615 Results with the "Historical Fiction" genre


    • Story

      Ghostroots

      Ghostroots Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin “Ghost­roots” by ‘Pemi Agu­da is a debut short sto­ry col­lec­tion set in Lagos, Nige­ria, blend­ing the mun­dane with the super­nat­ur­al. The twelve sto­ries explore themes of inher­i­tance, mater­nal lin­eage, and haunt­ing lega­cies, often focus­ing on women grap­pling with famil­ial and soci­etal bur­dens. Aguda’s prose weaves unset­tling yet deeply human nar­ra­tives, where every­day life inter­sects with spec­tral pres­ences. Notable sto­ries include “Breast­milk,” which delves into…
    • Chapter

      Part Seven:ii

      Part Seven:ii Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin In this chapter, Rosella discreetly informs Eilis about their grandmother’s unexpected plan to join them in America. What began as a casual remark about loneliness turned into a concrete decision, as their grandmother already secured her passport, visa, and a ticket for the same flight. However, the uncertainty surrounding the length of her stay and who would care for her during the day creates tension. Mrs Lacey, Eilis’s mother, also reveals she has arranged to change Eilis’s return ticket to align…
    • Chapter

      Herr Siedler

      Herr Siedler Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with a tense scene at Children’s House, where Werner and his sister Jutta are interrupted by a lance corporal’s unexpected visit after curfew. The imposing figure, adorned with a swastika armband and pistol, exudes hostility as he inspects the modest living space. Werner fears his hidden shortwave radio has been discovered, but the corporal instead demands his repair skills. Frau Elena, visibly shaken, instructs Werner to accompany the man, leaving Jutta anxiously watching from the…
    • The Fort of La Cité Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Sergeant Major von Rumpel ascends a ladder in the darkness, weakened by his illness, which manifests as swollen lymph nodes constricting his throat. Inside a periscope turret, two gunners observe the devastation of Saint-Malo without offering assistance. The city burns fiercely, with towering plumes of smoke and flames illuminating the predawn sky. Von Rumpel surveys the scene through binoculars, noting the chaotic destruction—flaming debris, falling ash, and administrative documents swirling in the…
    • Chapter

      Frederick

      Frederick Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Werner arrives in Berlin, spending his last money on train fare, and observes the city’s grim transformation under wartime conditions. The sunlight fails to brighten the dirt-smeared buildings, reflecting either the city’s decay or his own altered perception. Hesitant to confront his past, he circles the block multiple times, unnerved by a storefront’s mannequins that resemble corpses. When he finally rings the bell at Frederick’s new apartment, he is met with a mix of tension and reluctant…
    • Chapter

      The Beams

      The Beams Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "The Beams" depicts a tense moment during an artillery bombardment, with Werner and Volkheimer sheltering in a cellar. Shells explode overhead, shaking the foundations as Werner imagines the meticulous calculations of the American artillerymen—cold, precise, and detached, much like divine intervention. The scene underscores the dehumanizing nature of war, where destruction is reduced to numbers and coordinates. Amid the chaos, Volkheimer shares a story about his great-grandfather, a sawyer…
    • Chapter

      Comrades

      Comrades Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Werner enters a devastated house, navigating through shattered crockery, ash-filled hallways, and overturned furniture. The chaotic scene suggests recent violence or abandonment. As he ascends the staircase, he encounters a trail of discarded items—books, papers, and broken objects—heightening the sense of disarray. The sixth floor reveals a girl’s room with peculiar details like pebbles lining the baseboards and buckets of water, adding an eerie stillness to the tension. Werner’s uncertainty about…
    • Chapter

      Part One:v

      Part One:v Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin In this chapter of *Part One:v*, Eilis grapples with the lingering unease brought on by a recent visitor, whose presence unsettles her in subtle but persistent ways. Meanwhile, Tony remains reticent about his and his mother's plans, prompting Eilis to attempt coaxing him into conversation during their walks. Despite her growing curiosity and the temptation to confide in Frank about the baby and potential adoption, she chooses silence, valuing the possibility of gaining more information later. Their…
    • Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter follows six-year-old Marie-Laure LeBlanc, a visually impaired girl in Paris, as she joins a children's tour of the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, led by a hunchbacked guide. The group explores various exhibits, including a dinosaur fossil, a taxidermied giraffe, and herbarium sheets, before arriving at the Gallery of Mineralogy. Here, they encounter agate, amethysts, and a meteorite, but the tour culminates at a mysterious iron door. The guide tantalizes the children with hints of a…
    • You Have Been Called Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with Werner, a young boy, returning to Children's House after taking exams for a prestigious institute. The other children are fascinated by his experiences, bombarding him with questions about the tests, food, and military aspects. Werner, however, remains uncertain about his chances of acceptance, despite his peers' admiration. His purchase of a basic radio, which only plays state-approved programs, delights the children but fails to impress his sister Jutta, who remains distant. The…
    Note