Second World War gifts

Oberstdorf is a beautiful village high up in the Bavarian Alps, a place where for hundreds of years, people lived simple lives while history was made elsewhere. Yet even here, in the southernmost corner of Germany, National Socialism sought to control not only people’s lives but also their minds. Drawing on archive material, letters, interviews, and memoirs, A Village in...

'Gelfuso seamlessly blends elements of romance and fantasy into the twisty quest narrative, and packs excitement into every page. It's a delight.' Publishers Weekly Nuremberg, 1938: Lisavet Levy's watchmaker father saves her from the Nazis by pushing her through a mysterious doorway. There, she discovers the time space—a vast, magical library where memories of the past are stored in books....

The incredible true story of Louis Zamperini, now a major motion picture directed by Angelina Jolie. The International Number One Bestseller In 1943, a bomber crashes into the Pacific Ocean. Against all odds, one young lieutenant survives. Louis Zamperini had already transformed himself from child delinquent to prodigious athlete, running in the Berlin Olympics. Now, he must embark on one...

This series of war novels from Vintage Classics presents eight powerful stories about the horror and waste of war—each a passionate plea to prevent its repetition. Read Kurt Vonnegut's powerful masterpiece, which is as timely now as when it was first published. Billy Pilgrim—hapless barber's assistant, successful optometrist, alien abductee, senile widower, and soldier—has become unstuck in time. Hiding in...

A truly great book ... an utterly gripping thriller — Justin Cartwright, Sunday Telegraph Berlin, 1940, and the city is filled with fear. At the house on 55 Jablonski Strasse, its various occupants try to live under Nazi rule in their different ways: the bullying Hitler loyalists, the Persickes; the retired judge, Fromm; and the unassuming couple, Otto and Anna...

Inspired by the incredible true story of how the people of Denmark saved their Jewish neighbours during WW2 Helsingør, Denmark, 1943 In the midst of the German occupation during World War Two, Inger Bredahl joins the underground resistance and risks her life to save members of Denmark’s Jewish community and help them escape to Sweden. Copenhagen, 2018 Inger’s granddaughter, Cecilie...

The first ever authorised history of the SAS, now a major BBC series starring Connor Swindells, Jack O'Connell and Dominic West. In the summer of 1941, at the height of the war in the Western Desert, a bored and eccentric young officer, David Stirling, came up with a plan that was radical and entirely against the rules—a small undercover unit...

If you were given the opportunity to disappear and start your life again, would you take it? Paris 1933. Four people's lives are dramatically torn apart by a single terrifying event. Two days before Christmas, the express train to Strasbourg crashes into a local train in the winter darkness outside Paris. On board is Gilles Malroux, a man with a...

All Hell Let Loose is a magisterial account of the most significant and harrowing event of the 20th century—World War II. Renowned historian Max Hastings delivers a comprehensive narrative that not only chronicles the timeline of the war but delves deep into the varied human experiences that defined this global conflict. Hastings presents a vivid portrayal of the struggles and...

The definitive account of D-Day from the author of international bestsellers Stalingrad and Berlin: D-Day by Antony Beevor is a landmark historical narrative that captures the epic scale and human cost of the Allied invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944. Drawing from first-hand accounts, archival research, and a keen historian's eye, Beevor immerses readers in the gripping details of...

Engineers of Victory by Paul Kennedy offers a profound and captivating account of how the tides of the Second World War were turned in favour of the Allies through the ingenuity of problem-solvers and middle-men. This meticulously researched book delves into the often overlooked yet essential contributions of individuals whose innovative solutions and strategic thinking led to significant victories on...

The last weeks of World War II on the Western Front in Europe witnessed extraordinary scenes of heroism, horror, melodrama, and pathos. In Plunder, Max Hastings presents a cast of fascinating people—British, American, and German—in a series of great events in which some distinguished themselves through wonderful deeds, others through the basest crimes. The book takes its title from Montgomery’s...

A day no one will ever forget ... Danny Crane and his mum moved from New York City to Pearl City, Hawaii, two months ago. Every day since, Danny has been making a plan to get back to NYC. He's not afraid of the crime or dark alleys there. And he's not afraid to stow away on the next ship...

The powerful new novel from master storyteller Katrina Nannestad. I don't want to remember the truck, or the night I was taken, or the family I left behind. I am not a sad Polish girl. I am a good and happy German girl. I am. I am. I am. It's the Second World War, and Himmler's Lebensborn Program is in...

The brand-new historical novel based on a true story from the bestselling author of The Rose Code and The Alice Network Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee: Best Historical Fiction 2022 In the snowbound city of Kiev, aspiring historian Mila Pavlichenko’s life revolves around her young son – until Hitler’s invasion of Russia changes everything. Suddenly, she and her friends must take...

A brilliant new historical addition to the See Inside series. Looking closely at the vehicles and major events that defined the Second World War as one of the most destructive wars in history. Age: 6 years + From tanks rumbling across battlefields to submarines, blitzed cities, and D-Day, this extraordinary flap book takes young readers right into the action of...

On 6 June 1944 when the allied armies landed on D-Day, the Second World War had already lasted almost five years. Yet many of the British and American troops who invaded Normandy were virgin soldiers, never before committed to battle. They quit summer England to face within hours a storm of machine-gun and mortar fire. They witnessed scenes, above all...

Imagine the world if the Allies had lost the Second World War... Philip K Dick trips the switches of our minds with his vision of the world as it might have been: the African continent virtually wiped out, the Mediterranean drained to make farmland, the United States divided between the Japanese and the Nazis. In the neutral zone that divides...

A prominent Viennese psychiatrist before the war, Viktor Frankl was uniquely able to observe the way that both he and others in Auschwitz coped (or didn't) with the experience. He noticed that it was the men who comforted others and who gave away their last piece of bread who survived the longest—and who offered proof that everything can be taken...

The Forgotten Soldier is an international bestseller that presents a German soldier's first-hand account of life on the Russian front during the second half of World War II. When Guy Sajer joins the infantry, full of ideals in the summer of 1942, the German army is enjoying unparalleled success in Russia. However, he quickly discovers that for the foot soldier,...

The incredible true story of the SAS's mission to liberate Europe, featuring never-before-seen archive material FROM BESTSELLING MILITARY HISTORIAN DAMIEN LEWIS Summer, 1943: the largest invasion fleet ever assembled sailed for Europe, aiming to bulldoze its way onto Nazi shores. At its vanguard went a few hundred elite soldiers, their Royal Navy warship bearing the iconic motto 'Who Dares Wins'....

THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2017 WINNER OF THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE and THE JQ-WINGATE LITERARY PRIZE THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP 10 BESTSELLER ‘A monumental achievement: profoundly personal, told with love, anger and great precision’ - John le Carré ‘One of the most gripping and powerful books imaginable’ - SUNDAY TIMES In East West Street, international...

Complete reprint of the unexpurgated edition of Mein Kampf (1925 and 1927), written by Adolf Hitler. This edition combines Volume I: A Reckoning and Volume II: The National Socialist Movement into a single book. It is translated by James Vincent Murphy (1880-1946).

Past loves are like ghosts. They haunt you forever. The stunning new novel from the bestselling author of The Masterpiece and Tuscan Rose. I was war-weary, sad and officially divorced - and that was a recipe for recklessness.Rome, 1951. Veronica Gold is in the city as the correspondent for Vogue magazine. As Italy tries to shake off its dark fascist...

The New York Times Bestseller 'Lucy Adlington tells of the horrors of the Nazi occupation and the concentration camps from a fascinating and original angle. She introduces us to a little known aspect of the period, highlighting the role of clothes in the grimmest of societies imaginable and giving an insight into the women who stayed alive by stitching' -...

The Nightingale - The 10th Anniversary Special Edition and a Bestselling Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick. 'One of the greatest storytellers of our time' - Delia Owens, author of Where the Crawdads Sing Soon to be a major motion picture, The Nightingale has captured the hearts of millions of readers, becoming a number one bestseller across the world. It is...

A thrilling true story of courage, resistance and ultimately betrayal in the Third Reich, captured by internationally bestselling author and prize-winning journalist Jonathan Freedland. The Traitors Circle tells the true, but scarcely known, story of a group of secret rebels against Hitler. Drawn from Berlin high society, they include army officers, government officials, two countesses, an ambassador's widow and a...

The highly awaited new novel from the internationally bestselling author of The German Midwife (also published as A Woman of War). Venice, 1943The world is at war, and Stella Jilani is leading a double life. By day she works in the lion’s den as a typist for the Reich; by night, she risks her life as a messenger for the...

The blockbuster biography of the greatest Briton, by one of Britain's bestselling historians. Winston Churchill towers over every other figure in twentieth-century British history. By the time of his death at the age of 90 in 1965, many thought him to be the greatest man in the world. There have been over a thousand previous biographies of Churchill. Andrew Roberts...

First time in Modern Classics Born into a Jewish ghetto in Hungary, as a child, Elie Wiesel was sent to the Nazi concentration camps at Auschwitz and Buchenwald. This is his account of that atrocity—the ever-increasing horrors he endured, the loss of his family, and his struggle to survive in a world that stripped him of humanity, dignity, and faith....

A tie-in edition of this best-selling book, to coincide with the release of the blockbuster film. Lines may divide us, but hope will unite us... Nine-year-old Bruno knows nothing of the Final Solution and the Holocaust. He is oblivious to the appalling cruelties being inflicted on the people of Europe by his country. All he knows is that he has...

Probably more people have shed tears over the last page of A Town Like Alice than about any other novel in the English language... remarkable - John Ezard, Guardian Probably more people have shed tears over the last page of A Town Like Alice than about any other novel in the English language... remarkable - Guardian Jean Paget is just...

From the esteemed author John Nichol comes Lancaster, a compelling, poignant, and deeply human tribute to the Avro Lancaster bomber and the courageous individuals who flew and maintained her during one of the most tumultuous times in history. Nichol, a former RAF Tornado Navigator and Gulf War veteran, weaves a narrative that blends meticulous historical research with gripping personal stories,...

Masters of the Air by Donald L. Miller is an electrifying narrative that delves into the lives and exploits of the men of the American Eighth Air Force during World War II. These brave airmen, piloting the renowned Flying Fortresses, played a pivotal role in crippling Nazi Germany’s grip on Europe. Their valiant efforts are brought vividly to life, taking...

'A humbling, inspiring account of some of the real founders of modern day Special Forces soldiering' - Bear Grylls SAS Nazi Hunters is the incredible, hitherto untold story of the most secret chapter in the SAS's history. Officially, the world's most elite special forces unit was dissolved at the end of the Second World War, and not reactivated until the...

From million-copy bestselling author Liz Kessler comes the powerful new landmark World War II novel for fans of Michael Morpurgo and Phil Earle. When Liv finds a secret box from her grandmother’s childhood, she uncovers an extraordinary wartime story of bravery, betrayal, and daring defiance—a story that will change Liv and her family forever… Holland, 1942. The world is at...

From the bestselling author of Wonder comes White Bird - an unforgettable Second World War story about bravery, friendship, and the power of kindness. Soon to be a major film starring Helen Mirren and Gillian Anderson. From the bestselling author of Wonder comes White Bird - an unforgettable Second World War story about bravery, friendship, and the power of kindness....

The chilling thriller from an international bestselling phenomenon Can you forgive the past? It's 1963 and a young German reporter has been assigned the suicide of a Holocaust survivor. The news story seems straightforward, this is a tragic insight into one man's suffering. But a long-hidden secret is discovered in the pages of the dead man's diary. What follows is...

People are disappearing. I spoke to my neighbour yesterday, we laughed at some nonsense, and today he is gone. We only discovered he was missing because the dog wouldn't stop howling and we all knew he would never leave his beloved pet. So I am careful, extremely careful. Two families divided by war. An entire city on the edge of...

Two sisters living on Martha's Vineyard during World War II find hope in the power of storytelling when they start a wartime book club— a spectacular novel inspired by true events from the bestselling author of Lilac Girls. 2016 Fresh from her mother's funeral, Mari arrives on Martha's Vineyard off the coast of Massachusetts to study under the enigmatic painter...

With what this poor woman had been through the sight of her crying tore at my heartstrings. What if something should happen to her; who would care for her little baby? To conceal the fear and terror in my heart I left her, trying to put up a cheerful front. But no one could conceal from her the ominous import...

The Sunday Times Bestseller From the Winner of the Baillie Gifford Prize The Ratline by Philippe Sands is an enthralling historical investigation into one of the most intriguing and enigmatic figures of the Nazi regime, Otto Freiherr von Wächter. This meticulously researched narrative delves into the hidden life of Wächter, who, with his wife Charlotte, navigated the treacherous waters of...

Ardennes 1944 by Antony Beevor is a masterful narrative that captures the dramatic and harrowing final offensive of Nazi Germany during World War II. Renowned for its rich and detailed historical accounts, this book delves deeply into the pivotal Battle of the Bulge, where Hitler made his desperate bid to turn the tide of the war. On 16 December 1944,...

From a multiple New York Times bestselling author, here is an eye-opening history of the United States' war on terror across four presidential administrations. The year 2026 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of 9/11, the most devastating attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor. Within days, the United States began to declare its war on terror: 'Either you are with us,...

A powerful story, beautifully told M.L. STEDMAN Exquisitely written and deeply human CHRIS CLEAVE Far-reaching, but also intimate and intensely personal… will stay with me FLORENCE KNAPP A dazzling literary achievement that brings to life the shattering emotional impact of World War Two on ordinary people. Cambridge, 1942 Twins Tessa and Theo had always shared everything – until the summer...

A publishing sensation, the publication of Victor Klemperer's diaries brings to light one of the most extraordinary documents of the Nazi period. 'A classic ... Klemperer's diary deserves to rank alongside that of Anne Frank's' SUNDAY TIMES 'I can't remember when I read a more engrossing book' Antonia Fraser 'Not dissimilar in its cumulative power to Primo Levi's, is a...

'Tense, marvellously detailed' - The Sunday Times Eye of the Needle, Ken Follett's breakthrough international bestseller, is a heart-racing, exciting tale about the fate of the Second World War as it rests in the hands of a master spy, his opponent, and one brave woman. Written when he was only twenty-seven, it launched the career of master storyteller Ken Follett...

For fans of Kate Quinn and The Nightingale, a gripping story of a young Jewish girl who joins an elite Russian sniper unit and embarks on a mission targeting the highest prize of World War II: Adolph Hitler. With the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union, Elena Bruskina’s world collapses. The ambitious university student and her Jewish family are quickly...

The Bell and the Blade: An Epic of Love and WarIn the heart of war, love is the deadliest weapon. It’s 1944. The world is at war, and forces of evil hold Europe in their grasp. After a mysterious massacre at sea, a ragtag alliance forms in occupied Belgium. A handful of Allied soldiers band together with a fearless group...

'A cracking story and characters that zing from the page. Totally immersive' LIZ TRENOW 'A master storyteller' SANTA MONTEFIORE The Forest of Vanishing Stars tells the story of Yona, who has used her knowledge of the wilderness to help hundreds of Jews escape the Nazis. But what happens when a secret from her past emerges and threatens everything? After being...

NOTABLE BOOK: 2023 CBCA Book of the Year, Older Readers Miss Sutherland ... what would you say if I told you I might be able to offer you a job helping the war effort? 1943. World War II is raging across Europe and on the Pacific front. Kit Sutherland is hiding a huge secret when she is unexpectedly recruited to...

A heart-wrenching novel of love, resilience and courage in World War II, from the author of Sisters of War – perfect for readers who loved The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The German Midwife. Ukraine, 1943 On a train from Ukraine to Germany, Lisa Smirnova is terrified for her life. The train is under Nazi command, heading for one of Hitler’s...

Inspired by true stories of WWII, don't miss this emotional and poignant historical novel debut of courage against all odds, perfect for fans of Anna Stuart and Soraya M Lane. Poland, 1942. After witnessing the destruction of her hometown in Warsaw, Anna Kowalski joins the Polish Resistance. She is tasked with smuggling as many children as possible out of the...

A gripping, definitive account of one man's battle to reckon with the horror of the Holocaust, by Jack Fairweather, the bestselling, Costa prize-winning author of The Volunteer (over 100k TCM). The new book from the bestselling, Costa prize-winning author of The Volunteer. The true story of a Jewish lawyer who returned to Germany after WWII to prosecute war crimes, only...

Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland by Christopher R. Browning offers an in-depth examination of the transformation of average middle-aged police officers from rural Germany into perpetrators of genocide. This forensic study follows the men of Reserve Police Battalion 101, detailing their participation in some of the most horrific massacres of Jews during the...

In The Tattooist of Auschwitz - YA Edition by Heather Morris, we delve into the harrowing yet profoundly moving tale of Lale Sokolov, a Jewish man who, in 1942, finds himself transported to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Here, he is assigned the heart-wrenching task of tattooing identification numbers on his fellow prisoners—an act that forces him to become an unwilling...

The Dressmaker and the Hidden Soldier unveils a fascinating and heart-wrenching tale set against the harrowing backdrop of World War II. Based on the extraordinary true stories of a daring New Zealand soldier, Peter Blunden; a resilient young Greek dressmaker, Thalia Christidou; and a brave resistance heroine, Tasoula Paschilidou, this historical account weaves together love, courage, and fortitude in a...

Hiroshima by John Hersey is a monumental work of journalism that captures the profound and harrowing experiences of six survivors in the aftermath of the first atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in August 1945. As the bomb decimated the city and claimed over 100,000 lives, Hersey artfully recounts the personal stories of these individuals, unveiling not only their survival but...

Embark on the adventure of a lifetime with Stalin's Wine Cellar by John Baker and Nick Place, a tale that melds history, mystery, and the intrigue of the fine wine industry. This riveting narrative follows John Baker, a well-known dealer of rare and exquisite wines, as he is presented with a mysterious wine list that promises an adventure beyond his...

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Library and The Librarians of Rue de Picardie comes a charming and cinematic novel following a young woman from Montana who lands a job in the American Library in Paris, where she discovers the power of storytelling and writes her own Parisian chapter.'Stirring and rich with detail' New York Times...

NEW YORK TIMES & USA TODAY BESTSELLER #1 GLOBE AND MAIL HISTORICAL FICTION BESTSELLER One of NPR's Best Books of 2017! One of Bookbub's Biggest Historical Fiction Books of 2017! Reese Witherspoon Book Club Summer Reading Pick! The 2017 Girly Book Club Book of the Year! A Summer Book Pick from Good Housekeeping, Parade, Library Journal, Goodreads, Liz and Lisa,...

Wilbur Smith returns to his legendary Courtney Series with a brand new race against time World War II thriller. 1943. The tide of the Second World War is turning. The Russian victory at Stalingrad—the bloodiest battle in history—has opened the door for the Allies. Now, they must strike decisively at the heart of Hitler's Reich. But military success cannot be...

As Russian forces closed in on Berlin, and Hitler's premiership drew to a close, many Nazi officials fled Germany. In this startling, meticulously researched account, acclaimed journalist Uki Goñi unravels the complex network that led them to Argentina. Relying on international support—in Scandinavia, Switzerland, and Italy—and the enthusiasm of the Vatican and President Juan Perón, Goñi shows how this 'ratline'...

I hoped the Nazis would be defeated. And they were. I hoped the war would be over. And it was. I hoped we would be safe. But we aren't. Soon continues the incredibly moving story of Felix, a Jewish boy still struggling to survive in the wake of the liberation of Poland after the end of World War Two.

The gripping true story of the woman who became the Gestapo's most wanted spy In the early 1930s, Nancy Wake was a young woman enjoying a bohemian life in Paris. By the end of the Second World War, she was the Gestapo's most wanted person. As a naïve, young journalist, Nancy Wake witnessed a horrific scene of Nazi violence in...

Then is a powerful and moving story by Morris Gleitzman, exploring themes of survival and identity during a time of great peril. I had a plan for me and Zelda: Pretend to be someone else Find new parents Be safe forever Then the Nazis came.

From an exciting new voice in WWII historical fiction comes a tale of love, loss and a betrayal that echoes through generations… Paris, 1940: War is closing in on the city of love. With his wife forced into hiding, Jacques must stand by and watch as the Nazis take away everything he holds dear. Everything except his last beacon of...

'Simply the ultimate Second World War history' - SIMON SEBAG MONTEFIORE, DAILY TELEGRAPH A CONFLICT LIKE NO OTHER, it has come to define the very idea of war itself. Great power rivalry prepared the ground, yet so did bitter ethnic disputes following the collapse of four empires, as did the ideological clash between Fascism and Communism. More than any other,...

The real story of Blair 'Paddy' Mayne, endorsed by the Mayne family Summer 1944: the SAS were charged with the most crucial D-Day missions, taking on the might of the Nazi Reich deep behind enemy lines. Facing Hitler's fearsome Panzer divisions with little more than raw courage and their nimble Willys jeeps, it would take maverick thinking and unconventional warfare...

This defining period in world history is explored and explained as never before. World War II- The Definitive Visual Guide is captured in hundreds of compelling images, presenting the people, places, and politics involved in the epic conflict. Inside this complete visual guide is chronological coverage of the lead up to war, major military battles around the globe, and the...

The story of one Allied air raid over twenty-four hours remains one of the finest British war novels. 31 June, 1943. An RAF crew prepare for their next bombing raid on Germany. It is a night that many will never forget. Len Deighton's devastating novel is a gripping minute-by-minute account of what happens over the next twenty-four hours. Told through...

The Instant Sunday Times Bestseller: ‘Epic, moving and important’ - ROBERT HARRIS ‘I'm not sure I've ever come across quite such a revelatory account of the Holocaust and yet despite the horror and the sadness it's also a "memoir of miraculous survival". I can't recommend it enough’ - ANTHONY HOROWITZ ‘A modern classic’ OBSERVER ‘An unforgettable epic of a book’...

The incredible true story of two Holocaust survivors who fell in love in Auschwitz, only to be separated upon liberation and lead remarkable lives apart following the war—and then find each other again more than 70 years later. 'Haunting and powerfully resonant... this is a story not just of remarkable individuals, but also a tribute to the wider indomitability of...

A Times History Book of the Year 2022 From the #1 bestselling historian Max Hastings, the heart-stopping story of the missile crisis Daily Telegraph The 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis was the most perilous event in history, when mankind faced a looming nuclear collision between the United States and the Soviet Union. During those weeks, the world gazed into the abyss...

The Secret War by Max Hastings immerses readers in the shadowy realm of espionage and intelligence operations during the Second World War. Amidst the backdrop of global conflict, Hastings offers an enthralling account of the pivotal role that covert activities played in shaping the outcome of the war. This book delves into the intricate maze of espionage, codebreaking, and counterintelligence...

SAS Great Escapes tells the story of seven of the most dramatic and daring escapes executed during WWII by what is arguably the world's most famous military fighting force - the SAS. With each story comes a nail-biting, rollercoaster ride in classic Damien Lewis style. Readers join individual escapees and experience events through their own words, taken from contemporaneous diaries,...

Anna, a sixteen-year-old schoolgirl in a small town in northern Italy, after a brief romance finds herself pregnant. To save her reputation, she marries an eccentric older family friend, and they move to his village in the south. Her relationship with Cenzo Rena is touched by tragedy and grace as the events of their life in the countryside run parallel...

Normandy '44 by James Holland is a masterful and meticulously researched account of one of the most significant and intense periods in World War II. This work dives deep into the days leading up to the D-Day landings and the 76 days of fierce fighting that followed, which have shaped the course of modern history. Readers are immersed in the...

In this moving memoir, Bergen-Belsen survivor Hannah Pick-Goslar shares incredibly powerful words on the final untold portrait of her childhood friend, Anne Frank. The Sunday Times and New York Times Bestseller 'Heartbreaking and life-affirming' - Edith Eger, bestselling author of The Choice 'An extraordinary story of love, loss and the power of friendship in the darkest time.' - Jack Fairweather,...