Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Learning About The Past Through Historical Fiction About WWII

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By Angel Dudley


One of the best ways to learn about the past is by reading historical fiction about WWII. Many writers take months or even years to research their material. They talk to those who really were there and visit the locations where they plan to send their characters. This incredible attention to detail is what makes all the difference. The reader can practically feel the atmosphere around them and the characters seem so real the reader actually begins to worry what will happen to them.

Readers who may think that they not interested in war stories should give a few of the most popular books a try. They will find so many works that are absolutely gripping. The characters are well written, the scenes are perfectly set and the the reader just cannot put the book down. Some authors actually used their own wartime experiences to add outstanding detail to their writings. Their books have such a realistic feel to them that many readers say they can almost feel the characters beside them.

Many novels have been written from a military perspective. There are so many ways to approach this type of writing. Many authors place their characters in the midst of the fighting, as an infantry man on the Eastern front. Others are with the Panzer divisions of the German army. The D Day landings also provide rich material for authors to create engaging books that recount the action and horror of the Normandy landings.

The behind the scenes work of the war office is another fascinating topic for writers. They can research the facts and then create the perfect set of characters and bring them to life. Author Robert Harris used the code breakers of the second world war to set the backdrop for his novel Enigma.

Authors such as Nevil Shute worked from their own personal experiences in the war to add an extra element of reality to their works. Some of his books are set in Malaysia and Australia, notably A Town Like Alice. They give readers a chance to explore the war experience from a different perspective. Many people forget that the war reached to every corner of the globe and even those living in the most remote locations were still touched by the devastation.

Piece of Cake is an outstanding work by Derek Robinson. It is about RAF pilots in the early days of the war. It follows their initial training all the way to them gaining their wings. During the darkest days of the Battle of Britain Robinson's characters give life to the fear the pilots faced during combat.

Older kids and teens are often curious about life during the war. Reading books such as Spies by Micheal Frayn or Carries War by Nina Bawden given them valuable insights into how regular children had to cope with living through a world war. Even though England was not occupied, they still experienced death and destruction all around them.

The French resistance is a great topic to write about. Charlotte Gray is a highly acclaimed work of historical fiction about WWII by author Sebastian Faulk. It weaves a skillful tale of how everyday people risked their lives to help defeat the Nazi invaders.




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