615 Results with the "Historical Fiction" genre


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      Intoxicated

      Intoxicated Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "Intoxicated" depicts the militarized environment of Schulpforta, a Nazi elite school, where Werner, now fifteen, navigates the oppressive atmosphere. The cadets are consumed by wartime fervor, celebrating Germany's advances in Russia and idolizing figures like Volkheimer, who has become a brutal sergeant. Werner, however, feels isolated, haunted by memories of his friend Frederick, who was severely injured and left the school without justice. The new cadets are aggressive, obsessed with…
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      Fever

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      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "Fever" depicts Werner, a German soldier, grappling with illness and the brutal realities of war during the winter of 1943-1944. Stricken by a debilitating fever and diarrhea, he crouches behind a truck, feeling as though he is losing his last vestiges of humanity. His physical suffering mirrors the moral decay around him, as he declines offers of coffee and painkillers from his comrades. The passage highlights his isolation, underscored by his failure to write to his sister Jutta, whose…
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      7 August 1944

      7 August 1944 Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Marie-Laure awakens to the sound of distant artillery fire and discovers her great-uncle Etienne missing from their home in Saint-Malo. Despite her growing anxiety, she methodically checks the house, noting his absence and the missing key. She distracts herself by reading Jules Verne's *Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea*, a shared activity with Etienne, while preparing for potential emergencies by storing water. The chapter highlights her resilience and reliance on routine, even as the war encroaches…
    • Part Thirteen: 2014 Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with Marie-Laure, now an elderly woman, being escorted by her grandson Michel through the Jardin des Plantes on a frosty March morning. Despite her blindness, she navigates the garden with her cane, pausing to examine skim ice on puddles as if it were a lens. Michel patiently guides her, and they ascend to a secluded gazebo at the top of a hedge maze, where they sit undisturbed. The serene atmosphere is punctuated by the quiet sounds of wind and the distant hum of Paris, creating a moment…
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      Flight

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      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "Flight" depicts the chaotic evacuation of Paris as German forces approach. Marie-Laure, a blind girl, waits anxiously in the museum where her father works, sensing the growing tension through sounds and smells. The city is in disarray: people hide valuables, museum staff pack artifacts, and distant explosions rattle the building. Marie-Laure clings to the hope that her father's absence is part of a game, but the reality of war becomes undeniable when he returns in a hurry, forcing her to leave…
    • The Arrest of the Locksmith Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with the abrupt arrest of a locksmith near Vitré, France, as he is forcibly removed from a train by plainclothes policemen. He is subjected to intense interrogation by both French and German officials, who scrutinize his tools, keys, and a notebook filled with architectural measurements. Despite his explanations—that the notebook is a model for his daughter and the keys are for his museum job—the authorities remain suspicious. The locksmith is confined to a cold, antiquated cell,…
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      Heaven

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      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "Heaven" depicts a tender yet tense moment between Madame Manec and Marie-Laure as they walk through a field near Saint-Malo. Despite Madame Manec’s recent promise to Etienne to avoid overexertion, she subtly engages in resistance activities, exchanging envelopes with a contact. The idyllic setting of Queen Anne’s lace and buzzing bees contrasts with the underlying tension of wartime. Marie-Laure, blind and curious, questions Madame about their surroundings and the mysterious "roneo…
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      Water

      Water Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Marie-Laure, hiding in the attic of her home in Saint-Malo, hears the German soldier leave her room as rain begins to fall. The sound of the downpour sparks memories of Madame Manec’s prayer about divine grace as a purifying fire. Determined to survive, Marie-Laure strategizes like her father or Jules Verne’s Professor Aronnax, recognizing her advantages: the hidden attic, a precious stone, and a can of food. She considers using the rain to her benefit—perhaps to drink or mask her movements—but…
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      Wardrobe

      Wardrobe Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Von Rumpel stands before an ancient wardrobe in a dimly lit room, examining its contents with a mix of curiosity and unease. The wardrobe is filled with decades-old boys' clothing—waistcoats, striped trousers, and moth-eaten shirts—suggesting a forgotten past. The room itself is eerie, with spotted mirrors, old leather boots, and a photograph of a boy on a beach. The atmosphere is heavy with decay, and the broken window reveals a still night outside, adding to the sense of isolation and mystery. Von…
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      Bombs Away

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      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "Bombs Away" opens with a harrowing depiction of an aerial bombing raid, as twelve bombers release their payloads over a coastal city. The bombs fall in a relentless cascade, transforming the sky into a nightmarish spectacle of destruction. The lead bomber initiates the attack, followed by the others, while the aircraft quickly ascend to evade retaliation. The scene is chaotic and swift, with smoke trails marking their path and the ground below bracing for impact. The imagery captures the sheer…
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