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As a setting for historical fiction, I mean. Every year it seems like there are a dozen new World War II novels. World War I, not so much. This is just spitballing, but I can think of a few reasons why. WWII is a lot fresher in our collective memory, there are still people alive today who experienced it. And World War II is often viewed as this simple, heroic struggle of good vs evil. Obviously it was not, but that's neither here nor there. WWI, on the other hand, did not have such obvious heroes and villains. It's also very hard to romanticize/idealize WWI, for that matter.

Anyway, this is just my rambling. I look forward to seeing what other people here have to say! :)

I think you're on the right track, Allison. With WWII you can tell meaty stories of suffering and resistance, while WWI seems to have been mostly a slog through the muddy trenches. That said, there are some WWI books that I really liked, such as The Summer Before the War, Testament of Youth (not historical fiction at the time it was written, of course), and the memoir that the play and movie War Horse were based on, whose name escapes me just at the moment.

I love the time period and I have no trouble finding fiction/nonfiction on the subject.

That being said, there is something much more seemingly dramatic. The bad guys were really bad. In WWI, it was much more tragic. All those people dying for nothing. Everyone rushed into the war. When you study the events, you realize it was even more tragic when you thought before.

I love the time period because it was on a cusp of a change in society. Everything changed around this time. Just watch Downton Abbey.

I’ve always found WWI much more intriguing than WWII, perhaps because of the ambiguity of it compared to WWII. The Second World War had such sharply drawn villains—Hitler and Mussolini were Bad Guys right out of central casting. WWI was much less clear cut. Historian Christopher Clark’s description of the leaders of the Great Powers as “The Sleepwalkers� is so apt. WWI also represented the first truly industrialized war—with all the horror that entailed—and as such, a complete break with the Victorian/Edwardian arrogant confidence that science and progress were uniformly beneficent. What they discovered was if they could mass producer wonderful Model T Fords and Edison light bulbs, they could also mass produce awful artillery shells and machine guns. And in a sense, WWII was really the huge climactic final act of the epic story begun by WWI.

I’ve written two novels set during WWI and the 1920s, with the third in revisions now, so admittedly I’m biased. The third will be the last in a planned trilogy and that’s a good thing for me personally. I’m exhausted mentally and emotionally from spending so much time in the Great War. Perhaps the best way to really appreciate the depths of the personal suffering—and at the same time, the indomitable courage—of the Tommys and poilus and doughboys and Germans—is to read the War Poets like Sassoon, Owen, and Brooke. I found myself going back to them again and again to find the voices of my characters caught in the sausage grinder of the War. They’re a kind if crystalline distillation of the fear and hope and despair.

What an eloquent articulation of your chosen era, Jefffrey! Thank you for that.

I, too, have alway been fascinated by WW1. what are the titles of your books?

Antoinette

Perhaps the dearth of World War I novels written by American writers can be attributed to the relatively short period of time that the U.S. was actually engaged in the war. World War I began in 1914 and the U.S. didn't enter until 1917 with the bulk of the troops landing in France in 1918. As other posters have noted, the war seemed to lack the good versus evil thrust that dramatically unfolds in World War II. I've taught the World War I period at university, and it's a chore to unravel all of the threads leading to the assassination of Francis Ferdinand and the declarations of war that ensued. World War II's footprints can be tracked more easily from the Versailles Treaty that ended the Great War.

Jeffrey want you said makes so much sense. Even those books based on the Great War shy away from its origins. Most books I have read tend to gloss over and go to the after effects from trench warfare. I suspect that it is a hangover from that time when everyone wanted to forget. It had its horrors with mental health which tends to be handled poorly even now.

I too wouldn’t mind a list of good books to read about this era. I have Three Day Road and Fall of Giants to read.

Antoinette, Jeffrey may be shy or the rules of the group may prevent his posting links to his titles. So may I? The first one is None of Us the Same and you can clock on his name next to message #4 above to see the second.

Naziism ==> true evil
Battling True Evil ==> great stories ==> timeless

WWI has long been neglected—among historians as well as novelists. I think it was something of an embarrassment: a war the great powers of the day bumbled into; that everyone thought would be a grand adventure yet proved to be anything but; that led to the breakup of the existing European order, including the Russian Revolution and the breakup of the Ottoman Empire; and that, having staggered at last to a halt, was handled so badly in the endgame that it set up the far greater conflagration of WWII. (This was the prevailing narrative, let me specify—not necessarily the truth).

But the centennial of the war has prompted a reassessment in both scholarly and fictional terms. Even if WWI still has a long way to go to equal the sheer volume of material on WWII, quite a lot has appeared in the last four years. I could list a bunch of titles if you're interested.

Many consider The Guns of August by Barbara W. Tuchman the definitive history of WWI.

A couple of my favorite historical fiction titles in this period:
No Graves As Yet by Anne Perry; the first in a 5 book series that has an ongoing mystery throughout and explores various aspects of WWI
The First of July by Elizabeth Speller
Deafening by Frances Itani - only about half of the book deals with WWI, but it is beautifully written

WW1 does seem to be having a moment on the screen. As well as Downton Abbey, there's Peaky Blinders (set just after the war, but the characters are living with its aftermath) and the Wonder Woman movie! Although my favorite TV program about WW1 is still Blackadder Goes Forth.

There are some excellent accounts by people who lived through the war, such as Goodbye to All That by Robert Graves and Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain.

But yes, there are far fewer historical novels set in "war the first" than in "war the second" (as the delightful Philomena Cunk calls them). The only one that I can think of offhand is Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks.

Thank you, Abigail. That’s very kind of you to plug my book (and trilogy, two of which are out now). And yes, I’m very fastidious about keeping within the Fictionista rules. I’d recommend Ford Madox Ford’s “Parade’s End� series of four books (and 2012 excellent TV miniseries with Benedict Cumberpatch and Rebecca Hall)—not true histfic, since they were written in the �20s, but wonderful books about the War and its aftermath. Of course, Pat Barker’s “Regeneration� trilogy, one of which won the Mann Booker, is must read for WWI in my opinion. Also, check out M.K. Tod’s wonderful books of that period.

I think that All Quiet on the Wester Front is about WW1.

I am hearing that World War I books are the next big thing and agents are looking for them.

Maisie Dobbs is a mystery that deals with the aftermath of WWI. The next books in Winspear's series also deal with this time period.

Walk to Paradise Garden This was a good read.

I would like to recommend My Dear I Wanted to Tell You by Louisa Young. A very good insight into how different people reacted to WWI and a great story.

Some of my favourites are Birdsong

War Horse

A Long Long Way

Private Peaceful

Birds Without Wings

All Quiet on the Western Front

The Absolutist

Thanks, Dem, for some "to read" fodder. They sound promising.

Not to be contrarian, but I don’t see WWI as neglected in the slightest � except by Americans, of which I am one. For UK readers and most Europeans, WWI is the war that changed everything. A generation of men was lost. The historical fiction novels pertaining to WWI are plentiful, on a global basis. In the US, we largely ignore WWI in favor of WWII, and even then we address almost always the war on Europe, and we ignore the Asian and North African theaters as settings. But “we� are not everyone :)

A couple of relevant GR lists:

/list/show/1... 321 historical fictional novels set during WWI; and

/list/show/9...
Not limited to fiction.

Carol wrote: "Not to be contrarian, but I don’t see WWI as neglected in the slightest � except by Americans, of which I am one. For UK readers and most Europeans, WWI is the war that changed everything. A genera..."

That's true on both counts. There's no lack of WWI books written by British, Canadian, and Australian authors. And there are noticeably fewer by American authors.

I did my part to remedy that, I'm proud to say. I find the First World War so much more interesting, so ambiguous, so complicated. It's a challenge for a writer, to be sure. For example, I approached pivotal scenes the first day of the Somme in my first book through an individual soldier's view of the battle. No grand strategy and generals. I kept trying to visualize seeing the horror and violence through a soda straw, which was about the field of vision (and comprehension) the average soldier would have had. It produced a very intimate feel, allowing me to really put my characters through an emotional and physical wringer. I'll leave it to readers to decide how effective I was. It was a remarkable experience immersing myself in the War for so many months regardless.

There was a huge amount of literature influenced by the war (both during and afterwards) - but most of it wasn't American. (The exception many Americans may have read in high school was Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms. Not that this is technically "historical fiction," any more than is All Quiet on the Western Front.)

I think the best historical novels set during the war that I've read are Maisie Dobbs and The Summer Before the War.

ETA: If we're talking the war generation's writings on the war, there's some great stuff, like The Good Soldier Å vejk, Storm of Steel, and Memoirs of an Infantry Officer.

There's some excellent non-fiction out there, too. Barbara Tuchman's The Guns of August is an excellent account of how the war started. John Keegan's written a good one-volume history of the war.

Not writing but BBC History Magazine did quite a few podcasts last year about WWI. There were quite a few interviews with vets. The entire series was quite interesting. All of their podcasts are archived and can be found wherever you subscribe to podcasts. I don't really do audible books but I like podcasts when I'm driving or doing chores around the house.

The Passing Bells trilogy is quite good for the war and the years after. The trilogy is by Philip Rock.

Gretchen wrote: "Not writing but BBC History Magazine did quite a few podcasts last year about WWI. There were quite a few interviews with vets. The entire series was quite interesting. All of their podcasts are ar..."

Thanks for recommending. Another great set of podcasts episodes on WWI are on Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History podcast.

I really liked The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West and William - An Englishman by Cicely Hamilton neither of which are historical fiction, the were written at the time, 'William' in particular, was "written in a rage" in a hospital tent on the front lines with in the sounds of guns and shells. It is available on Project Gutenberg if anyone is interested in reading it.

Surely the fact that Americans didn't join the war until 1916 has a big bearing on that? I believe one of the best WWI books is Sebastian Faulks "Birdsong." I felt as though I had crawled out from one of those trenches by the end of the book.

Anne wrote: "Surely the fact that Americans didn't join the war until 1916 has a big bearing on that? I believe one of the best WWI books is Sebastian Faulks "Birdsong." I felt as though I had crawled out from ..."

Even worse--the USA didn't declare war on Germany until 6 April 1917. And the AEF didn't contribute significantly to the overall effort until Aug 18--the Hundred Days. There were earlier notable exceptions, like the storied 369th "Harlem's Hellfighters"-- a 'colored' regiment that was the American regiment that served longest under fire in WWI and one 150 Croix de guerre. Such an amazing story that I wrote them into my second novel.

There's an excellent documentary that was shown on PBS on the United States and the Great War - .

TR would have gone in at the time of the sinking of the Lusitania (May 1915), when 123 Americans were killed, at the latest. Wilson, like many Americans, was more of a pacifist. He had to be unbelievably provoked before he sent a war message to Congress.

Forthcoming book set in WWI.
The Watermelon Boys by Ruqaya Izzidien

It is the winter of 1915 and Iraq has been engulfed by the First World War. Hungry for independence from Ottoman rule, Ahmad leaves his peaceful family life on the banks of the Tigris to join the British-led revolt. Thousands of miles away, Welsh teenager Carwyn reluctantly enlists and is sent, via Gallipoli and Egypt, to the Mesopotamia campaign.

Carwyn’s and Ahmad’s paths cross, and their fates are bound together. Both are forever changed, not only by their experience of war, but also by the parallel discrimination and betrayal they face.

Ruqaya Izzidien’s evocative debut novel is rich with the heartbreak and passion that arise when personal loss and political zeal collide, and offers a powerful retelling of the history of British intervention in Iraq.

Thank you, Bryn, for the synopsis. I'm intrigued. WWI is a time period that seems to hold endless fascination for me. And this is yet another slant. Another one to add to the To Read list! And what a title!

Sally wrote: "Maisie Dobbs is a mystery that deals with the aftermath of WWI. The next books in Winspear's series also deal with this time period."

Just got Maisie Dobbs. It's next up!

Sydney wrote: "Thank you, Bryn, for the synopsis. I'm intrigued. WWI is a time period that seems to hold endless fascination for me. And this is yet another slant..."

Yes, a new perspective. Sounds fascinating, and I've pre-ordered.

I agree that the dearth of American HF on the war is probably due to the brief combat experience of the Americans. Appox 3/4 of American casualties occurred in the last six weeks of the war.

That said, there are a few out there about the American involvement in WWI

Probably the best American writer of American Military historical fiction, Jeff Shaara wrote

To the Last Man: A Novel of the First World War

Another I really enjoyed is Thomas Fleming's Over There

This one in not exclusively on WW I but much of the first half of the novel is set in WW I France

Once An Eagle - probably the best book on leadership in general and Military leadership in particular I've ever read!

this one is not American, but Edward Marston has a historical mystery series set in London during the war

/series/6440...

I'm reading Sashenka by Simon Sebag Montefiore, and Part One is set in WWI Russia.

Allison wrote: "As a setting for historical fiction, I mean. Every year it seems like there are a dozen new World War II novels. World War I, not so much. This is just spitballing, but I can think of a few reasons..."

It does seem weird that there's tons of stories set during World War 2, but not much during World War 1. I think part of it is probably because the Holocaust, the Nazis, and the Nazi resistance thing makes for pretty good storytelling.

There is a crime series set in the UK during the WWI years. I forget the name, but I'm sure someone here will know the series I'm referring to. Something like "Homefront Mysteries." The main male character is a police detective. He and his wife have a son who is serving in the army. One of the things I remember about the one book in the series that I have read so far is that the couple kept checking the newspaper casualty lists in the hope that they did not see their son's name.

In addition to the books that have already been recommended, I would add A Very Long Engagement by Sébastien Japrisot.

One of my favorite historical fiction books that takes place during WWI is "Fall of Giants (#1 The Century Trilogy) by Ken Follett. In my opinion it was written in such a way that I was able to understand the complicated politics and relationships between the numerous countries involved in WWI.

Also, one of my favorite series is The War at Home series by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles. #1 is "Goodbye Piccadilly". This series mostly covers WWI as seen through the events that impact a family in England.

Sorry I'm not able to link the titles as am on my phone.

Goodbye Piccadilly and Fall of Giants.

Susanna; Thanks for linking the titles :)

Allison wrote: "As a setting for historical fiction, I mean. Every year it seems like there are a dozen new World War II novels. World War I, not so much. This is just spitballing, but I can think of a few reasons..."

Are you thinking only of the war or, also, the 1914-1918 era? If the latter, the stage and the books expand far beyond The Guns of August and the struggles on the battlefields of Europe. For example, those years also witnessed remarkable medical advances, breakthroughs in the suffrage movements of Britain and the U.S., and the advent of a pandemic that took ten times more lives than COVID, so far, has.

There appears to be a split in opinion on this question between the USA and Europe, for the reasons others have already explained. As a teacher in Scotland I loved teaching about WW1 and students reaction could get quite emotional. There are so many great books. fiction and non fiction on this subject I will only highlight a few.
Barbara Tuchman's earlier works ,The Proud Tower (for the background to the war) and August 1914 are both excellent. I would highly recommend Forgotten Voices of the Great War by Max Arthur which tells the story of the war in the voices of the men and women who participated. One of my favourite fiction works is Sebastian Faulks Bird Song . Finally can i mention that I hope to publish my own novel set in the First World war in the coming months

There is a series of five books by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles that is about WWI and is quite good.

Why is WW1 so neglected?
There are probably several reasons for this. Our eye-witness memories of the war are now gone, with the departure of the last of the veterans as well as most of the civilians and children who lived through the war. Nearly 104 years have now passed since World War 1 ended and none now remember it from personal experiences.

Also the war was mostly confined to Europe and for a brief time, Gallipoli and Egypt. It was a war mainly fought in muddy trenches. However, World War 2 was a global war covering Europe, the Mediterranean, the Far East and the Pacific. This gives greater scope for historical fiction writers in writing about land, sea and air battles as well as the home front - all still fresh in the minds of many still alive and who endured the war.

Yes! It would still be great to see more historical fiction set in World War 1 - but not just in the trenches. Small and important actions were fought in German East Africa and German New Guinea early in the war, which would make fresh backdrops for a World War 1 novel. There were also several important sea battles fought in distant oceans including the Battle of Coronel, the Battle of the Falklands and the Battle of Cocos-Keeling Islands. World War 1 offers a wealth of material for any prospective World War 1 author.

I think a bit is still published about WWI, but some of it falls more into genre fiction. While some are in a sense historical, they’re more escapist, and not a real account of the war. I forgot if it came out yet, but the film, The King’s Man falls into this, although it’s a film, not a book. Also the first Wonder Woman film, although that was VERY simplistic re: WWI. I personally thought the two best WWI novels, which others mentioned, were All Quiet on the Western Front, and A Farewell to Arms. As others said, it was a war with less clear cut good guys and bad guys. It seems that most of todays storytellers (both film and literature) lump it in with WWII, with the “evil jerries/heinie*� and good guy British and/or Americans.

*Ive been watching some late 20’s films, silent but with synchronized sound and effects. It was either in What Price Glory, or Wings where they used the slang “heinie� for the Germans.

WWI was a most devastating war from the standpoint of the use of mustard gas and other poisons. It was the first major conflict to do so and hopefully the last. This war caused the remaking of the map of the world in a most profound way because it caused the end of European colonization of much of the world as well as the end of the Turkish empire which created many countries in the middle east.

I tried to address some of the personal damage WWI warfare caused in my historical novel, Monet & Oscar, where the main character, Oscar, was impaired mentally and nearly blinded by mustard gas. We have international conventions to reduce this type of warfare that was carried out recently by Syria. As writers, it would be helpful for us to focus on the devastation of WWI and how it affected our citizens. Bringing such issues to light could help move the world forward out of the darkness of war.