Books matching: post war europe
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- #1
Save:'Barefoot in the Head' by Brian W. Aldiss is a psychedelic science fiction novel set in Europe after the Acid Head War, where the continent has been attacked with long-lasting psychochemical aerosols. The story follows a messianic character, Colin Charteris, who preaches higher consciousness in a Joycean experimental style of broken syntax and neologisms, creating a fragmented yet compelling narrative that challenges the reader's cognitive processing.
Colin Charteris climbed out of his Banshee into the northern square, to stand for a moment stretching. Sinews and bones flexed and dainty. The machine beside him creaked and snapped like a landed fish... - #2
Save:'Tristes Tropiques' by Claude Levi-Strauss is a richly imagined collage of world searching and soul searching, blending travelogue with philosophical musings and scientific study. The book takes readers on a journey through Levi-Strauss's travels in the Amazon basin, encountering native tribes and studying their sociology and way of life. It also delves into the anthropologist's personal reflections on the purpose and meaning of his work, intertwining elements of autobiography and social commentary with vivid descriptions of landscapes and cultures.
Levi-Strauss's writing style in 'Tristes Tropiques' is described as warm and inviting, offering a mix of anthropological insights, philosophical meditations, and lyrical descriptive passages. The book is praised for its blend of intellectual depth and engaging storytelling, exploring themes of human culture, subjectivity in anthropology, and the complexities of modern society through the lens of the author's travels and studies.
I hate travelling and explorers. Yet here I am proposing to tell the story of my expeditions. But how long it has taken me to make up my mind to do so! It is now fifteen years since I left Brazil for ... - #3
Save:'Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945' by Tony Judt is a comprehensive historical synthesis covering the period after World War II up to the early 2000s. The book delves into political, cultural, and historical events across Europe, detailing the aftermath of the war, the Cold War era, and the socio-economic developments in the continent. Judt's writing style is described as educational and detailed, without unnecessary fluff, providing a vast amount of information while jumping between different countries and years.
The Nazis lived for as long as they could off the wealth of their victims—so successfully in fact that it was not until 1944 that German civilians themselves began to feel the impact of wartime restri... - #4
Save:'All Rivers Run to the Sea' by Elie Wiesel is a memoir that delves into the author's experiences during the Holocaust and his life journey thereafter. Wiesel's writing style captivates readers, allowing them to feel as if they are in the room talking with him. Through his honest and descriptive recounting of events, Wiesel humanizes himself, admitting his mistakes and sharing personal insights on forgiveness and survival. provides a wider view of Wiesel's life, touching on his childhood, experiences in concentration camps, and post-war adventures around the world.
- #5
Save:Readers describe "Existentialism is a Humanism" by Jean-Paul Sartre as an accessible introduction to his brand of existentialism. The book emphasizes the idea that life is meaningless, but it is the responsibility of individuals to create their own meaning. Sartre discusses human accountability, freedom, and the concept that man exists through his actions and decisions. The book is noted for being thought-provoking and providing insights into existentialism in a simplified manner that can be easily understood by readers.
- #6
Save:To the Devil a Daughter, written by Dennis Wheatley, is an occult suspense novel that delves into themes of black magic and Satanism. The story follows Molly Fountain, a mystery novelist, who becomes entangled in a dark plot involving a young woman named Christina, who is targeted by a Satanic cult. As the narrative unfolds, secrets are revealed about Christina's family, her father's vile pact with a sinister figure, and the diabolical plans of the cult leader, Canon Copley Syle. The novel weaves together elements of espionage, occult knowledge, and a race against time to save Christina from being sacrificed as a virgin on her twenty-first birthday. Wheatley's writing style combines detailed descriptions, historical references, and a sense of menace that keeps the reader engaged throughout the story.
Molly Fountain was now convinced that a more intriguing mystery than the one she was writing surrounded the solitary occupant of the house next door. For the third morning she could not settle to her ...
(Also, see 100 recommendations for the series Black Magic ) - #7
Save:Fever and Spear, part of the series Your Face Tomorrow by Javier Marías, delves into a complex world where characters navigate through a gray London setting, working for an unnamed organization with unclear motives. The novel explores themes of trust, betrayal, memory, and the blurring of fact and fiction, all while drawing inspiration from Shakespeare, Cervantes, and Rilke. The protagonist, Jaime Deza, engages in lengthy conversations with an ex-MI6 agent and reflects on the Spanish Civil War, intertwining personal history with espionage.
'By Chance Alone: A Remarkable True Story of Courage and Survival at Auschwitz' by Max Eisen is a powerful memoir that recounts the author's experiences as a young Hungarian Jew during World War II. Max and his family were sent to Auschwitz where most of his family perished, but through a series of chance events, Max managed to survive the horrors of the concentration camps. The writing style is described as simple, direct, and engaging, making the heartbreaking story of Max's survival even more impactful for the readers.
Our town had a population of approximately five thousand people, most of whom were Roman Catholic and Reformist Christian. There were also about ninety Jewish families, totalling not quite five hundre...'Savage Continent: Europe in the Aftermath of World War II' by Keith Lowe delves into the lesser-known aspects of post-World War II Europe, revealing the brutality, chaos, and vengeance that consumed the continent long after the war officially ended. Lowe's writing style shines a light on the untold stories of lawlessness, chaos, civil wars, ethnic cleansings, and persistent antisemitism that plagued Europe in the aftermath of the war. Through meticulous research and balanced evidence, Lowe uncovers the dark realities of the post-war period, challenging the common perception that the war ended with Germany's surrender.
In 1943 the travel book publisher Karl Baedeker produced a guide to the Generalgouvernement — that part of central and southern Poland that remained nominally separate from the Reich. As with all publ...'The Vanquished: Why the First World War Failed to End, 1917-1923' by Robert Gerwarth is a gripping exploration of the aftermath of World War I, shedding light on the lesser-known struggles that continued to plague Europe well beyond the Armistice of 1918. The book delves into the complexities of post-war Europe, revealing the turmoil caused by civil wars, interstate conflicts, and the collapse of empires. Gerwarth's narrative skillfully weaves together the political, social, and ethnic upheavals that shaped the continent in the years following the Great War, ultimately setting the stage for the rise of totalitarian regimes and the outbreak of the Second World War.
The author's meticulous research and engaging writing style make 'The Vanquished' a highly accessible yet deeply informative read. Through a wealth of historical detail and insightful analysis, Gerwarth paints a vivid picture of the era, highlighting the consequences of the war on both state-backed soldiers and civilians. The book serves as a reminder of the lasting impact of World War I, offering a fresh perspective on a period marked by revolution, revenge, and the struggle to build new nation-states amidst the ruins of the old order.
On Easter Sunday 1917 the ‘triumphal march’ of Bolshevism began with a train journey. In the late afternoon of 9 April the Russian Bolshevik, Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, his wife and fellow activist Nade...
