Part Four
Hosted by Kristin Harmel
For the last three weeks, I’ve been chatting in our weekly newsletter with some of my favorite historical fiction writers, each of whom has tackled a World War II story at least once. (Many have written multiple stories set during World War II.) You can read those chats HERE, HERE, and HERE.
As we prepare to celebrate the 80th anniversary of D-Day on June 6, I have one more question for this incredible group of authors. Today, we’re talking about why readers continue to be so inspired by World War II stories. Read on for more, and find a full list of the authors at the bottom.
Kristin Harmel: Why do you think readers continue to be so inspired by World War II? What are the baked-in ingredients that make these such compelling, resonant stories? And what would you tell a reader looking to dive into the genre for the first time?
Patti Callahan Henry: I think stories of resilience and survival will always resonate with us.
Jennifer Rosner: Humanity—in all its evil and also in all its goodness—was on full display in WWII. I think, as readers, we wish to make sense of the evil (even as it seems incomprehensible) and we are inspired by the goodness, as the incredible bravery, strength, ingenuity, and generosity of others gives us hope.
Madeline Martin: Absolutely the humanity, like Jennifer said. Not only the ability to live through the struggles and difficulties and somehow cling to hope in the most hopeless times, but also the bravery of those who are willing to risk everything to help others, oftentimes people they don’t even know or have never met before. For someone reading a WWII book for the first time, I think they need to know that they are going to see the world in a way they never did before - not only in history, but also with a fresh perspective of the current events happening today.
Genevieve Graham: In my mind it’s because WW2 is relatively recent history. The stories, the photos, and the films are very accessible, and many of us know people who were involved. It’s a tangible period in history, in a way, and that makes it easier to slip into the story and be there. Sounds funny, but while I wrote as descriptively as possible when I wrote At the Mountains Edge (Klondike Gold Rush), it’s somehow easier to imagine myself bouncing around in a Jeep than climbing mountains in skirts and stays.
Kristin Harmel: You’re right, Genevieve. I’m really struck by how World War II feels relatively recent, while World War I feels much longer ago, though the two wars are separated by just twenty-one years. I also think that it has to do with the fact that there are still many people alive who lived through World War II, whereas we’ve lost nearly every person who can recall World War I firsthand, as that war ended nearly 106 years ago. And yes, Jennifer, and Madeline, the humanity, one hundred percent. I also think it has a lot to do with the fact that civilians made such a huge difference in the war’s outcome through resistance movements and in other ways; I think it feels very relevant today to realize that if dark times come, we can all stand up and do something to help in our little corners of the world.
Kristina McMorris: Absolutely! I find such strong personal inspiration in learning of ordinary people stepping up to do extraordinary things. WWII was obviously chock full of exactly that, and many of those accounts long went untold until recently—whether due to classified status, trauma, shame (from a person as much as a country), or simply not being passed along or fully valued.
Kate Quinn: I think it’s because of the realization that our WWII veterans are going to be gone soon, and that if we don’t hear their stories now, those stories might be lost. For a long time WWII stories weren’t told, and one of the reasons was that the war was too close and too painful to talk about (anyone who has a WWII veteran in their family will probably tell you that they rarely or never talked about their war experiences). But as time passes, the push to ask “What happened during the war?” becomes more urgent, because we want to listen while we still can.
Kristin Harmel: I agree, Kate. I think that realizing I had missed out on hearing my own grandfather’s stories of the war really lit a fire under me. Like you said, he rarely talked about his experience during that time period–and now, he’s gone, and it’s too late to ask those vital questions that I wish I had the answers to.
Erika Robuck: What all of you have said is true. Also, it’s one of the rare moments in history when good and evil were clearly defined, the stakes were high, and everywhere in the world was affected. It’s harder to find that in other conflicts.
Kristin Harmel: So true, Erika. When I give talks, I often compare a well-written World War II story to a compelling superhero tale. We know who the good guys and the bad guys are, so the big-picture stage is set–but it’s what happens in the middle, and in the vast gray area between “good” and “evil,” that keeps us on the edges of our seats.
Lisa Barr: I feel as though WWII defined every nation – It is the war among WARS .. with an endless supply of stories filled with good vs. evil .. and a whole lot of gray lines. For me, the most inspiring aspect of WWII stories are stories relating to the triumph of the spirit … against all odds, in which the ordinary became extraordinary. My entire family was defined by this war, its legacy. As a little girl, my father – a Holocaust survivor – came to this country at 13 with everything taken from him and his family, and he rose to become a prominent doctor. He taught me to always fight for what I believe, and never be afraid to tackle the hard stuff in my writing, no matter what. I think that’s what readers of WWII hist/fic truly devour – the stories are unbelievable, intoxicating and fascinating – and of course, it makes for gripping page-turners. WWII tales give readers the whole package: history, suspense, passion, revenge, and resilience – a one stop shop. And speaking for everyone in this group – WE ALL LOVE OUR BADASS WOMEN!!
Julia Kelly: We love our badass women is right, Lisa! There is a huge societal shift that happens during World War II that opens up all of these opportunities for women to leave their traditional roles and go out into the world. I’ve read so many oral history accounts of “average” women who never could have imagined they would become a mechanic working on army vehicles or a motorcycle dispatch rider dodging bombs during an air raid to deliver vital messages, but that’s exactly what they did. They found something extraordinary in themselves that even they didn’t know was there. What better women could there be to inspire our fictional heroines?
Martha Hall Kelly: Yes, to all of the above– many readers at book events tell me they read WWII books to put own their family histories together. I know I’m interested in WWII stories since the stakes were so high and the Allies triumphed in such a dramatic way, against the odds. Plus, the Nazis were so ruthless and hate-filled and I’m always looking to expose the genesis of that and how to try and stop it from happening again.
Stephanie Dray: I agree with everything that’s been said here, but particularly with Erika’s take. WWII wasn’t just another war. It was a war for all the marbles. Civilization as we know it was on the line. The stakes had never been higher. It ended with nuclear bombs, and all of humanity has been at risk every day since. Somehow we now live our lives knowing that. We grocery shop, we take our kids to school, we make holiday plans, we chase after professional success, and just don’t think about the fact that our whole world can be wiped out by a madman with a button. We just don’t think about it or we’d go insane. But it’s only natural for our minds to want to explore, in the safer confines of historical fiction, how our world came to be shaped this way. WWII is how. There aren’t many stories more important than that.
Kristin Harmel: I can’t thank you ladies enough for taking the time to chat with us all this month about the joy, the research, the challenges, and the importance of writing about World War II. I’m a huge fan of all of you, and I’m so grateful that you all put so much thought into your replies. To all of you out there, please do take a moment to read the first three conversations in this series – HERE, HERE, and HERE. I hope you feel inspired to pick up some of the novels written by these incredible women – all linked below.
Remember to tune in to Friends & Fiction, where Patti Callahan Henry, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Kristin Harmel, and Mary Kay Andrews interview the authors of some of the year’s most buzzed-about books every Wednesday at 7pm ET on Facebook and YouTube and every Friday on our podcast.
Friends & Fiction Co-Host Kristin Harmel’s latest novel is The Paris Daughter, new in paperback this month, set in 1940s Paris and 1960 New York.
Friends & Fiction Co-Host Patti Callahan Henry’s latest novel is The Secret Book of Flora Lea, new in paperback, set in England both during World War II and in the 1960s.
Jennifer Rosner’s latest novel is Once We Were Home, new in paperback, set in Europe and Israel and spanning the years from 1942-1968. Her debut novel, The Yellow Bird Sings, is also set in WWII.
Madeline Martin’s latest novel is The Keeper of Hidden Books, set in Warsaw, Poland spanning 1939-1945. The Book Lover’s Library, also set during World War II, is out in August.
Genevieve Graham’s latest novel is The Secret Keeper, set in both WWII-era Canada and the skies over England.
Kate Quinn’s latest WWII-era novel is The Diamond Eye, set in Ukraine and America. Her newest book, co-written with Janie Chang, is The Phoenix Crown, set in 1906 San Francisco. The Briar Club, set in 1950s Washington, D.C., is out in July.
Erika Robuck’s most recent World War II novel is Sisters of Night and Fog. Her forthcoming novel, The Last Twelve Miles (June 4, 2024), is set largely along Florida’s coast during the “Rum Wars” of Prohibition,.
Stephanie Dray’s latest novel is Becoming Madam Secretary, set largely in NYC and Washington DC during the Great Depression and the run-up to WWII. Her most recent novel directly involving World War II is The Women of Chateau Lafayette.
Lisa Barr’s latest novel The Goddess of Warsaw, set in 1943 Warsaw and in Hollywood in 2005, is out this month.
Julia Kelly’s most recent World War II books are The Lost English Girl and A Traitor in Whitehall, which is the first book in her Evelyne Redfern historical mystery series. Its sequel Betrayal at Blackthorn Park comes out October 1, 2024.
Martha Hall Kelly’s WWII-set novels are Lilac Girls and The Golden Doves and the upcoming The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club.
Pam Jenoff’s most recent World War II novel is Code Name Sapphire, set largely in Belgium during the war.
Kristina McMorris's latest WWII novel is The Ways We Hide, set in America and the Netherlands.
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I loved this 4-part discussion on WWII fiction. I have an entire bookcase devoted to WWII novels and memoirs -- arranged by country. The list of authors and titles at the end of each installment serves as an excellent bibliography!
Thank you again for hosting this awesome Roundtable, Kristin, with all these awesome authors, including you-All who I read! I have so enjoyed this-HF is my favorite genre!