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Pan Macmillan Books has compiled a list of 27 of the best war novels of all time across various genres such as fiction, non-fiction, children’s literature, and audiobooks. The list includes books about World War I and II, as well as conflicts like the Nigerian Civil War and Korean War. War has left a profound and devastating impact on individuals and society, and authors have drawn inspiration from these conflicts and used fiction as a powerful tool to share, honour, and learn from the experiences of those who were there.
“The World and All That It Holds” by Aleksandar Hemon is a historical fiction novel that follows the life of Rafael Pinto, a former poetry student in Vienna who now spends his days crushing herbs at a pharmacy. The outbreak of war in Galicia changes everything, and Pinto finds himself entangled with fellow soldier Osman and caught up in espionage and Bolshevik activities. Their journey takes them all the way to Shanghai, and it is Pinto’s love for Osman that endures. The book is available for purchase at various online stores.
The book “Now I Am Here” by Chidi Ebere tells the story of a soldier facing certain death who writes home to explain how he ended up in that position. The book explores the transformation of a gentle man into a war criminal and the effects of war on societies as a whole. It is a brave, unflinching and thought-provoking debut, offering a profound reflection on how good people can do terrible things in the violence of war. It can be purchased through various retailers including Amazon, Blackwell’s, and Waterstones.
Yours Cheerfully by <PRESIDIO_ANONYMIZED_PERSON> is a charming and feel-good novel set in Fleet Street during the Second World War, following plucky journalist Emmeline Lake. With a recent promotion at Women’s Friend and her best friend Bunty by her side, Emmy is happy to help recruit female workers to support the war effort. However, a chance encounter with a stranger presents her with a dilemma she must solve.
“The Librarian of Auschwitz” is a graphic novel based on the true story of fourteen-year-old Dita, who is tasked with protecting and preserving the eight books in the concentration camp’s library. Despite the danger she faces, Dita knows that books provide hope and are essential for survival. The book is a story of courage and resilience and is recommended for fans of “The Tattooist of Auschwitz” and “The Book Thief”. It is available for purchase at various retailers.
“The God of that Summer” by Ralf Rothmann tells the story of Luisa, a young girl living in rural Germany during WWII. Despite escaping direct exposure to the war, Luisa faces the consequences of war when an incident changes her life forever. The novel is a poignant portrayal of the costs of war for those not on the front line.
Hinterland by Arno Geiger is a best-selling and poignant novel about the impact of war on everyday people. The book follows Veit Kolbe, a young German soldier recovering from his war wounds amongst the residents of Mondsee, a village near Salzburg. Veit enjoys an almost normal life in Mondsee and even begins to fall in love, but everything changes once his injuries are healed and he’s called up to serve his country again.
“A Thousand Ships” by Natalie Haynes is a new book that focuses on the untold stories of the women at the heart of the Trojan War. The book features goddesses and princesses whose tales have never been told before, and emphasizes the pivotal role that women played in this pivotal moment in classical history. The book is recommended for readers who enjoyed Madeline Miller’s “Circe.”
Under a Wartime Sky is a historical fiction novel by Liz Trenow that tells the story of real-life war heroes from England’s Bawdsey Manor who worked on top-secret inventions to aid Britain and the Allies in winning World War II. The book highlights the bravery and efforts of ordinary people who contributed to the war effort and is recommended for fans of Kate Furnivall and historical fiction.
“The Key to Rebecca” by Ken Follett is a story set in 1942 Cairo, where a ruthless Nazi spy named Alex Wolff aims to intercept the Allies’ plans and relay them to his bosses in Berlin. British intelligence officer Major William Vandam is tasked with stopping Wolff to prevent Britain from losing valuable ground in North Africa. The book is a wartime tale of espionage, strategy, and secrets during World War II.
“A Jewish Girl in Paris” is a novel about a young Jewish girl named Judith who falls in love with the son of a Nazi sympathizer during the Second World War. The couple hatches a plan to leave Paris until Judith mysteriously disappears. The story explores themes of forbidden love and the life-changing impact of family secrets. The book can be purchased through various online retailers.
“The Prince of the Skies” by Antonio Iturbe is a novel based on the life and mysterious death of Anthoine de Saint Exupéry, who along with friends Jean and Henri pioneered new mail routes across the globe and changed aviation forever. The book also explores Anthoine’s work on “The Little Prince,” a children’s story that would go on to reach millions of readers around the world despite the shadow of the Second World War. It is a tale of love, companionship, war, heroism, and the power of the written word.
“The Most Precious of Cargoes” by Jean-Claude Grumberg is a fable set against the backdrop of the Holocaust. It tells the story of a poor woodcutter who adopts a Jewish baby girl found in the forest after her father threw her away in desperation. The story explores themes of family, redemption, and kindness.
Set in France during World War II, “The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah is a novel about two sisters, Viann and Isabelle, who are reunited when Viann’s husband is sent off to fight. Isabelle travels from Paris to rural France to support her sister and together they face significant challenges and tragic events.
The Nightingale, a haunting novel about the realities of war, has been adapted into a film starring Elle and Dakota Fanning. The movie is set to be released in 2022. The book can be purchased through various retailers including Amazon, Blackwell’s, and Waterstones.
“Pippo and Clara” is a war novel set in 1938 Italy, where Mussolini is in power and war is impending. The story follows brother and sister, Pippo and Clara, as they search for their missing mother and make life-changing decisions. The book explores the effects of war on a society and the relationships between siblings. It is available for purchase from various retailers including Amazon, Waterstones, and Bookshop.org.
“The Yellow Bird Sings” by Jennifer Rosner is a novel set in Poland in 1941, following the story of Róza and her five-year-old daughter, Shira, who are hiding in a farmer’s barn after escaping being rounded up with other Jews in their town. Róza tells her daughter stories of a yellow bird that can sing the melodies Shira composes in her head, but eventually faces an impossible choice between keeping her daughter close or letting her go to give her a chance to survive. The book is available for purchase at several retailers.
“The Winter Soldier” is a war novel by Daniel Mason that follows the story of Lucias, a medical student who enlists in WWI and finds himself confronted with the harsh realities of war in a remote field-hospital ravaged by typhus. With the help of a battle-hardened nurse, he learns brutal makeshift medicine, but the decisions he makes when treating an unconscious soldier will have lasting repercussions.
“The Regeneration Trilogy” by Pat Barker is a novel series set in Scotland in 1917, where army psychiatrist William Rivers treats shell-shocked soldiers at Craiglockhart War Hospital before sending them back to the front. The book focuses on three patients in Rivers’ care: poets Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen, and Billy Prior who can only communicate through writing.
Pat Barker’s Regeneration trilogy, which includes Regeneration, The Eye in the Door, and The Ghost Road, tells the stories of several men during the last months of World War I. The novels are widely acclaimed and offer powerful insights into the consequences of a conflict that affected an entire generation. The books can be purchased from various retailers, including Amazon, Blackwell’s, and Waterstones.
For Whom the Bell Tolls is a novel by Ernest Hemingway, inspired by his experiences as a reporter during the Spanish Civil War. The book follows the story of Robert Jordan, an American volunteer fighting in the International Brigades to defend the Spanish Republic against Franco.
The book follows the story of Jordan, who is ordered to work with guerrilla fighters to destroy a bridge. He falls in love with a young Spanish woman and clashes with the guerrilla leader over the risks of their mission.
Half of a Yellow Sun is a novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie that tells the story of Ugwu, a young boy who goes to work for a university professor and becomes close to the professor’s girlfriend, Olanna. Set during the Nigerian Civil War, the book explores the devastating impact of the conflict on their lives. It has been described as heartbreaking and beautifully written.
“All Quiet on the Western Front” is a classic war novel about a young German soldier named Paul Bauer who, along with six school friends, enlists to fight in World War I. The novel depicts the brutal realities of war and the toll it takes on both the physical and mental health of the soldiers. The soldiers endure unimaginable suffering and trauma and become unable to speak about it to anyone but each other.
Testament of Youth is a book written by Vera Brittain, which chronicles the experiences of her and her generation during the First World War. The story begins with Brittain as a 20-year-old preparing to study at Oxford and ends four years later with the aftermath of the war. It explores how the war affected her life and the lives of those around her.
The article discusses Vera Brittain’s famous autobiography about her survival during the First World War, including the loss of her loved one, her nursing of the wounded, and her emergence into an altered world. The book can be purchased through various online book retailers.
“Catch-22” is a satirical novel by Joseph Heller that criticizes military madness and stupidity. The book highlights the desire of ordinary people to survive the irrationality of military bureaucracy during World War II.
“Yossarian,” a bombardier, is the main character in this story set during the final months of World War II. He is anxious and angry because unknown individuals are trying to kill him. The book is available for purchase at Amazon, Blackwell’s, Book Depository, Bookshop.org, Foyles, Waterstones, WH Smith, and Wordery.
Slaughterhouse 5 by Kurt Vonnegut is a story about Billy Pilgrim, a prisoner of war, optometrist, and time-traveler, who faces innocence and apocalypse. The book is described as both funny and bitter and is a moving read.
Slaughterhouse 5 is a powerful anti-war book that explores the fire-bombing of Dresden during WWII through the journey of the protagonist, Billy Pilgrim, who travels through time and reflects on the fractured lives of individuals searching for meaning. The book can be purchased from various retailers including Amazon, Blackwell’s, Book Depository, Bookshop.org, Foyles, Waterstones, WH Smith, and Wordery.
“The Hunters” is James Salter’s debut novel, reflecting his experience as a fighter pilot in the Korean War and is a landmark masterpiece in the literature of war.
The book “The Hunters” follows Captain Cleve Connell’s quest to become an ace pilot during the Korean War. As his fellow airmen achieve kills, Cleve’s luck begins to falter, leading him to question himself. However, his luck changes in a pivotal moment during a mission above the Yalu River. The book is available for purchase from various retailers.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini tells the story of twelve-year-old Amir who wants to win a local kite-fighting tournament with the help of his loyal friend Hassan. However, an event occurs that shatters their lives. After fleeing to America due to the Russian invasion, Amir knows he must one day return to Afghanistan under Taliban rule.
Hosseini’s book deals with themes of friendship, forgiveness, and redemption in the context of Afghanistan’s turbulent history. It is available for purchase through multiple booksellers.
“The Story of a Brief Marriage” by Anuk Arudpragasam is a debut novel that takes place during the Sri Lankan civil war in the north of the island. The story is about two young people who are brought together by their situation and learn to feel again as the fighting draws nearer. The novel is described as devastatingly moving and bears witness to the lives of those caught up in a forgotten conflict. The book is available for purchase at several retailers.
“Birdsong” by Sebastian Faulks is a critically acclaimed novel that follows three generations and spans the gap between the First World War and the present. The story focuses on Stephen Wraysford, an Englishman who experiences traumatic events during his time in Amiens, including a clandestine love affair and the brutality of war. It is a realistic yet intensely romantic novel that has been widely popular. The book can be purchased from various retailers including Amazon, Blackwell’s, Book Depository, and Waterstones.
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