613 Results with the "Historical Fiction" genre


    • Chapter

      Flight

      Flight Cover
      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…
    • Mark of the Beast Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens in November 1939 at the Jardin des Plantes in Paris, where Marie-Laure, a blind girl, is engrossed in reading *Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea*. Her peaceful moment is shattered when a group of boys taunt her with cruel remarks about blind girls being targeted during wartime. Their menacing words and laughter leave Marie-Laure frightened and disoriented, struggling to retrieve her dropped cane. The encounter underscores her vulnerability and the growing tension in the city as war…
    • Good Evening. Or Heil Hitler if You Prefer. Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens on Werner's fourteenth birthday in May 1940, set against the backdrop of a Germany increasingly dominated by Nazi ideology. Despite the grim times, Frau Elena prepares a pudding, and Jutta gifts him a piece of quartz wrapped in newspaper. The children, including the Gerlitz twins and a sleepy five-year-old Rolf, engage in playful soldier impersonations, while a baby girl sits contentedly in Jutta's lap. Outside, the flame atop the waste stack flickers ominously, hinting at the industrial…
    • Bye-bye, Blind Girl Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "Bye-bye, Blind Girl" captures the tense atmosphere of Paris on the brink of war, as seen through the eyes of Marie-Laure, a blind girl. The museum where her father works is in a frenzy, evacuating priceless artifacts—fossils, manuscripts, and gems like the legendary Sea of Flames—to safer locations. Despite the spring’s apparent calm, an undercurrent of dread permeates the city, with sandbags and soldiers appearing as rumors of invasion swirl. Marie-Laure’s father works tirelessly, his…
    • Chapter

      Rumors

      Rumors Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "Rumors" captures the growing unease in Paris as whispers of the approaching German forces permeate the Jardin des Plantes and the museum where Marie-Laure and her father live. The rumors, ranging from absurd to ominous, circulate among the locals—claims of invincible German soldiers, fog pills, and poisoned chocolate. Marie-Laure, a blind girl, listens intently to these stories, while her father dismisses them, insisting that the political tensions will not escalate into war. Despite the…
    • Bigger Faster Brighter Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "Bigger Faster Brighter" depicts Werner's life in a state-mandated youth program, where boys are indoctrinated into a culture of discipline, competition, and nationalistic fervor. Daily routines consist of rigorous physical training, academic drills, and chores, leaving Werner exhausted and irritable. Despite the oppressive environment, he finds solace in his passion for mechanics and radio repair, often staying up late to study or tinker with machines. His ingenuity shines as he invents…
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      Fade

      Fade Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "Fade" explores Marie-Laure's internal conflict between rational thought and superstition as she reflects on the legend of the Sea of Flames. Initially, she questions whether the cursed diamond truly exists or if it’s merely a myth, echoing her father’s scientific worldview that dismisses curses as mere coincidence. Her father’s return to normalcy—joking with colleagues and resuming errands—reinforces this perspective, as no supernatural calamities befall them. Marie-Laure’s…
    • The Principles of Mechanics Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with a tense visit from a vice minister and his wife to Children’s House, an orphanage where Werner and his sister Jutta reside. The children, eager to impress, serve a meal on their best plates while the visitors inspect the premises with detached scrutiny. Werner, preoccupied with his treasured book *The Principles of Mechanics*, sits apart, lost in thought about the wonders of electricity and magnetism. The scene underscores the contrast between the children’s hopeful anticipation…
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      Sea of Flames

      Sea of Flames Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "Sea of Flames" introduces a mysterious gemstone rumored to be displayed at the Paris museum, sparking fascination and fear among the staff. Marie-Laure, a blind ten-year-old girl, overhears conflicting stories about the stone's origins and properties—ranging from a cursed Japanese relic to a diamond capable of causing death or immortality. The stone, dubbed the "Sea of Flames," becomes a focal point of superstition, with staff blaming it for minor misfortunes like power outages or broken…
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      Open Your Eyes

      Open Your Eyes Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Werner and Jutta, siblings living in a coal town, repeatedly tune into a mysterious Frenchman’s radio broadcasts, which air around bedtime. The programs cover a range of scientific topics, from sea creatures to the North Pole, with Jutta favoring one on magnets and Werner drawn to a segment about light. The Frenchman’s explanation of the electromagnetic spectrum captivates Werner, who marvels at the idea that most light is invisible. These broadcasts become a nightly ritual, offering the children a…
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