Books on World War One - Fiction

[BuffysBigSister]

I am looking for books about the First World War. I am doing some volunteer work with an adult literacy student and trying to find some books to encourage him with his reading. He is interested in World War 1 so thought that might be a good place to start. Thanks!

What about a graphic novel? It was the War of the Trenches by Jacques Tardi is very well regarded. Some of the books suggested above have been made into graphic novels and that may be a more engaging option.

Many years ago I read a book by Cicely Hamilton 'William, An Englishman'. (It's Persephone Books number 1!)
It tells the story of a young couple in the run up to WW1, how they become trapped behind German lines, and how their experience of war affects them.
It may not be suitable for your reader OP as it's less about the war and more about the psychological impact of war on civilians, but I thought I would mention it as I think posters who enjoyed Pat Barker would really enjoy it. I read it at least 15 years ago and it has stayed with me.

OP, if you're looking for yourself, may I recommend The Convalescent Corpse and The Merry Month of Murder by Nicola Slade, set in 1918. They are promoted as mysteries, but they are really about a household of girls and women coping in wartime. The author doesn't overlook the hardship and the grief, but she keeps the overall tone light, with some humour.

She sadly died before she could write any more; I 'knew' her very slightly from a special interest forum we both belonged to.

Susan Hill's Strange Meeting is such an atmospheric and painful novel about the First World War.

Skylarks is a YA novel by Hilary McKay if he'd be happier with a slightly less taxing read?

Five Children on the Western Front by Kate Saunders. As the title suggests, she puts E. Nesbit's characters, now grown up, in a WW1 setting.

ken Follett - Fall of Giants

Life after life by Kate Atkinson covers ww1 (and ww2) in terms of the impact on families at home and seeing men returning
in a similar vein ‘the unfortunates’ by Laurie Graham has ww1 (and many other twentieth century historical events) impacting the lives of central characters.

Birdsong. Read it at 15 and has always stuck with me

Testament of Youth - Vera Brittain

I love Birdsong! Also loved In Memoriam by Alice Winn.

Think the first three books of The Girls Who Went To War Series by Mary Wood are set around or during WW1.

Under Fire Henri Barbusse. He was a French soldier and served in the trenches. Originally published in his native language as Le Feu. It's been a while since I read it but I remember it being very immediate.

Thanks again everyone for all the fantastic suggestions. The learner and I have decided to go with War Horse. I think it might be a bit too easy for him but it will build his confidence and there is a lot of additional learning material available for the book which makes things easier for me!

A bit late but can I suggest ‘The Children of Charlecote’ by Philippa Pearce?

This is presented as being a children’s book. Ha! Anyone who gave it to a child to read would (I think) need their head examining! It is a devastating WW1 book- though this may not be evident until the very end.

Just thinking about it stirs an emotional reaction on my part. It’s a great example of how a book about domestic life can tell you about the horror of war, & the society in which militarism operates.

Another one I just remembered

Not So Quiet by Helen Zenna Smith. A fictional autobiography about a young woman ambulance driver on the western front. I remember it being pretty hard hitting.

The First Casualty Ben Elton
In Memorium

Two Storm Wood by Philip Gray