20th century historical fiction

[CapnMurica]

Can anyone recommend anything to me? I like books about the war period and anytime really, so long as it's 20th century. Does that still count as historical fiction?

I've been enjoying some Chinese-American stuff lately, by Lisa See and Amy Tan. I'd like to try some other countries, don't mind which. But I like British stuff too!

What are your favourites?

Sorry OP! I cut and pasted my comments on it from another forum and forgot to include the title

It's Far To Go by Alison Pick. Recommended.

OP, sounds like we have similar taste in books! Here are some I enjoyed that you might like:

Wintering - Derek Johns (set in the 50s, so a bit later than you wanted, but it's so well written, quite simple, about a family, quite short, really worth reading).

If you like crime, Laura Wilson's books about a detective in London (Ted Stratton) are really good and set in the second world war and 50s. Very atmospheric.

Another crime/1950s one that I absolutely loved was A Commonplace Killing, Sian Busby.

The Lie, Helen Dunmore, set just after the first world war, about... a lie! Can't say more or it'll give away the plot but really good. I really like all her books that I've read. The Greatcoat by Helen Dunmore is good too - it's slightly supernatural but not scary or anything.

Dead Man's Embers, Mari Strachan, set just after WWI, a family in Wales coping with a shell-shocked husband.

In the Dark, Deborah Moggach - loved this one, about a family after WWI, so well written.

Spies - Michael Frayn, set just after WW2, about two little boys who are on the trail of 'spy'. That makes it sound childish but it's not at all, really good story.

Alone in Berlin - Hans Fallada - not strictly historical fiction as it I think it was written at the time it was set (just after maybe? not sure) - about a couple who are against the Nazi regime. Really really good.

Painter of Silence - Georgina Harding - set in 1950s Romania, about a deaf and mute man. Very interesting as I knew nothing about Romania in this period, and very good story.

My descriptions are rubbish, sorry - just didn't want to give away too much (o: Hope the ideas are some help.

Have you read the Bernie Gunther detective books from Philip Kerr? They are very entertaining and atmospheric.

Has anyone mentioned Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain? It's brilliantly written and well-observed; a real classic

Also, Captain Corelli's Mandolin is very historical; most of Louis de Bernieres are - Birds Without Wings is very well researched

And A Town Like Alice by Neville Shute has the war, Malaya and Australia.

Fair stood the wind for France - H E Bates

Unashamedly marking place
I love mumsnet and these threads are making me Skint!

Olivia Manning's Balkan Trilogy - set in Romania and Athens at the beginning of the Second World War. Beautifully written.

A few more, mostly written in the last century. Have you read Neville Shute ? 1950s author, but try

A town like Alice
Requiem for A Wren
The Far Country
beyond the black stump

If you are interested in S Africa, Cry the Beloved Country, Alan Paton pre breakdown of apartheid

The cruel sea, by Nicholas Montserrat

Much of Graham Greene, but The end of the Affair is one of my favourites

Waugh, obv Brideshead Revisited

I loved Eleni, as above, by Nicholas someone , but it's not fiction.

My brother Michael by Mary Stewart

If you can get hold of them, any of the Helen Mcinnes thrillers, all war and cold war. Ditto Hammond Innes.

For real stuff, ill met by moonlight, by Stanley Moss, about capturing a German general in crete
The book thief

Not wartime, but have you read 'Love on the Dole', from the 1930s? It's still incredibly powerful, I think, and very timely right now.

Pat Barker's WWI trilogy
After the Wall - confessions of an East German childhood - Jana Hensel

The Cruel Sea is excellent. The film is also good - quite true to the book.

Another book I liked was Das Boot (translation of a German novel about a U-boat).

I actually came onto this thread to suggest No Talking After Lights, which I've just re-read for the umpteenth time. It's set in a girls' boarding school in 1950s England, but it's not a children's book.

I loved he film. Wept buckets

Can't believe no one has mentioed the Century Trilogy by Ken Follett yet. Book 1 'The Fall of Giants' set in the run up to and covering WW1; book 2 'The Winter of the World' covers the interwar period, the rise of the Nazis in Germany and WW2. The story tracks famillies in Russia, America, London, Germany and the Welsh valleys. An amazing couple of books - can't wait to read the third.

Early Robert Goddard, up to about 2000. His more recent stuff is tripe, so different in style it's almost as if somebody else wrote it.

Try 'In Pale Battalions', 'Take No Farewell' or 'Hand In Glove'. There are some pre-20thC ones that are very good (Painting The Darkness, Past Caring), and some contemporary ones. 'Closed Circle' was good up to a rather ludicrous end.

How about the Transylvanian Trilogy by Miklós Bánffy. Set just before WWI in Hungary, and really well written and translated. They all move at a great pace although they are quite long books.

I would second both Michael Frayn's Spies, which is an absolutely wonderful read, and Alone in Berlin, which is brilliant.

I second The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. One of my favourite books.

All that I Am by by Anna Funder about a group of German political activists working against Hitler having sought refuge in London. Really interesting about the German resistance.

I also love everything by Hemingway.

The Century Trilogy by Ken Follett. They are whoppers but a great read!

I love the dramatisations too. Have listened to a couple of Agata Raisin with Penelope Keith.
Brideshead Revisited which was great and have just downloaded Mansfield Park.

ops wrong thread

Victoria Hislop writes some great 20th century historical fiction, mainly set in Europe. I love her books.

The English German Girl - also about the Kindertransporten. Very moving and well researched.

Absolutely Louis de Bernieres. Birds without Wings is beyond stunning and genius.

Last Train to Istanbul - about the Turkish govt rescuing Turkish Jews from occupied France. I absolutely adored this book.

Have you read Amitav Ghosh? The Glass Palace was a good read, but very epic in nature and set in Myanmar.

Does anyone recognise this book? I

A German or Austrian Jewish refugee couple come to England. She is confused and homesick, and wants to live among other Jewish families, but he is determined to integrate. He builds a business and eventually buys what he thinks is the epitome of Englishiness - a country cottage near a golf club. But, of course, the golf club won't accept him as a member. So, with his characteristic optimism, he builds his own golf club.

Only I didn't finish the book (found it in a self-catering holiday cottage) and I really want to know how it all pans out. Actually, don't tell me! Just tell me the title, please