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 1958

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Nation, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Race, Society: Immigration, Society: War

Tags Historical Fiction, Jewish Literature, Military / War, WWII / World War II, History: World, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality

Exodus (1958) is a historical novel by the Jewish American author Leon Uris. The novel follows the multigenerational story of a Jewish family in Palestine, giving the sweep of Jewish history from the First Aliyah in the 1880s to the modern state of Israel’s establishment in 1948. It focuses its greatest attention on the years from 1946 to 1948, following a group of Jewish agents and refugees as they first attempt to transport immigrants to... Read Exodus Summary


Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Relationships: Family, Society: War

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Drama / Tragedy, Grief / Death, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, September 11 Attacks, Modern Classic Fiction

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is a realistic fiction novel written by Jonathan Safran Foer and based on the September 11 terrorist attacks that occurred in New York City in 2001. The novel was originally published in 2005. Its characters grapple with Fear of Death and Loss as an Obstacle to Living, The Complex Nature of Relationships, The Importance of Little Things, and The Influence of the Past on the Present. This guide uses the... Read Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close Summary


Publication year 1978

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Identity: Disability, Identity: Gender, Society: War

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World

The Eye of the Needle is an espionage thriller by best-selling author Ken Follett. Originally published in 1978 under the title, Storm Island, the novel follows the hunt for German spy and assassin Henry Faber. Faber has obtained information that will influence Adolf Hitler’s decision on whether to send reinforcements to Erwin Rommell’s army in Normandy in anticipation of a joint British and American attack. The Eye of the Needle is Ken Follett’s first commercially... Read Eye of the Needle Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Immigration

Tags WWII / World War II, History: World, Military / War, History: U.S., History: European, Grief / Death, Japanese Literature, Biography


Publication year 1988

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Military / War, Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Vietnam War, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, History: World

Prolific children’s author Walter Dean Myers published his novel Fallen Angels in 1988. The young adult novel tells the story of a 17-year-old African American teenager from Harlem named Richie Perry who enlists in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. The novel follows Perry as he faces the realities of war with his fellow soldiers and transitions into adulthood on the battlefield. The novel contemplates racial and socio-economic issues in the US, the... Read Fallen Angels Summary


Publication year 2010

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: War, Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Historical Fiction, Military / War, WWI / World War I, History: World, Relationships, Politics / Government, Poverty, Grief / Death, Russian Literature, Narrative / Epic Poem

Fall of Giants by Ken Follett, published in 2010, is a historical novel and the first installment of the Century Trilogy. The trilogy takes place during the 20th century and is told through the points of view of five interconnected families from Wales, Germany, America, and Russia. Fall of Giants spans World War I, the Russian Revolution, and the women’s suffrage movement. Winter of the World, the second book in the trilogy, takes place against... Read Fall Of Giants Summary


Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: War


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Language, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Food, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Grandparents, Society: Immigration, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Children's Literature, Military / War, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction, Mental Illness, Realistic Fiction, Korean War


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Society: War

Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

Tags Fantasy, Romance, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Teams, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

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


Publication year 1947

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Holocaust, History: World, WWII / World War II, Military / War, Biography


Publication year 1953

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Race, Society: War

Tags Historical Fiction, Race / Racism, African American Literature, American Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction

“Flying Home” is the titular story of Ralph Ellison’s collection published in 1944. It tells the story of Todd, a Black Air Force candidate in flight training school in Macon County, Alabama, during World War II. As one of the first Black people accepted into the school, Todd is determined to prove that his capabilities are equal to those of his white counterparts. The story addresses themes of Fear of Judgment, Opportunities and the American... Read Flying Home Summary


Publication year 2016

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction


Publication year 1940

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Relationships: Marriage, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags American Literature, Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Military / War, History: World

For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940) is a novel by the Modernist American author Ernest Hemingway. The novel tells the story of Robert Jordan, an American volunteer working as a demolition specialist for the Republican army during the Spanish Civil War. Robert, sent to blow up a bridge to aid a Republican offensive, enlists the aid of a band of guerrilla fighters in the mountains. Robert falls in love with a woman in their care... Read For Whom the Bell Tolls Summary


Publication year 1941

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

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

Tags History: U.S., Politics / Government


Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Politics / Government, History: World, WWI / World War I


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Society: War, Society: Politics & Government, Identity: Disability

Tags Fantasy, Romance, New Adult, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman


Publication year 2018

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Race / Racism, History: U.S., Civil Rights / Jim Crow, Politics / Government, American Civil War, Reconstruction Era, Military / War, History: World, Biography


Publication year 1989

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Jewish Literature, Military / War, Journalism, History: World, Travel Literature, Politics / Government

From Beirut to Jerusalem is a 1989 book by the American journalist Thomas Friedman. It chronicles the years he spent as a journalist in the two cities of the book’s name, during a remarkably tumultuous period in that region’s politics. It is part personal memoir, part analysis (leaning on the advice of many of his expert friends, such as Fouad Ajami), part collection of anecdotes ranging from the funny to the heartbreaking to the absurd... Read From Beirut to Jerusalem Summary