from bestselling author Kate Thompson. 'Kate
Thompson's wartime novels always strike a chord and Secrets of the
Homefront Girls is no exception. You can almost smell the Yardley
violets drifting over the factory as the girls live lives
complicated by the trials and tribulations of war' My Weekly 'Kate
Thompson's put the lives of women working in the Yardley factory
during the Blitz at the heart of her latest novel' Woman's Hour
Stratford, 1939. Britain may be at war, but on the home front
keeping up morale and keeping up appearances go hand in hand. For
the young women working on the lipstick production line at
Yardley's cosmetics factory, it's business as usual. Headstrong
Renee Gunn is the queen of the lipstick belt - although her cheeky
attitude means she's often in trouble. When Esther, an Austrian
refugee, arrives at Yardley's, it's Renee who takes her under her
wing and teaches her to be a true cockney. But outside of the
factory, things are more complicated. Lily, Renee's older sister,
has suddenly returned home after six years away, and is hiding a
dark secret. Meanwhile Esther is finding life in England more
difficult than expected, and it's not long before Renee finds
herself in trouble, with nowhere to turn. In the face of the Blitz,
the Yardley girls are bound together by friendship and loyalty -
but could the secrets they are hiding be the biggest danger of all?
'A compelling saga set around the tenacious women of the East End'
Daisy Styles 'Kate Thompson is a skillful and humane storyteller
who lights up the sooty face of the old East End with tales full of
drama and human interest.' Annie Murray
An uplifting and inspiring World War II saga for readers of Nancy
Revell and Annie Groves. 1942, Manchester World War Two is in full
swing and Lily Mullins is determined to do her bit for the war
effort. Her friends and sweetheart have all joined up and Lily's
sure there must be a role for her that goes further than knitting
socks for the troops! When she decides to volunteer for the Women's
Auxiliary Air Force, Lily soon discovers that she has a talent as a
wireless operator. Helped along the way by a special gang of girls,
she finds strengths she didn't know she had and realises that the
safety of the country might just be in her hands . . . Meanwhile,
Danny is determined to marry Lily, but his letters home become more
and more distant. Will a long separation mean the end of their love
story? An uplifting and inspiring novel of women on the home front.
Don't miss Bobby's War, and Hannah's War, available now. - - - - -
'[The story] read so true to me and I really didn't want to put it
down . . . It may be fiction but those things could, and did,
happen.' Vera Morgan, wartime WAAF 'An impeccably researched and
uplifting story of love, loss and courage: a heartwarming read that
will captivate all those who love a good war story.' Clare Harvey,
author of The Gunner Girl 'A wonderful, inspiring story. I can't
wait to read more from Shirley Mann.' Sheila Newberry 'I found this
book hard to put down and it resonates with me still.' Katie
Hutton, author of The Gypsy Bride
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Living Pictures
(Paperback)
Polina Barskova; Translated by Catherine Ciepiela; Introduction by Eugene Ostashevsky
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R447
Discovery Miles 4 470
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Ships in 10 - 15 working days
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'An epic love story full of exotic charm and rich historical detail
. . . Meet Me In Bombay will sweep you away to another time and
place.' Red Magazine 'Powerful and evocative' Woman & Home All
he needs is to find her. First he must remember who she is. An
injured soldier has lost everything, even his past. His dreams hint
at his old life; flashes of a woman. His only wish is to return to
her, but will his broken mind let him? And will she still be
waiting for him, if it does? Back at the start of 1914, at a party
on the shores of Bombay, Madeline Bright and Luke Devereaux meet.
Strangers in a foreign world, in the sweltering heat and colour of
colonial India they fall in love. They want to believe nothing can
come between them, not even the disapproval of Maddy's mother. But
war looms and Luke, like so many, has no choice but to fight.
Maddy's mother urges her to move on. Yet still she clings to the
promise Luke left her with: that the two of them will meet again in
Bombay... Meet Me in Bombay is a story of fierce love set against
the exotic and colourful world of colonial Bombay and the tragedy
of the First World War. Perfect for fans of Dinah Jefferies,
Lucinda Riley and Kate Furnivall. 'Moving and beautifully written,
this enchanting story of love and loss touched my heart' DINAH
JEFFERIES 'Emotional, evocative and enthralling' KATE FURNIVALL 'An
epic, bittersweet love story that will draw you in and grip you to
the last page' GILL PAUL 'An exquisite love story, sumptuous and so
moving. A WONDERFUL book!!' TRACY REES
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