615 Results with the "Historical Fiction" genre


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      Entombed

      Entombed Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "Entombed" follows Werner as he listens to a French broadcast of *20,000 Leagues Under the Sea*, where the crew of the *Nautilus* battles giant squid after being trapped in ice. The vivid descriptions mirror Werner's own dire situation, creating a parallel between the submarine's struggle and his entrapment in a cellar amid rubble. The tension escalates as Captain Nemo emerges, signaling grave danger, much like Werner's own precarious reality. The reading serves as a haunting backdrop to the…
    • The Giver of Stars Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Set in the rugged moun­tains of ​1930s Ken­tucky, The Giv­er of Stars fol­lows ​Alice Wright, a spir­it­ed Eng­lish­woman who escapes her sti­fling mar­riage by join­ing the ​Pack­horse Library Project—a WPA ini­tia­tive that deliv­ers books to remote Appalachi­an com­mu­ni­ties. Along­side a group of extra­or­di­nary women, includ­ing the fear­less ​Margery O’Hare, Alice braves harsh ter­rain, soci­etal prej­u­dice, and per­son­al demons to bring lit­er­a­cy and hope to the iso­lat­ed…
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      Exodus

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      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "Exodus" depicts the chaotic evacuation of Parisians as Marie-Laure and her father join the desperate westward exodus. After failed attempts to leave by train, they set out on foot amid gridlocked roads filled with vehicles, animals, and people carrying their possessions. The vivid descriptions highlight the disorder—cars with wooden axles, livestock in trailers, and pedestrians clutching valuables—painting a picture of a society in collapse. Marie-Laure, blind and vulnerable, clings to her…
    • Atelier de Réparation Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "Atelier de Réparation" depicts the harrowing aftermath of a bombing, where three men—Werner, Bernd, and Volkheimer—are trapped in a crumbling cellar beneath a destroyed hotel. Bernd, an engineer, writhes in pain from severe injuries, while Werner struggles with partial hearing loss and a damaged radio. The environment is suffused with eerie sounds: cooling fires, groaning debris, and sporadic dripping. Volkheimer, the most physically capable, tirelessly hacks at the rubble blocking their…
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      Relapse

      Relapse Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "Relapse" opens with Marie-Laure waking to find Madame Manec unexpectedly absent from the kitchen, a departure from their usual routine. Concerned, she searches the house and alley, calling out for her, but receives no response. The serene June morning contrasts sharply with Marie-Laure's growing unease as she discovers Madame Manec in her bed, gravely ill. The vivid description of the old woman's labored breathing and feverish state shocks Marie-Laure, who rushes to alert her uncle, Etienne,…
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      The Transmitter

      The Transmitter Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "The Transmitter" from *The Transmitter* follows Marie-Laure, a blind girl in war-torn Saint-Malo, as she attempts to operate an old radio transmitter hidden in her attic. The device, built by her uncle Etienne, represents a fragile hope of communication amidst the chaos. Marie-Laure carefully navigates the attic, relying on her heightened senses to locate the machine and its components. She imagines Etienne might still be alive, perhaps listening for a signal, and resolves to broadcast despite…
    • The Simultaneity of Instants Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with a tense moment as Marie-Laure hides in a wardrobe, hearing a brick fall and a gunshot that splits the silence like a volcanic eruption. The chaos escalates as footsteps approach, and she senses an intruder searching Henri's room, the air filling with smoke and steam. The suspense builds as the footsteps grow hesitant, moving closer to her hiding spot, while Marie-Laure grips a knife, prepared for confrontation. The scene is visceral, capturing her fear and the imminent danger through…
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      Zollverein

      Zollverein Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "Zollverein" introduces Werner Pfennig, a young boy growing up in a bleak coal-mining town outside Essen, Germany. The industrial landscape is described as harsh and desolate, with smokestacks, slag heaps, and a constant struggle for survival. Werner and his sister Jutta live in an orphanage called Children’s House, surrounded by the remnants of deceased parents and the sounds of sick children. The setting reflects the economic despair of post-war Germany, where food is scarce, and basic…
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      Occuper

      Occuper Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Marie-Laure awakens in an unfamiliar, cramped bedroom in her great-uncle Etienne's multi-story house, disoriented by the faint smell of mildew and the distant roar of what might be the sea. Blind since childhood, she navigates the narrow space with caution, her heels still sore from an unexplained injury. The house feels ancient and peculiar, with windows out of reach and furniture arranged awkwardly. Madame Manec, the housekeeper, arrives to assist her, revealing snippets about the reclusive Etienne, who…
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      The Rounds

      The Rounds Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "The Rounds" follows Marie-Laure, a blind girl, as she adapts to her new life in Saint-Malo under the care of Madame Manec. Despite initial resistance, Marie-Laure gradually gains independence, navigating the beach and streets with her cane and memorizing the layout of the town. Her daily walks to the shore become a therapeutic ritual, where she collects seashells and other treasures, momentarily escaping her grief over her father’s imprisonment. The ocean’s sounds and textures provide…
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