War

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 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


Publication year 2013

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Indigenous, Society: Education, Society: Nation, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags History: World, Biography, Military / War


Publication year 1997

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: The Past, Society: War

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, American Civil War, Military / War, Literary Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Survival Fiction, History: World, Classic Fiction

Cold Mountain (1997) is a novel by Charles Frazier. It tells the story of W.P. Inman, a deserter from the Confederate Army who attempts to return home to his romantic partner, Ada. The novel won the National Book Award and was adapted into an Academy Award–winning film of the same name. This guide refers to the 2011 Sceptre edition. Content Warning: The source text contains discussions of racism, violence, abuse of women and children, and... Read Cold Mountain Summary


Publication year 1939

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Society: Class, Life/Time: The Past, Society: War, Society: Nation, Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Tags Historical Fiction, Satire, British Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction

Coming Up For Air is an interwar novel written by British author George Orwell shortly before the outbreak of World War II. Originally published in 1939, the novel was written in Morocco while Orwell was recovering from injuries received while fighting in the Spanish Civil War. Set in the late 1930s, the novel follows a middle-aged insurance salesman named George Bowling as he struggles with anxieties about the coming war. Like Orwell’s more famous novels... Read Coming Up for Air Summary


Publication year 2010

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Past, Society: Class, Society: Community, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags History: U.S., American Civil War, Military / War, History: World, Politics / Government


Publication year 2024

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Colonialism, Society: Economics, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice


Publication year 1987

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Arts / Culture, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure


Publication year 1980

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Place, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Society: Education, Society: Globalization, Society: War

Tags Science / Nature, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2020

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: War, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Politics & Government

Tags History: U.S., WWII / World War II, Politics / Government, Military / War, History: World


Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Relationships: Teams, Natural World: Animals, Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Military / War, Historical Fiction, Animals, Action / Adventure

Cynthia Kadohata’s Cracker!: The Best Dog in Vietnam is a work of historical fiction that centers around a dog, Cracker, and her handler, Rick Hanski, during their deployment in Vietnam. It is aimed at an audience of middle-grade readers but is also an enjoyable and educational read for adults. Told from the perspective of both the canine and human main characters, Kadohata reveals the vitally important work conducted by military dogs and their handlers during... Read Cracker Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Teams, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Military / War, Action / Adventure


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Self Discovery, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Arts / Culture, Love / Sexuality, Science / Nature, Social Justice


Publication year 1623

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Society: Nation, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Classic Fiction, British Literature, Play: Comedy / Satire, Romance

Cymbeline is a play by William Shakespeare. Its first recorded performance was in 1611, and it was published in the First Folio in 1623. Some scholars have posited that sections may have been written collaboratively. The play is loosely inspired by accounts of the historical British king Cunobeline, but also draws on other sources. It has never been considered a history play, reflecting the looseness of this connection.Cymbeline is king of ancient Britain. His sons... Read Cymbeline Summary


Publication year 1897

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Literature

Tags Classic Fiction, Play: Drama, Play: Comedy / Satire, Romance, Auto/Biographical Fiction, French Literature, Arts / Culture, Love / Sexuality, Grief / Death, Finance / Money / Wealth, Education, Education, Drama / Tragedy, Historical Fiction

Cyrano de Bergerac: An Heroic Comedy in Five Acts by Edmond Rostand was originally published in 1898. Rostand was a popular poet and playwright in France during his lifetime. Cyrano de Bergerac is a five-act verse drama—a tragic romance, set in France in the mid-1600s. It was far more popular than all of Rostand’s other works and has been performed and adapted countless times since its initial successful run.Cyrano de Bergerac explores themes of Unrequited... Read Cyrano de Bergerac Summary


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Animals, Society: Colonialism, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Romance


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Society: Nation, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags History: World


Publication year 1960

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Society: War

Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Holocaust, Military / War, Relationships, Jewish Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction


Publication year 1941

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Nation, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags Politics / Government