Fiction / War Best Sellers

Discover the instant #1 New York Times bestseller! TV series now in development at MGM Amazon Studios with Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society. Accolades for Fourth Wing Amazon Best Books of the Year, #4 • Apple Best Books of the Year 2023 • Barnes & Noble Best Fantasy Book of 2023 (Fourth Wing and Iron Flame) • NPR “Books We Love” 2023 • Audible Best Books of 2023 • Hudson Book of the Year • Google Play Best Books of 2023 • Indigo Best Books of 2023 • Waterstones Book of the Year finalist • Goodreads Choice Award, semi-finalist • Newsweek Staffers’ Favorite Books of 2023 • Paste Magazine's Best Books of 2023 “The first year is when some of us lose our lives. The second year is when the rest of us lose our humanity.” —Xaden Riorson Everyone expected Violet Sorrengail to die during her first year at Basgiath War College—Violet included. But Threshing was only the first impossible test meant to weed out the weak-willed, the unworthy, and the unlucky. Now the real training begins, and Violet’s already wondering how she’ll get through. It’s not just that it’s grueling and maliciously brutal, or even that it’s designed to stretch the riders’ capacity for pain beyond endurance. It’s the new vice commandant, who’s made it his personal mission to teach Violet exactly how powerless she is–unless she betrays the man she loves. Although Violet’s body might be weaker and frailer than everyone else’s, she still has her wits—and a will of iron. And leadership is forgetting the most important lesson Basgiath has taught her: Dragon riders make their own rules. But a determination to survive won’t be enough this year. Because Violet knows the real secret hidden for centuries at Basgiath War College—and nothing, not even dragon fire, may be enough to save them in the end. The Empyrean series is best enjoyed in order. Reading Order: Book #1 Fourth Wing Book #2 Iron Flame

Despite being neglected by the emperor for a jewel-studded bird, the little nightingale revives the dying ruler with its beautiful song. A retelling set in Northwest Africa.

For use in schools and libraries only. A blind French girl on the run from the German occupation and a German orphan-turned-Resistance tracker struggle with respective beliefs after meeting on the Brittany coast.

"From bestselling author Max Brooks, the riveting story of the highly decorated, barrier-breaking, historic black regiment--the Harlem Hellfighters. The Harlem Hellfighters is a fictionalized account of the 369th Infantry Regiment--the first African American regiment mustered to fight in World War I. From the enlistment lines in Harlem to the training camp at Spartanburg, South Carolina, to the trenches in France, bestselling author Max Brooks tells the thrilling story of the heroic journey that these soldiers undertook for a chance to fight for America. Despite extraordinary struggles and discrimination, the 369th became one of the most successful--and least celebrated--regiments of the war. The Harlem Hellfighters, as their enemies named them, spent longer than any other American unit in combat and displayed extraordinary valor on the battlefield. Based on true events and featuring artwork from acclaimed illustrator Caanan White, these pages deliver an action-packed and powerful story of courage, honor, and heart"-- ǂc Provided by publisher "This is a fictionalized graphic novel about the first African-American regiment to fight in World War One"--

'One of the greatest storytellers of our time' - Delia Owens, author of Where the Crawdads Sing From the multimillion-copy number one bestselling author of The Women, The Nightingale and The Four Winds, Home Front is a provocative and timely portrait of hope, honour, loss, forgiveness and the elusive nature of love. An intimate look at the inner landscape of a disintegrating marriage and a dramatic exploration of the price of war. 'It’s not intentions that matter. It’s actions. My drill instructor used to say that all the time. We are what we do and say, not what we intend to' From a distance, Michael and Jolen Zarkades seem to have it all: a solid dependable marriage, exciting careers and children they adore. But after twelve blissful years together, the couple has lost their way. They are unhappy and edging towards divorce. Then an unexpected deployment tears their already fragile family apart, sending one of them deep into harm's way and leaving the other at home, caring for the children and waiting for news. When the worst happens, each must face their darkest fear and fight for the future of their family. Praise for Kristin Hannah: 'Utterly absorbing . . . A triumph' - Taylor Jenkins Reid, bestselling author of Daisy Jones & The Six 'Stuns with sacrifice. Uplifts with heroism' – Bonnie Garmus, bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry ‘Moving and unforgettable’ – Christy Lefteri, bestselling author of The Beekeeper of Aleppo ‘A classic storyteller’ – Matt Haig, bestselling author of The Midnight Library

An Army officer and special presidential agent is targeted for death — but by whom?

Terrorists attack the USSR, they respond by attacking western Europe to replace the oil assets destroyed by the terrorists. Who will win?

A sweeping historical novel covering centuries of Polish history, from ancient times to the end of World War II.

"War and Remembrance" is a historical novel by Herman Wouk, serving as the sequel to "The Winds of War." The story follows the Henry family through World War II, exploring the impact of the war on their lives. Wouk skillfully weaves together historical events, personal narratives, and fictional characters to create an epic tale of love, sacrifice, and the human cost of global conflict.

"The Winds of War" by Herman Wouk is a historical novel set during World War II, depicting the experiences of the Henry family as they navigate the global conflict. The novel explores the impact of war on individuals and nations, weaving together historical events and personal narratives. Wouk's meticulous research and compelling storytelling contribute to the epic scope of the novel.

The #1 New York Times–bestselling novel of an Italian town banding together against Nazis occupation—"irresistibly engaging . . . bubbles with gaiety and wit" ( The New York Times). In the last days of World War II, German forces are sent to occupy the Italian hill town of Santa Vittoria. Above all, they wish to claim its great treasure: one million bottles of the Santa Vittoria wine that is its lifeblood. As the provincial mayor matches wits with the urbane German captain, the town unites—aristocrats and peasants, old enemies and young lovers—to deceive the Germans and save its wine. When the wine suddenly disappears, its hidden location becomes the closely held secret of Santa Vittoria. Robert Crichton brings this tale to life with wit, heart, and suspense in his masterful classic. First published in 1966, The Secret of Santa Vittoria was on the New York Times bestseller list for fifty weeks—eighteen weeks as #1—and became an international bestseller.

The novel tells the story of the founding of the State of Israel, focusing on the experiences of a diverse cast of characters. Uris's epic narrative explores the historical events leading to the establishment of the modern state.

Doctor Zhivago is a novel by Russian author Boris Pasternak, first published in 1957. The novel is set against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution and the First World War. It tells the story of Yuri Zhivago, a doctor and poet, and his love for the beautiful Lara Antipova.

"Don't Go Near the Water" by William Brinkley is a satirical novel set during World War II. The book follows the misadventures of a public relations officer stationed on a Pacific island. Brinkley uses humor to explore the absurdities of war and military bureaucracy.

"Andersonville" by MacKinlay Kantor is a historical novel set during the American Civil War. The narrative unfolds within the confines of the notorious Andersonville Prison, exploring the experiences of Union soldiers held captive. Kantor's novel, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, provides a poignant and immersive portrayal of the challenges faced by prisoners of war.

"The View from Pompey's Head" by Hamilton Basso is a novel set in the American South that explores themes of race, class, and social dynamics. The story follows a young attorney, Anson Page, as he returns to his hometown and confronts the complexities of the community he once knew.

The novel is set in Hawaii before the attack on Pearl Harbor and follows the lives of U.S. Army soldiers stationed at Schofield Barracks. Jones explores the challenges and dynamics of military life, relationships, and the impending war.

The Novel that Inspired the Now-Classic Film The Caine Mutiny and the Hit Broadway Play The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial Herman Wouk's boldly dramatic, brilliantly entertaining novel of life-and mutiny-on a Navy warship in the Pacific theater was immediately embraced, upon its original publication in 1951, as one of the first serious works of American fiction to grapple with the moral complexities and the human consequences of World War II. In the intervening half century, The Caine Mutiny has become a perennial favorite of readers young and old, has sold millions of copies throughout the world, and has achieved the status of a modern classic.

A novel set during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in World War II

Across the River and into the Trees is the story of an American colonel in World War II who falls in love with a young Italian countess. The colonel is a middle-aged man, and the countess is half his age. But their love is real, and they are willing to risk everything for it.

Joy Street is Frances Parkinson Keyes' sweeping novel of love, ambition, and social intrigue set against the elegant backdrop of Boston's historic Beacon Hill. With her characteristic attention to detail and flair for richly textured storytelling, Keyes introduces readers to a cast of characters whose lives intertwine in a world where old money, new aspirations, and deeply held traditions collide. At the heart of the story is a young couple navigating the shifting tides of postwar America, balancing personal dreams with the rigid expectations of Boston society. Joy Street itself becomes both a setting and a symbol—a place of refined beauty and social prestige, but also a stage for the quiet dramas of love, betrayal, and self-discovery. Through dinner parties, political maneuverings, and intimate domestic moments, Keyes explores themes of class, loyalty, and the price of belonging. Her prose is elegant yet accessible, capturing both the grace of the city's historic homes and the subtle tensions beneath their polished surfaces. As in her other works, Keyes' mastery lies in her ability to weave personal relationships into the fabric of a vividly rendered time and place. Joy Street is both a romance and a social study, offering a window into a rarefied world while reminding readers of the universal human desires that transcend class and custom.

East Side, West Side is a novel by Marcia Davenport, published in 1949. The novel is set in New York City in the early 20th century, and is a story of love and war, of wealth and poverty, and of the East Side and the West Side of Manhattan.

A historical adventure novel set during World War II, following the experiences of an American pilot as he faces the challenges of air combat.

The Ides of March is a novel by Thornton Wilder, published in 1948. The novel is set in Rome in 44 BC, during the last days of Julius Caesar's life. The novel is a fictionalized account of the events leading up to and including the assassination of Julius Caesar.

Raintree County is a novel by Ross Lockridge, Jr., published in 1948. The novel is set in the fictional Raintree County, Indiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and is a story of the love between a man and a woman, of the American Civil War, and of the search for the legendary lost treasure of Raintree County.

Set during World War II, Norman Mailer's novel "The Naked and the Dead" follows the experiences of soldiers in the Pacific. The novel explores the impact of war on individuals and the dynamics within the military.

One of the great World War II novels, this New York Times–bestselling "masterpiece" captures the experiences of three very different soldiers ( The Boston Globe). Standing alongside Norman Mailer's The Naked and the Dead and James Jones's From Here to Eternity, The Young Lions is one of the most powerful American novels to tackle the Second World War. Ambitious in its scope and robust in its prose, Irwin Shaw's work is also deeply humanistic, presenting the reality of war as seen through the eyes of ordinary soldiers on both sides. The story follows the individual dramas—and ultimately intertwined destinies—of Christian Diestl, a Nazi sergeant; Noah Ackerman, a Jewish American infantryman; and Michael Whitacre, an idealistic urbanite from the New York theatrical world. Diestl first appears as a dashing ski instructor in Austria, mouthing his loyalty to Nazi ideals. As the war progresses, Diestl's character continues to erode as he descends into savagery. Ackerman must endure domestic anti-Semitism and beatings in boot camp before proving himself in the European theater. Eventually, as part of the liberating army, he comes face-to-face with the unimaginable horrors of the death camps. Whitacre, trading cocktail parties for Molotov cocktails, confronts the barbarism of war, and in fighting simply to survive, finds his own capacity for heroism. Shaw's sweeping narrative is at once vivid, exciting, and brutally realistic as well as poignant in its portrayal of the moral devastation and institutional insanity of war. Penned by a master storyteller at the height of his craft, The Young Lions stands the test of time as a classic novel of war and the human experience. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Irwin Shaw including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author's estate.

A classic work of historical fiction from the author of Rebecca and The Birds. Honor Harris is only eighteen when she first meets Richard Grenvile, proud, reckless — and utterly captivating. But following a riding accident, Honor must reconcile herself to a life alone. As the English Civil war is waged across the country, Richard rises through the ranks of the army, marries and makes enemies, and Honor remains true to him. Decades later, an undaunted Sir Richard, now a general serving King Charles I, finds her. Finally they can share their passion in the ruins of her family's great estate on the storm-tossed Cornish coast — one last time before being torn apart, never to embrace again. "Daphne du Maurier is a magician, a virtuoso. She can conjure up tragedy, tension, suspense, the ridiculous, the vain, the romantic." —Good Housekeeping

Adventure novel set during World War II, exploring friendship and survival.

The evocative story of a man without a country, Arch of Triumph is a World War II–era classic from the author of All Quiet on the Western Front. It is 1939. Despite a law banning him from performing surgery, Ravic—a German doctor and refugee living in Paris—has been treating some of the city’s most elite citizens for two years on the behalf of two less-than-skillful French physicians. Forbidden to return to his own country, and dodging the everyday dangers of jail and deportation, Ravic manages to hang on—all the while searching for the Nazi who tortured him back in Germany. And though he’s given up on the possibility of love, life has a curious way of taking a turn for the romantic, even during the worst of times. “The world has a great writer in Erich Maria Remarque. He is a craftsman of unquestionably first rank, a man who can bend language to his will. Whether he writes of men or of inanimate nature, his touch is sensitive, firm, and sure.”—The New York Times Book Review

The New York Times –bestselling historical novel about the Japanese invasion of Nanking from the Pulitzer and Nobel Prize–winning author of The Good Earth . Farmer Liang Tan knows only a quiet, traditional life in his remote Chinese farming community. When news filters in that Japanese forces are invading the country, he and his fellow villagers believe that if they behave decently to the Japanese soldiers, the civilians might remain undisturbed. They're in for a shock, as the attackers lay waste to the country and install a puppet government designed to systematically carry out Japanese interests. In response, the Chinese farmers and their families form a resistance—which not only carries grave risk, but also breaks their vow of nonviolence, leading them to wonder if they're any different than their enemy.The basis for the film featuring Katharine Hepburn, Dragon Seed is a brilliant and unflinching look at the horrors of war. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Pearl S. Buck including rare images from the author's estate

"The Moon Is Down" by John Steinbeck is a war novel set in a fictionalized European town occupied by an unnamed military force. The narrative explores the dynamics between occupiers and the occupied, emphasizing the resilience of individuals in the face of oppression. Steinbeck's novel, written during World War II, reflects on themes of resistance and the human spirit.

"This Above All" by Eric Knight is a historical novel set during World War II. The story follows the experiences of a young woman, Prudence, as she grapples with love, duty, and the moral complexities of war. The novel delves into themes of sacrifice, societal expectations, and the search for meaning.

In the 1930s, an American expatriate named Robert Jordan joins the Republican army in the Spanish Civil War to fight against the Nationalists. Jordan is assigned to blow up a bridge and must grapple with his own morality as he carries out his mission.

"Oliver Wiswell" by Kenneth Roberts is a historical novel set during the American Revolutionary War. The story follows the title character, Oliver Wiswell, as he navigates the challenges of war, loyalty, and personal identity. Roberts' novel provides a nuanced perspective on the complexities of the American Revolution, exploring the experiences of those who remained loyal to the British Crown.

"Northwest Passage" by Kenneth Roberts is a historical novel set during the French and Indian War. The story follows the adventures of Major Robert Rogers and his Rangers as they embark on a daring expedition through the wilderness. The novel explores themes of courage, survival, and the frontier spirit.

"Stars on the Sea" by F. Van Wyck Mason is a historical novel set against the backdrop of naval warfare during the American Revolution. The story follows the adventures of a young American naval officer, providing a vivid portrayal of the challenges and dangers faced by seafarers during a pivotal period in history. Mason's novel combines action and historical drama.

Set during the American Revolutionary War, *Drums Along the Mohawk* chronicles the lives of the frontier settlers of the Mohawk Valley in New York. Although a fictional account, Edmonds did extensive research and weaves both historical events and persons into his narrative. First published in 1936, it stayed on the Best Seller List for 2 years and in 1939was made into a color film directed by John Ford and starring Henry Fonda, Claudette Colbert, Edna May Oliver, Ward Bond, and John Carradine.

The anti-war masterpiece that became an iconic motion picture-now with a foreword by the creator of the acclaimed HBO(tm) series The Wire Familiar to many as the Stanley Kubrick film starring Kirk Douglas, Paths of Glory explores the perilous complications involved in what nations demand of their soldiers in wartime. Humphrey Cobb's protagonists are Frenchmen during the First World War whose nightmare in the trenches takes a new and terrible turn when they are ordered to assault a German position deemed all but invulnerable. When the attack fails, an inquiry into allegations of cowardice indicts a small handful of lower-ranked scapegoats whose trial exposes the farce of ordering ordinary men to risk their lives in an impossible cause. A chilling portrait of injustice, this novel offers insight into the tragedies of war in any age. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

In her evocative novel *Vein of Iron*, Ellen Glasgow delves into the life of a Southern family grappling with the social and moral dilemmas of the post-Civil War South. The narrative unfolds in a richly detailed, naturalistic style that captures the complexities of human emotion against the backdrop of a changing society. Through the lives of her characters, Glasgow examines themes of ambition, tradition, and the struggle for identity in a landscape marked by loss and resilience, ultimately reflecting the tension between personal desires and societal expectations. Ellen Glasgow, a major voice in early 20th-century American literature, was deeply influenced by her Virginia roots and the cultural shifts of her era. Her dedication to portraying the Southern experience with authenticity informs her work, including *Vein of Iron*, where she critiques the limitations imposed by both class and gender. Glasgow's keen observations and innovative narrative techniques demonstrate her commitment to exploring the psychological depth of her characters, setting her apart from her contemporaries. *Vein of Iron* is a compelling read for anyone interested in the intersections of history, culture, and personal struggle. It offers not just a window into Southern life but also a timeless exploration of the human condition that remains relevant today. Readers seeking an insightful and beautifully crafted narrative will find Glasgow's work to be both enlightening and thought-provoking. In this enriched edition, we have carefully created added value for your reading experience: - A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes. - The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists. - A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing. - A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings. - Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life. - Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance. - Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.