How can we justify war if murder is a mortal sin in all religions? Can a man lose his humanity and become a fierce beast? What causes wars, and what do they lead to? Hundreds of books answer these questions. We’ve compiled a list of 5 brilliant and world-famous books that delve into the moral complexities of war. Enjoy!
1984 – George Orwell
This George Orwell anti-utopia novel, published in 1949, is not entirely about war. But it captures the essence of the phenomenon that often leads to wars. We mean the cult of personality, the tyranny. To dive into the concept deeper, you might use an essay about 1984 written by a professional author. The best thing about any 1984 book essay, review or other examples of literary criticism is the help of readers. Specialists highlight the meanings of different symbols and analyze the plot lines and characters so profoundly that the reading experience becomes much better.
The meaning of the novel is to present the world, evolved according to the laws of today to the state of tyranny, and show its squalor and total incompatibility with human values and ideas. This artwork, describing the horrors of totalitarianism, remains shocking. And the first thing that makes you shudder is the reality of what Orwell describes. Unfortunately, we have examples of such totalitarian regimes even in the modern world.
For Whom The Bell Tolls – Ernest Hemingway
The next one in our best war books list is “For Whom The Bell Tolls”. Artists, authors, and activists of a certain age were transfixed by the events of the Spanish Civil War. They saw a foreshadowing of world changes that were yet to come. The novel’s protagonist is an American, Robert Jordan, who served with the International Brigades. This novel, which may be Hemingway’s best, is a riveting narrative of sacrifice and patriotism. It’s the tragic story of a young man who came to Spain in the midst of a civil war.
The brilliant book tells us about war and love, true courage and sacrifice, moral duty, and the enduring value of human life. The title speaks for itself. Never ask for whom the bell rings: it rings for you. We can hardly be calm and serene when the very survival of human civilization is threatened.
Slaughterhouse-Five Or The Children’s Crusade – Kurt Vonnegut
Slaughterhouse-Five is one of the most outstanding examples of war stories. The book begins with the 1945 bombing of Dresden and, through the perspective of its time-traveling protagonist Billy Pilgrim, brilliantly shows the absurdity of all the events. The second part of the title refers to the senseless crusade of children centuries ago. This campaign was ridiculous and tragic for those involved. The author considers war an unnecessary, absurd thing that poisons the lives of attackers and defendants.
«Slaughter Number Five» is also a humanistic novel. It allows the possibility of hope at the end of the horror. The last passage describes the end of the war and the release of prisoners, including Billy Pilgrim and Vonnegut himself.
All Quiet On The Western Front – Erich Maria Remarque
It’s definitely one of the good books about war. Remarque was a soldier who had served in World War I, so he described all the horrors remarkably well. Paul Bäumer, the novel’s protagonist, shares his readers’ excitement in Germany and Britain about his impending journey. But all he sees is a life totally destroyed by war.
The idea of this novel is to show the reader that the fear of death overcomes all. Even love and courage can’t withstand it. And the only thing that matters in tragic moments is friendship. All events unfold against the backdrop of war; hence, the idea is sharpened and violates several issues.
Henry VI – William Shakespeare
Shakespeare’s Henry VI trilogy covers the time of the War of the Roses. It’s a shame that in the centuries since Shakespeare’s time, we haven’t done the research and learned much about the futility and horror of war (a concept explored extensively in the third part). If you intend to read “Henry VI”, keep in mind the following.
Shakespeare transmits the actual events at their core with many errors and anachronisms. However, the style, language, and senses behind it are worth analyzing. The historical chronicle also touches on the topic of the civil war. According to Shakespeare, the leading cause of the English failure was the discord between the English nobles, which led to the war inside the country.
Conclusion
Many authors analyzed historical events and concluded that war is evil. It seems obvious. But history repeats itself, and humanity faces new battles in the 21st century. It’s high time for all of us to learn from our ancestors’ experiences, read war novels, and never repeat their mistakes. We hope our list of books about war will help you in that way.
Jack Griffiths
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