615 Results with the "Historical Fiction" genre


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      Making Socks

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      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with Werner waking in the middle of the night to find his younger sister, Jutta, beside his cot, engrossed in a shortwave radio and a drawing of an imagined city. Her unruly hair stands out in the dim light, adding to her intense presence. Jutta questions the purpose of the sock-making tasks assigned in her Young Girls League, to which Werner dismissively replies that the Reich needs socks for soldiers. Their conversation is interrupted by the cries of a younger boy downstairs,…
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      Herr Siedler

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      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…
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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…
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      Saint-Malo

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      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter "Saint-Malo" vividly depicts the devastating aftermath of a bombing raid on the historic city. The opening scene describes the sheer force of the attack, with doors torn from their frames, bricks reduced to powder, and clouds of debris filling the sky. The bombers have already retreated by the time the destruction fully unfolds, leaving the city in chaos. The imagery of roof slates raining down underscores the sudden and overwhelming nature of the devastation, setting a tone of irreversible…
    • Number 4 rue Vauborel Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Marie-Laure takes refuge beneath her bed during a violent bombardment, clutching a stone and a miniature house as the building around her collapses. Plaster, brick, and glass rain down, destroying the model city on her table and shaking her mattress above. In her terror, she repeatedly calls for her father, but her voice feels disconnected from her body, as if she’s observing the chaos from a distance. The destruction feels apocalyptic, as though the entire city is being uprooted by an invisible force,…
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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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      Etienne

      Etienne Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with Marie-Laure, a blind girl, discovering a trail of seashells leading to her great-uncle Etienne's room on the fifth floor. The shells, carefully placed, guide her to his door, where she hears the faint sounds of multiple pianos playing. Upon entering, she finds his room surprisingly fresh, smelling of soap and books, unlike the expected mustiness of an elderly person's space. Etienne greets her warmly, his voice soft and comforting, and apologizes for not meeting her sooner, setting…
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      Jungmänner

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      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter opens with a vivid description of a castle-like boarding school where Werner, the protagonist, arrives to begin his training. The setting is picturesque yet austere, with strict rules enforced by a one-armed bunk master. The boys are stripped of personal possessions and individuality, molded into a uniform collective through rigorous discipline. The atmosphere is one of militaristic precision, with an emphasis on duty, sacrifice, and nationalistic fervor. Werner, though initially awed by the…
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      Vienna

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      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter introduces Sergeant Major Reinhold von Rumpel, a 41-year-old gemologist with a keen eye for diamonds and a meticulous nature. His personal life includes a compliant wife who collects porcelain kittens and two daughters, one of whom writes earnest letters filled with patriotic fervor. Von Rumpel’s expertise in gemology, honed through studies in crystallography and apprenticeships, has allowed him to handle rare stones, including a 92-carat raw diamond in London. His pre-war life as a…
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      The Boches

      The Boches Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter depicts the arrival of German soldiers, referred to as "Boches," in the French town of Saint-Malo through the observations of Marie-Laure and her father. The Germans are described as impeccably dressed, their uniforms spotless, as if they’ve never seen battle. The townspeople note their voracious consumption of local goods, from postcards to champagne, while whispers of Hitler touring Paris underscore the surreal tension. Curfews and bans on music and public gatherings are imposed, leaving…
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