A Large Handful of Novels About World War Two

a list by Peter, the avid reader who runs Flashlight Worthy

There was something about World War Two -- more so than the wars before and after -- that resulted in a large number of excellent novels from American authors. A handful of these novels follow.

I'm sure I missed a number of classics. If you know of a title I should include, let me know.

onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/The_Caine_Mutiny');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0316955108'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;">	onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/The_Caine_Mutiny');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0316955108'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;">The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/The_Caine_Mutiny');" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;"> onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/The_Caine_Mutiny');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0316955108'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;"> 560 page paperback \|$10.87 \|76 reviews This book also appears on Pulitzer Prize Winners for Fiction


onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/Catch22');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0684833395'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;">	onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/Catch22');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0684833395'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;">Catch-22 by Joseph Heller Amazon says: There was a time when reading Joseph Heller's classic satire on the murderous insanity of war was nothing less than a rite of passage. Echoes of Yossarian, the wise-ass bombardier who was too smart to die but not smart enough to find a way out of his predicament, could be heard throughout the counterculture. As a result, it's impossible not to consider "Catch-22" to be something of a period piece. But 40 years on, the novel's undiminished strength is its looking-glass logic. Again and again, Heller's characters demonstrate that what is commonly held to be good, is bad; what is sensible, is nonsense. It's an utterly serious and sad, but damn funny book. onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/Catch22');" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;"> onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/Catch22');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0684833395'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;"> 464 page paperback \|$10.88 \|819 reviews This book also appears on The Modern Library's 100 Greatest Novels of the 20th Century


onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/The_Dirty_Dozen');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/B000IMB51I'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;">	onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/The_Dirty_Dozen');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/B000IMB51I'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;">The Dirty Dozen by E. M. Nathanson onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/The_Dirty_Dozen');" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;"> onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/The_Dirty_Dozen');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/B000IMB51I'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;"> paperback \|$14.69 This book also appears on Hal Steinberg's Favorite Novels


onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/From_Here_to_Eternity');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0385333641'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;">	onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/From_Here_to_Eternity');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0385333641'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;">From Here to Eternity by James Jones onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/From_Here_to_Eternity');" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;"> onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/From_Here_to_Eternity');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0385333641'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;"> 864 page paperback \|$11.56 \|59 reviews This book also appears on The Modern Library's 100 Greatest Novels of the 20th Century


onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/Mila_18');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0553241605'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;">	onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/Mila_18');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0553241605'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;">Mila 18 by Leon Uris onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/Mila_18');" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;"> onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/Mila_18');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0553241605'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;"> 576 pages \|$7.99 \|69 reviews


onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/The_Naked_and_the_Dead');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0312265050'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;">	onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/The_Naked_and_the_Dead');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0312265050'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;">The Naked and the Dead by Norman Mailer Amazon readers say: "Beautiful, sad and very lonely." "Formalized structure versus the individual." "So much more than a story about a war." "A poignant WW II novel." onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/The_Naked_and_the_Dead');" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;"> onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/The_Naked_and_the_Dead');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0312265050'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;"> 736 page paperback \|$10.88 \|69 reviews This book also appears on: Clarisse Perrette's Favorite Novels The Modern Library's 100 Greatest Novels of the 20th Century


onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/SlaughterhouseFive');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0385333846'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;">	onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/SlaughterhouseFive');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0385333846'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;">Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Amazon says: Kurt Vonnegut's absurdist classic introduces us to Billy Pilgrim, a man who becomes unstuck in time after he is abducted by aliens from the planet Tralfamadore. In a plot-scrambling display of virtuosity, we follow Pilgrim simultaneously through all phases of his life, concentrating on his (and Vonnegut's) shattering experience as an American prisoner of war who witnesses the firebombing of Dresden. "Slaughterhouse-Five" is not only Vonnegut's most powerful book, it is as important as any written since 1945. Like "Catch-22", it fashions the author's experiences in the Second World War into an eloquent and deeply funny plea against butchery in the service of authority. It boasts the same imagination, humanity, and gleeful appreciation of the absurd found in Vonnegut's other works, but the book's basis in rock-hard, tragic fact gives it a unique poignancy -- and humor. onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/SlaughterhouseFive');" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;"> onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/SlaughterhouseFive');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0385333846'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;"> 288 page paperback \|$11.20 \|693 reviews This book also appears on: Douglas Coupland's 10 Favorite Books The "Top 5 Favorite Books" list from High Fidelity The Modern Library's 100 Greatest Novels of the 20th Century


onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/The_Thin_Red_Line');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0385324081'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;">	onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/The_Thin_Red_Line');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0385324081'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;">The Thin Red Line by James Jones onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/The_Thin_Red_Line');" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;"> onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/The_Thin_Red_Line');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0385324081'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;"> 528 page paperback \|$10.40 \|79 reviews


onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/The_Winds_of_War');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0316952664'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;">	onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/The_Winds_of_War');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0316952664'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;">The Winds of War by Herman Wouk Amazon readers say: "An American family facing the tragedies of a world war." "Should be required reading for all high school students." "Near perfect tension filled fiction in a non-fiction setting." "Wonderful book, would recommend to anyone." onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/The_Winds_of_War');" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;"> onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/The_Winds_of_War');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0316952664'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;"> 896 page paperback \|$11.55 \|91 reviews This book also appears on What John McCain Reads and Recommends


onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/War_and_Remembrance');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0316954993'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;">	onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/War_and_Remembrance');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0316954993'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;">War and Remembrance by Herman Wouk Amazon readers say: "Making American history fun." "Like Dickens - big, fat, dense, demanding and rewarding." "Probably the greatest historical fiction work ever written!!" "A powerful, moving trip through history." onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/War_and_Remembrance');" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;"> onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/War_and_Remembrance');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0316954993'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;"> 1,056 page paperback \|$11.55 \|57 reviews This book also appears on What John McCain Reads and Recommends


onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/The_Young_Lions');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0226751295'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;">	onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/The_Young_Lions');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0226751295'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;">The Young Lions by Irwin Shaw, James Salter Amazon readers say: "A novel that's very fair to all people involved in war." "A great storyteller -- and his greatest story." "Lots of shades of grey..." "A forgotten classic of World War II." onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/The_Young_Lions');" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;"> onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/A_Large_Handful_of_Novels_About_World_War_Two/The_Young_Lions');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0226751295'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;"> 696 page paperback \|$15.30 \|12 reviews

Know any books we should add to the list above? .