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Books > Fiction > Genre fiction > War fiction > Second World War fiction
As the bombs rain down on the city, Belfast's first ever female zookeeper must fight to save the baby elephant in her charge in this gripping, uplifting tale based on a true story.
1941. With the men away fighting, animal-lover Hettie Quin is made Belfast Zoo's first ever female zookeeper. She is put in charge of Violet, a three-year-old Indian elephant, and they soon form a special bond. With Violet at her side, Hettie can almost escape the grim reality of her life: the father who has abandoned her family; the sister who recently died; the war that's raging hundreds of miles away.
But the devastation of war is closer than she thought. When the bombs begin to rain down on the city, Hettie must gather all her courage to protect those she loves the most. Can she save Violet - and get through unscathed herself?
Based on a true story, The Zookeeper of Belfast is a gripping and uplifting tribute to what one woman's courage and tenacity can achieve in the most dire of circumstances - perfect for fans of Heather Morris, Natasha Lester, Kate Furnivall, Mandy Robotham and Fiona Valpy.
The first supplement for the Konflikt '47 Weird World War II
wargames rules, this volume presents a range of new material for
the game, including: - New army list: The Japanese make their
presence known on the battlefields of Konflikt '47. - New units:
Options for troops and technology that can be added to the armies
presented in the rulebook. - Special characters: Field the best of
the best, elite men and women who may singlehandedly be the crucial
element between victory and defeat. - New background: The history
of the world of Konflikt '47 is detailed in more depth. - New
rules: All-new means of waging war, including material previously
published online.
In the gripping new spy thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling
author of Hitler's Secret, a Cambridge spy must unravel a dangerous
mystery that goes all the way to the heart of the Third Reich - and
the British Monarchy. 'A master of the wartime spy thriller' -
FINANCIAL TIMES ________________ Sweden, 1942 - Two old friends
meet. They are cousins. One is Prince George, Duke of Kent, brother
of the King of England. The other is Prince Philipp von Hessen, a
committed Nazi and close friend of Adolf Hitler. Days later, the
Prince George is killed in a plane crash in the north of Scotland.
The official story is that it was an accident - but not everyone is
convinced. There is even a suggestion that the Duke's plane was
sabotaged, but with no evidence, Cambridge spy Tom Wilde is sent
north to discover the truth . . . Dramatic, intelligent, and
brilliantly compelling, A PRINCE AND A SPY is Rory's best WWII
thriller yet - perfect for readers of Robert Harris, C J Sansom and
Joseph Kanon.
Louis de Bernieres is the master of historical fiction which makes
you both laugh and cry. This book follows an unforgettable family
after the Second World War. Daniel Pitt has seen a lot of action.
He was an RAF fighter in the First World War and an espionage agent
for the SOE in the Second. Now the conflicts he faces are closer to
home. Daniel and Rosie's marriage has fractured beyond repair and
Daniel's relationship with their son, Bertie, has been a failure
since Bertie was a small boy. But after his brother Archie's death,
Daniel is keen for new perspectives. He first travels to Peshawar
to bury Archie in the place he loved best, and then finds himself
in Canada, avoiding his family and friends back in England. But
some bonds are hard to break. Daniel and Bertie's different
experiences of war, although devastating, also bring with them the
opportunity for the two to reconnect. If only they can find a way
to move on from the past. Louis de Bernieres' new novel is a moving
account of an extraordinary life in extraordinary times. Daniel is
a flawed but captivating hero, and this coming-of-old-age story
illuminates both the effect of two World Wars on a generation and
the irrepressible spirit and love that can connect families despite
great obstacles.
To follow her dream, she's gone from city to village - but can she
ever fit in? October 1940. Bobby Bancroft is working as a typist
for a city newspaper, but she longs to be breaking the news
herself. She is thrilled to secure a junior reporter role at The
Tyke, a magazine serving the Yorkshire Dales. However, when Bobby
moves to Silverdale, she discovers rural life is a different world.
The close-knit villagers and cantankerous local animals prove
difficult to win over, while mischievous vet Charlie seems
determined to lead her astray. As Bobby struggles to find her place
amongst the dalesfolk, she wonders if she's made a huge mistake.
Will the city girl ever make a home of the beautiful but hostile
countryside of the Dales? An uplifting, lively World War Two rural
saga that fans of Annie Murray, Rosie Hendry, Gervase Phinn and
James Herriot will love.
A shocking insight into the realities of war, the conditions
endured by ordinary soldiers and their unwavering solidarity. It
was supposed to be Hitler's glorious conquest of Russia... The 27th
Penal Regiment has been ordered to invade the Soviet Union. They
are half-starved and ill-equipped. To reach Moscow they must defeat
the fearsome Red Army. But instead, they find themselves at the
mercy of an even deadlier enemy: the killer cold of the Russian
winter. As they advance across the icy wastes, they think only of
survival.
Under a Wartime Sky is an enthralling historical novel by Liz
Trenow, based on real-life events at a top-secret wartime research
station. Telling the story of the heroes behind the discovery of
radar, it's perfect for readers of Kate Furnivall and Rachel Hore.
Bawdsey Manor holds a secret. 1936: the threat of war hangs over
Europe. Churchill gathers the brightest minds in Britain at a grand
house in Suffolk. Bound to complete secrecy, they work together on
an invention that could mean victory for the Allies. Among them is
Vic, a gifted but shy physicist who, for the first time, feels like
he belongs. Local girl Kathleen wants to do more than serving tea
and biscuits to 'do her bit'. So when the Bawdsey team begin to
recruit women to operate their top secret system, she dedicates
herself to this life-or-death work. Kath and Vic form an unlikely
friendship as the skies over Britain fill with German bombers.
Little does Kath know just whose life she will change forever, one
fateful night . . . Based on the real history of Bawdsey Manor,
Under a Wartime Sky is a novel about courage, belonging and hope.
Praise for Liz Trenow: 'The characters shine . . . Fabulous' -
Dinah Jefferies 'It was a wrench to put the book down after the
last beautifully written page' - Gill Paul 'Trenow's exquisite
novel puts a real focus on the characters' journeys' - Woman
'Best historical novelist' - Stephen King 'A master storyteller' -
Sunday Times 'Wilbur Smith is one of those benchmarks against whom
others are compared' -The Times 'No one does adventure quite like
Smith' - Daily Mirror A FAMILY IN TURMOIL. A COUNTRY IN RUINS. A
nail-biting story of courage, bravery, rebellion and war from
number one bestselling author, Wilbur Smith. The war is over,
Hitler is dead - and yet his evil legacy lives on. Former Special
Operations Executive, Saffron Courtney, and her beloved husband,
Gerhard, only just survived the brutal conflict, but Gerhard's Nazi
brother, Konrad, is still free and determined to regain power. As a
dangerous game of cat-and-mouse develops, a plot against the couple
begins to stir. One that will have ramifications throughout Europe.
. . Further afield in Kenya, the last outcrop of the colonial
empire is feeling the stirrings of rebellion. As the situation
becomes violent, and the Courtney family home is under threat,
Saffron's father, Leon Courtney, finds himself caught between two
powerful sides - and a battle for the freedom of a country. BOOK 18
IN THE EPIC HISTORICAL SAGA OF THE COURTNEY FAMILY, FROM
INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER WILBUR SMITH
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Berlin Finale
(Paperback)
Heinz Rein; Translated by Shaun Whiteside
1
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R359
R331
Discovery Miles 3 310
Save R28 (8%)
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Ships in 9 - 15 working days
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'A wonderful rediscovery. . . human, suspenseful, shot through with
hard-earned wisdom' - Lee Child One of the first bestsellers in
Germany after the Second World War, Berlin Finale is a breathtaking
novel of resistance set against the downfall of the Third Reich
April 1945, the last days of the Nazi regime. While bombs are
falling on Berlin, the Gestapo still search for traitors,
resistance fighters and deserters. People mistrust each other more
than ever. In the midst of chaos, a disparate group - a
disillusioned young soldier; a trade unionist and saboteur; a
doctor helping refugees - continues to fight back. And in Oskar
Klose's pub, the resistance plan their next move, hunted at every
step by the SS. Published in the immediate aftermath of the Second
World War, Berlin Finale is an unforgettable portrait of life in a
city devastated by war. Translated by Shaun Whiteside
When everything you hold dear is torn apart by war, can love put
you back together again? It's 1943, and the Second World War is
raging. Ruby Mottram works for her local newspaper, the Bartonford
Herald, typing up adverts and obituaries, whilst dreaming of a more
exciting life. Between her shifts as an ARP warden and caring for
her ailing father, the chance for escape doesn't come often to
Devon. Meanwhile, in America's deep south, Sam Archer is hatching a
plan to raise enough money to get his mother and sister away from
his abusive stepfather. Using falsified documents to hide his age,
he enlists with the U.S. Army. Two chance encounters bring Ruby and
Sam together from opposite sides of the Atlantic, giving them the
chance of love, hope and freedom from their troubled lives. But
fate, in the shape of D-Day and Omaha Beach, has other ideas. When
their very lives are at risk, will their promise to wait for one
another be what keeps them alive? For fans of Suzanne Kelman, Ellie
Midwood and Catherine Hokin. Readers love Before the Dawn: 'An
absolutely stunning book... I adored everything about this. I would
definitely watch this if it were a movie! I already can't wait to
re-read this' NetGalley Reviewer, 'OH MY GODDESS this book has
become a new favourite... Ruby and Sam's love is addicting and
heart-warming, leaving me feel the same emotions alongside them
through every bump in the road. Their love was so enchanting and
strong' @haleyyneal, 'What a gorgeous book!!... It would make an
exquisite movie. The chemistry between the two main characters was
off the charts. This book kept me up late into the night turning
page by page like it was on fire to see what happened next'
NetGalley Reviewer, 'I need this to be a movie!... A beautiful
story of love and the dual perspective was perfect! I am adding
this to my historical fiction favourites' NetGalley Reviewer, 'I
couldn't put this down! Beautiful writing kept me turning the
pages!' NetGalley Reviewer, 'Lovely, raw WWII romance... Quite
heart-breaking... Definitely a rocky and emotional one... A really
great WWII historical romance' Wayfaring_reader, 'Wonderful book...
If you are a fan of World War novels of history and romance, then
you need to read this... A stunning book I couldn't put down. At
the end I was overwhelmed with the story and replayed it in my mind
for several days. A read not to be missed' Goodreads Reviewer, 'I
read this over a rainy stormy weekend... Just what I needed to curl
up with... This was an immersive, historically well researched
story of WW2... All that one might want from this genre: romance,
historical fact and some sense of suspense... 5 stars from me!'
NetGalley Reviewer,
Originally published in 1926, as the second edition of a 1920
original, this highly popular novel narrates the experiences of a
British colonel in France during World War I. Maurois draws on his
experience as a translator and liaison officer to the British army
from 1915 to 1916 to create this study of humanity in wartime. By
turns sad and whimsical, and published in the original French, this
book will be of value to anyone interested in Allied experiences in
the First World War or in wartime fiction.
The master of alternative history asks the question, 'What would
have happened if World War II had started in 1938?'. The results
are thrilling. The two sides of the Spanish civil war are still
locked in a blood-soaked stalemate. Stalin's purge of the Red Army
is barely underway. And Neville Chamberlain - sickened by the
arrogance and duplicity of the Germans- does not return from Munich
waving the piece of paper that would give the Czech arms factories
to Hitler and postpone the war until 1939. On October 1, German
tanks cross the Czech frontier, touching off declarations of war
from France, from England, from the USSR. Poland, fearing the
Russians more than Hitler, declares war on the German side. Soon
Fascist Spain attacks Gibraltar, the Japanese army crosses the
Manchurian frontier into Siberia . . . and the British Army sets
off for France, which has launched a pre-emptive attack on the
Rhineland. The war we know as World War II has begun - a year
early, in an entirely different way.
In the Full Light of the Sun follows the fortunes of three
Berliners caught up in a devastating scandal of 1930s' Germany. It
tells the story of Emmeline, a wayward, young art student; Julius,
an anxious, middle-aged art expert; and a mysterious art dealer
named Rachmann who are at the heart of Weimar Berlin at its
hedonistic, politically turbulent apogee and are whipped up into
excitement over the surprising discovery of thirty-two previously
unknown paintings by Vincent van Gogh. Based on a true story,
unfolding through the subsequent rise of Hitler and the Nazis, this
gripping tale is about beauty and justice, and the truth that may
be found when our most treasured beliefs are revealed as illusions.
Brilliant on authenticity, vanity and self-delusion, it is a novel
for our times.
Death still comes to Everyman, but this study of three
twentieth-century German plays shows the harder challenge of living
without salvation in an age of war and unprecedented mass
destruction. Death comes to everyone, and in the late-medieval
morality play of Everyman the familiar skeleton forces the
universalized central figure to come to terms with this. Only his
inner resources, in the forms of Good Deeds and Knowledge, ensure
that he repents and is redeemed. Three important twentieth-century
German plays echo Everyman - Toller's Hinkemann, Borchert's The Man
Outside, and Frisch's The Arsonists/Firebugs - but the
unprecedented scale of killing in the First and Second World Wars
changed the view of death, while in the Cold War the nuclear
destruction literally of everyone became a possibility. Brian
Murdoch traces the heritage of Everyman in the three plays in terms
of dramatic effect, changes in the image of Death, and especially
the problem of living with existential guilt. Death, now over-fed,
still has to be faced, but Everyman has the harder problem of
living with the awareness of human wickedness without the
possibility of salvation. All three plays have tended to be viewed
in their specific historical contexts, but by viewing them less
rigidly and as part of a long dramatic tradition, Murdoch shows
that all present a message of lasting and universal significance.
They pose directly to the theater audience questions not just of
how to cope with death, but how to cope with life.
A breathtaking and tumultuous love story of the secrets, hidden
passions and loyalties that bind us together. THE SECRETS BETWEEN
US is the latest mesmerising tale of drama and intrigue from Judith
Lennox, the author of HIDDEN LIVES and THE JEWELLER'S WIFE. Not to
be missed by readers of Rachel Hore and Kate Morton. 'I have fallen
completely in love with Judith Lennox's writing - she's a fantastic
storyteller!' Jill Mansell It is Christmas 1937 when sisters Rowan
and Thea travel from London to Scotland to visit their dying
father. Having lost their mother in a tragic sailing accident when
they were young, the two women are accustomed to grief. But they
have no idea that their father's death will expose a terrible
deception... For back in London is his wife Sophie and their two
sons. Neither family knows of the other's existence, and when news
reaches Sophie of Hugh's death her whole world is turned upside
down. Meanwhile, Rowan's marriage is crumbling, and Thea
reluctantly finds herself acting as a go-between for her sister and
her lover. But, with the onslaught of World War II, the lives of
all three women will change for ever. And they must confront the
secrets between them before they can seize their chance of
happiness...
1941, Estonia. As Stalin's brutal Red Army crushes everything in
its path, Katarina and her family survive only because their
precious farm produce is needed to feed the occupying forces.
Fiercely partisan, Katarina battles to protect her grandmother's
precious legacy - the weaving of gossamer lace shawls stitched with
intricate patterns that tell the stories passed down through
generations. While Katarina struggles to survive the daily
oppression, another young woman is suffocating in her prison of
privilege in Moscow. Yearning for freedom and to discover her
beloved mother's Baltic heritage, Lydia escapes to Estonia. Facing
the threat of invasion by Hitler's encroaching Third Reich,
Katarina and Lydia and two idealistic young soldiers, insurgents in
the battle for their homeland, find themselves in a fight for life,
liberty and love.
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