613 Results with the "Historical Fiction" genre


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      Author’s Note

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      by testsuphomeAdmin Author's Note: On May 19, 1845, the British ships HMS Erebus and HMS Terror embarked on a momentous expedition from Greenhithe in Kent, intending to uncover the fabled Northwest Passage, a purported route through the North American Arctic that could connect the United Kingdom to lucrative Asian trade routes. This ambitious journey, however, would soon fade into history as the ships were never heard from again after being spotted in Baffin Bay in July 1845, just days before they disappeared. Despite…
    • Chapter 21: My Best Friend … Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 21 delves deeply into the narrator’s complex friendship with Heinz Schildknecht, his closest companion during the war. The narrator reflects on the beginnings of their bond, admitting that he borrowed Heinz’s motorcycle, rather than stealing it, an act that symbolizes the intimate and sometimes problematic nature of their friendship. Their relationship evolved as they navigated personal struggles, particularly following the narrator’s marital difficulties. Many of their conversations took…
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      Part 5

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      by testsuphomeAdmin Part 5 of Blood Meridian takes readers through a haunting, desolate landscape, where the aftermath of a brutal battle unfolds before the eyes of the lone survivor. This man, bloodied and covered in the remnants of violence, rises from the wreckage of death, where the land is littered with fallen bodies—both human and animal. As he surveys the area, the soft glow of distant fires and the eerie, distant sound of chanting fill the air, hinting at the persistence of violence in this unforgiving world. Moving…
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      Part One:ii

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      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with a depiction of Tony’s father’s Saturday ritual of checking on his sons’ cars, a gesture reflecting his care and mechanical expertise despite his wife's concerns about him getting dirty. This routine extends to Eilis, who has recently acquired an inexpensive car, drawing her father-in-law’s attention and approval. His recommendation of Mr Dakessian, a trusted Armenian mechanic and family friend, underlines the community’s reliance on dependable, honest service and the…
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      Bombers

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      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "Bombers" opens with a midnight flight across the Channel, as twelve bombers, each named after popular songs like *Stardust* and *In the Mood*, glide through the dark sky. The serene yet ominous scene is marked by the moonlit sea below, dotted with whitecaps, and the distant outline of islands on the horizon. The narrative sets a deliberate, almost eerie tone as the bombers approach their destination, blending the mechanical precision of war with the poetic irony of their musical namesakes. As…
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      Hotel of Bees

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      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "Hotel of Bees" opens with Werner recalling a chaotic moment in a cellar beneath the hotel, where an explosion throws him and his companions into disarray. The scene is vividly described: the ceiling light flickers out, and the massive Frank Volkheimer's field light scatters like a beetle as a deafening roar consumes everything. Werner is momentarily transported to a childhood memory of a mule's grave in Zollverein, highlighting his disorientation and the surreal blending of past and present.…
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      What They Have

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      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter depicts a tense and dire situation as Werner, Volkheimer, and Bernd are trapped in a dark cellar, their sense of time distorted by the flickering of a flashlight. Volkheimer tends to Bernd, who is injured and panicked, while Werner observes their dwindling supplies: minimal food, half-empty canteens, and a bucket of undrinkable sludge. The oppressive darkness is occasionally pierced by the flashlight's beam, revealing the grim reality of their confinement. The group's meager possessions—a…
    • Sixth-floor Bedroom Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "Sixth-floor Bedroom" follows von Rumpel as he meticulously searches a grand, decaying house in Saint-Malo. Limping through rooms filled with antiquated furnishings—kerosene lamps, embroidered curtains, and belle époque mirrors—he navigates the cluttered spaces with growing unease. The house, a relic of the Second Empire, holds remnants of past lives: a bathtub with stagnant water, mechanical parts, and crates. Despite his thorough exploration, von Rumpel finds no sign of the dollhouse he…
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      Numbers

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      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with Reinhold von Rumpel receiving a grim medical diagnosis: a throat tumor measuring four centimeters and an unmeasurable intestinal tumor. The doctor gives him three to four months to live, a prognosis that weighs heavily on von Rumpel as he attends a dinner party. Amidst discussions of military retreats and losses in Italy, von Rumpel fixates on the limited time he has left—120 sunrises—while ignoring his meal. His financial and physical decline is underscored by his dwindling…
    • Birds of America Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with Werner marveling at the wonders of Marie-Laure's house, particularly the attic transmitter, antique electrophone, and extensive library of scientific works. He is struck by the possibility of spending years secluded in this space, studying its treasures and observing Marie-Laure. Their conversation shifts to literature as they discuss Captain Nemo's fate from *20,000 Leagues Under the Sea*, revealing Marie-Laure's nuanced perspective on ambiguous endings and complex characters. The…
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