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 2016
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Identity: Indigenous, Identity: Language, Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Past, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Immigration, Society: Nation, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Irish Literature, Biography, History: U.S., Military / War, History: World
The Immortal Irishman: The Irish Revolutionary Who Became an American Hero (2016), by American author and journalist Timothy Egan, is a biography of Thomas Francis Meagher, an Irish revolutionary and American Civil War hero who later became the governor of the Montana Territory. Egan's narrative captures Meagher's tumultuous journey, from his fight for Irish independence to his contributions in America, focusing on broader themes of exile, resilience, and identity. Egan contextualizes Meagher’s life against the... Read The Immortal Irishman Summary
Publication year 2014
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Mental Health, Society: War, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Life/Time: The Past
Tags Realistic Fiction, Mental Illness, Military / War, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance
Publication year 1980
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: War, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, British Literature, Race / Racism, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Classic Fiction
Published in 1980, the fantasy novel The Indian in the Cupboard tells the story of a small cabinet that converts a boy’s plastic toy figures into real, if tiny, people, and the misadventures the boy and his best friend have with those visitors. The first of five novels about the magic cabinet, The Indian in the Cupboard has sold more than 10 million copies and been made into a motion picture. Author Lynne Reid Banks... Read The Indian in the Cupboard Summary
Publication year 1949
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Society: War, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Courage
Tags Military / War, History: World, WWII / World War II, Politics / Government, Biography
“Their Finest Hour” is a speech originally given by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill on June 18, 1940, in the House of Commons to members of Parliament and his ministerial cabinet. Churchill delivered the speech following the disastrous campaign of the Battle of France and the hasty evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) from Dunkirk. In June 1940, Nazi boots marched in Paris, and the surrender of the French government seemed imminent. The speech... Read Their Finest Hour Summary
Publication year 1981
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Holocaust
Uri Orlev’s The Island on Bird Street (1981) is a middle-grade historical novel about Alex, an 11-year-old Jewish boy living alone in a Polish ghetto during World War II. Semi-autobiographical in nature, Orlev’s story shows Alex’s steady determination and strength as he comes of age during the dangers of Nazi occupation. The Island on Bird Street received the 1982 IBBY Honor List Book for Israel and the 1981 Mordechai Bernstein Award. Additionally, the author received... Read The Island on Bird Street Summary
Publication year 1974
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Society: Nation
Tags Historical Fiction, Military / War, American Civil War, Education, Education, History: U.S., History: World, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Food, Society: War
Tags Historical Fiction, Food, WWII / World War II, British Literature, Military / War, History: World
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Society: War, Society: Community
Tags Historical Fiction, Military / War, WWII / World War II, British Literature, History: World, Romance
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Gender, Society: War
Tags Military / War, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance, WWII / World War II, British Literature
Publication year 1826
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: War, Society: Colonialism
Tags Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Military / War, American Literature, History: World
James Fenimore Cooper’s The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757 (1826) is the second in a series of historical novels known as the Leatherstocking Tales that describe the adventures of 18th-century American frontiersman Natty Bumppo. The Last of the Mohicans is set in 1757, in upstate New York during the French and Indian War. The book follows the attempts of Bumppo, his Mohican friends Chingachgook and Uncas, and other followers as they escort... Read The Last of the Mohicans Summary
Publication year 1929
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Society: War
Tags History: World, Historical Fiction, Irish Literature, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ
Publication year 2001
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Identity: Masculinity, Society: Nation, Society: War
Tags Play: Comedy / Satire, Humor, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Education, Education, History: World, Drama / Tragedy, Irish Literature
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: War, Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Romance, History: U.S., Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Mothers, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Gender / Feminism, History: World, Historical Fiction
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Holocaust, Jewish Literature, Military / War, History: World
Publication year 1980
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: War, Relationships: Siblings
Tags Military / War, Southern Literature, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction
The Lords of Discipline, Pat Conroy’s 1980 novel set at a military college, chronicles four years in the life of a cadet in training. Conroy, who attended a military college himself, does not shy away from describing the darker side of military training, including relentless, brutal hazing and racism. The novel is divided into four parts, with a brief opening note preceding the story. Before the plot gets underway, protagonist and narrator Will McLean explains... Read The Lords of Discipline Summary
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Teams, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, WWII / World War II, Military / War, French Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: The Past, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Children's Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction