615 Results with the "Historical Fiction" genre


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      The Bridge

      The Bridge Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with a tense scene in a French village where a German truck is blown up on a bridge, killing six soldiers. The local women fear brutal reprisals, whispering that the Germans will execute ten civilians for every soldier lost. Authorities force able-bodied men into labor to fortify the Atlantic Wall, while Etienne, armed with a doctor's note, stands frozen in fear at his doorway. The atmosphere is thick with dread as the occupation tightens its grip, and the villagers brace for violence.…
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      White City

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      by testsuphomeAdmin In April 1944, Werner and his comrades arrive in a desolate Vienna, a once-grand city now marked by empty windows and decay. The group lodges in a dilapidated suite, surrounded by remnants of opulence overshadowed by war’s ravages. Werner reflects on Dr. Hauptmann, his former mentor, whose idealized Viennese youth contrasts sharply with the grim reality. The city commander ignores them, and their mission to locate resistance broadcasts in Leopoldstadt yields nothing but propaganda and desperate military…
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      Telegram

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      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter introduces a new garrison commander stationed on the Emerald Coast, a decorated colonel who earned medals at Stalingrad. Described as trim, efficient, and wearing a monocle, he is accompanied by a striking French secretary-interpreter with rumored ties to Russian royalty. Despite his average stature and premature graying hair, his commanding presence makes subordinates feel diminished. The colonel's background includes rumors of running an automobile company before the war, suggesting a man…
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      Fort National

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      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "Fort National" depicts a harrowing moment during the siege of Saint-Malo, where the relentless shelling suddenly pauses, creating an eerie calm. Amidst the chaos, the city burns—trees, cars, and houses engulfed in flames. German soldiers take refuge in blockhouses, drinking wine, while a priest attempts to bless the cellar walls of a college. The tension is further heightened by two terrified horses breaking free and galloping through the smoke-filled streets, symbolizing the unchecked fear…
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      In the Attic

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      by testsuphomeAdmin Marie-Laure, trapped in the attic of her home in Saint-Malo, grapples with disorientation and thirst as time becomes an elusive concept. The absence of the familiar church bells leaves her uncertain of day or night, heightening her isolation. Desperate for sustenance, she contemplates drinking from canned food but hesitates, haunted by her father’s warnings about attracting attention. Her internal dialogue reveals a struggle between survival instincts and fear of an unseen German soldier, whose presence…
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      The Heads

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      by testsuphomeAdmin Werner, trapped in a rubble-filled cellar with Volkheimer, desperately attempts to establish radio contact by adjusting the antenna and tuning the transceiver. Despite his efforts, only static responds, leaving him to speculate about potential causes—electromagnetic interference, a broken radio, or even a catastrophic weapon. Supplies are dwindling; the remaining water is undrinkable sludge, and the radio's battery is nearly dead. Werner's frustration grows as he contemplates their dire situation,…
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      Delirium

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      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "Delirium" depicts von Rumpel in a state of physical and mental deterioration, likely due to advanced illness or an overdose of morphine. His vision is impaired by a purple fringe, and ash drifts through the window, suggesting a city in ruins. Drenched in sweat and tasting blood, he is disoriented, unsure whether the light outside is dawn or the glow of fires. His condition mirrors the chaos of the external world, emphasizing his vulnerability and desperation as he clings to his mission. Von…
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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…
    • Rue des Patriarches Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Von Rumpel arrives at an apartment building in Paris's 5th arrondissement, questioning a suspicious landlady about the tenants who left in 1940. The woman, described with vulture-like features, claims no knowledge of their whereabouts or who pays the rent. The atmosphere is eerie, filled with the scent of decay and the presence of swarming cats. Von Rumpel's interrogation reveals nothing concrete, leaving him to explore the abandoned fourth-floor apartment himself, where signs of a hasty departure or…
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      Big Claude

      Big Claude Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with von Rumpel, a determined and calculating figure, visiting Levitte the perfumer, who is portrayed as self-important and physically unappealing. Von Rumpel struggles to maintain his composure amid the overpowering scents of the shop, while inwardly reflecting on his recent facade of inspecting art collections along the Breton coast. His true purpose for being there remains concealed, hinting at a deeper mission. The perfumer’s obsequious demeanor and fleeting attention to von…
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