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 1985
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Family, Society: War
Tags Historical Fiction, Military / War, Mental Illness, Education, Education, American Literature, Southern Literature
In Country, published in 1985, is Bobbie Ann Mason's debut novel. The story takes place in Hopewell, Kentucky, in 1984, 10 years after the end of US involvement in Vietnam. Mason grew up on a dairy farm outside Mayfield, Kentucky, and is thus well-acquainted with the rural South and its people. The classic coming-of-age story follows protagonist Samantha Hughes (known as Sam) as she seeks to discover the truth about her father and his death... Read In Country Summary
Publication year 2015
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Language, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Teams, Society: Immigration, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Play: Drama, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ, Jewish Literature, Gender / Feminism, Education, Education, History: World, Drama / Tragedy
Publication year 1941
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: War
Tags Historical Fiction, Action / Adventure, Auto/Biographical Fiction, History: U.S., Colonial America, Children's Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2003
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Self Discovery, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction
Inheritance is the final book in American author Christopher Paolini’s tetralogy, The Inheritance Cycle, which was published between 2002 and 2011. Inheritance is set in the fictional realm of Alagaësia, a typical epic fantasy setting populated with humans, Elves, Dwarves, and Dragons. The young protagonist, Eragon, finally reaches the climactic conclusion of his journey as a Dragon Rider. After traveling across the land, gathering allies, and learning how to wield magic with his Dragon, Saphira... Read Inheritance Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality, Society: War
Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, LGBTQ, Military / War, WWI / World War I
Publication year 2002
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
In the Devil’s Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692 by Mary Beth Norton is an examination of the infamous Salem witch trials. It analyzes the social, political, and religious factors that caused the crisis to reach unprecedented levels. Norton argues that the English colonists’ war with the Wabanaki confederacy on the Maine frontier was the catalyst that created the conditions for the crisis. Norton, Professor Emeritus of American History at Cornell University, has written... Read In the Devil's Snare Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Romance, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Military / War, Mental Illness, Trauma / Abuse / Violence
Publication year 1983
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Society: War
Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, History: African
“In the Shadow of War,” a fictional short story by Nigerian author Ben Okri, was first published in the London magazine West Africa in 1983. Five years later, Okri included a revised version in his collection Stars of the New Curfew, which has been out of print since 2004. This anthology marked a point in Okri’s career during which he began to incorporate more magical and fantastical elements into his otherwise realist writing. Okri was... Read In the Shadow of War Summary
Publication year 1974
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: War
Tags WWII / World War II, Holocaust, Crime / Legal, Military / War, History: World, Psychology, Psychology, Biography
Publication year 410
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Society: Community, Society: War
Tags Drama / Tragedy, Military / War, Mythology, Classical Period, Fantasy, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1946
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Society: War, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Politics / Government, Military / War, History: European
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Society: War
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy
Publication year 1988
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Society: War, Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Lyric Poem, Gender / Feminism, African American Literature
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family, Society: Colonialism, Society: War
Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Military / War, History: World, American Revolution, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2014
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: War
Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Holocaust, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2016
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Immigration, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Society: War, Relationships: Family
Tags Historical Fiction, Humor, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 1819
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Nation, Society: War
Tags Historical Fiction, Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature, Classic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, History: World, Romance
Ivanhoe is a historical fiction novel by Walter Scott, first published in 1819. The novel or “romance” is a fanciful account of English life in the 12th century, during the time of King Richard I (Richard “Coeur de Lion”). The protagonist of the story is Wilfred of Ivanhoe, a knight returning home from fighting in the Third Crusade. His journey weaves together historical events, religious conflict, and Medieval folklore and explores themes of Chivalry as... Read Ivanhoe Summary
Publication year 1877
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Society: War, Identity: Indigenous, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags History: U.S., Military / War
Publication year 1994
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Society: War, Relationships: Fathers, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness
Tags Lyric Poem
Publication year 1994
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Society: Community, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Art, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Society: Class
Tags Realistic Fiction, Arts / Culture, Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Agriculture, Class, History: U.S., Poverty, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Vietnam War