From the Trojan War to World War II to the Iraq War, history has been shaped by humanity's tragic capacity to wage war. In this thematic collection, we have gathered fiction and nonfiction texts that investigate both the lessons and the senselessness crystallized in the aftermath of military conflict.
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Identity: Gender, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, African American Literature, Military / War, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Environment, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Action / Adventure
Publication year 1970
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation, Society: War, Identity: Indigenous, Natural World: Place, Natural World: Environment
Tags History: U.S., Military / War, Race / Racism, Politics / Government, History: World, Classic Fiction
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West, a nonfiction history by librarian and historian Dee Brown, was published in 1970 and became a widely influential bestseller. Dee Brown (full name Dorris Alexander Brown) was the author of more than 30 fiction and nonfiction books. As a librarian at the University of Illinois, he had access to the primary historical records from the late 19th century that became the main... Read Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee Summary
Publication year 1937
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: War
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Technology, Education, Education, American Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction
Stephen Vincent Benét lived from 1898 to 1943. Much of his writing examines subjects from American history, including his highly acclaimed narrative poem John Brown’s Body. Benét won four Pulitzer Prizes, including one for “By the Waters of Babylon.” First published in 1937 in The Saturday Evening Post as “The Place of the Gods,” the postapocalyptic story follows a young man’s journey for truth and explores the themes of The Destruction of War, Coming of... Read By the Waters of Babylon Summary
Publication year 1898
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Society: War, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Society: Colonialism, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, Politics / Government, Play: Drama, History: World, Drama / Tragedy, Irish Literature, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1957
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: War
Tags Children's Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance, Action / Adventure, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2019
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Inspirational, Military / War, Business / Economics, History: World, Biography, Politics / Government
Publication year 1977
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Indigenous, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Society: War
Tags Western, American Literature, Education, Education, Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction
Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko is a 1977 historical novel that won the American Book Award in 1980; it was Silko’s first novel and is now regarded as a classic piece of literature. Ceremony follows Tayo, a young Laguna Pueblo veteran who is now struggling to cope with Alienation and Isolation in Post-WWII America. Traditional Laguna Pueblo legends parallel Tayo’s journey and explore themes of The Power of Stories and Adapting Tradition to the Present.Ceremony... Read Ceremony Summary
Publication year 1914
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: War, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Lyric Poem, Satire, Military / War, Victorian Period, Christian literature
English poet and novelist Thomas Hardy wrote “Channel Firing” in May of 1914, only three months before the beginning of WWI. Eerily prophetic, the poem depicts the global chaos and destruction that soon followed. Overlaid by tones of satire and irony, the poem details the violence of war and humanity’s age-old proclivity toward it through a conversation between God and the dead. Hardy, although best known for his earlier novels, received positive reception concerning war... Read Channel Firing Summary
Publication year 2015
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: The Future, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Mothers, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Fantasy, Romance, Mythology, Trauma / Abuse / Violence
Publication year 2022
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: The Future, Relationships: Teams, Society: Economics, Society: Globalization, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags History: World, Politics / Government, Business / Economics, Science / Nature
Publication year 1542
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Colonialism, Society: War, Society: Nation, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags History: World, Latin American Literature, Christian literature, Creative Nonfiction, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Race / Racism, Renaissance
The Chronicle of the Narváez Expedition by Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca was originally written in 1542, with a reprint in 1555. The chronicle follows Cabeza de Vaca’s memories of his survival after the expedition (led by Pánfilo de Narváez) failed and broke apart, and his subsequent peregrinations through the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. His chronicle stands as an important primary document of the age of the conquistadores. Of particular importance are Cabeza... Read Chronicle of the Narvaez Expedition Summary
Publication year 1400
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: War, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Class
Tags History: European, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, Military / War, Class, Religion / Spirituality, History: World, French Literature, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2011
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Economics, Society: Colonialism, Society: Globalization, Society: Nation, Society: Immigration, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War
Tags History: World, Politics / Government, Sociology, Philosophy, Business / Economics, Philosophy
Publication year 1971
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Society: War, Society: Colonialism, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Historical Fiction, Military / War, African Literature, Education, Education, Classic Fiction
“Civil Peace” is a 1971 short story by Chinua Achebe, one of Africa’s most prominent authors and often considered the father of the modern African novel. The story explores the period that followed the Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Biafran War (1967-1970). The Igbo people of southeast Nigeria wanted freedom from the Hausa people and proclaimed independence forming the Republic of Biafra. Achebe investigates the period through the lens of his character Jonathan... Read Civil Peace Summary
Publication year 2010
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: War
Tags History: World, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Biography
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Femininity, Relationships: Family, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Mythology, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Gender / Feminism, History: World
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: War, Relationships: Marriage, Identity: Gender, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Identity: Femininity
Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Romance, Military / War, History: World, French Literature