In Which We Discuss #Resistance (And A Shamless Plug)

This week I’m sharing a project that I worked on which is near and dear to my heart. A wonderful group of authors has used their collective brilliance to publish a collection of short stories, the proceeds of which will be donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC. I was honoured to write the foreword to this book. I am sharing  that with you here this week in hopes that your interest will be sparked. Here’s a bit about the book. 

The Darkest Hour: WWII Tales of Resistance. Come and get a glimpse of the invisible side of WWII - the Resistance, those who refuse to bow down to brutality. Hold your breath and hope for the best in the darkest of times, when our heroes and heroines risk all to defy evil so the light of freedom will shine over their countries again. This collection includes ten never before published novellas by ten of today’s bestselling WWII historical fiction authors.

The book is slated to release on January 22 and already hit the best-seller list. US readers can buy the book on Amazon here. UK readers can buy the book here.

Foreword

There’s no doubt that World War II fiction is enjoying a huge popularity surge. Kristin Hannah’s “The Nightingale” published with critical acclaim, and Anthony Doerr’s “All The Light We Cannot See” swept the coveted Pulitzer Prize. This popularity is evidenced in television as well, with popular shows such as Bletchley Circle, Foyle’s War, and The Man in the High Castle. Why this surge in popularity, especially in the US market? Why do these stories that encapsulate a series of events that should have never happened intrigue us so? What do we hope to gain by reading stories about this war and the tyranny and horrors that accompanied it?

This question in itself presents a moral dilemma. Readers of fiction latch onto stories with a successful protagonist. We covet stories of resistance, courage, and survival. World War II provides an excellent launching pad for stories of reckless bravery by ordinary people. Those of us who root for the underdog seek out stories wherein the humble displaced citizen is able to make a difference. While this ethos is entertaining from a fiction standpoint, it is important to note the American experience of the Second World War’s heroics may not jibe with the global perspective. Many survivors of Nazi brutality came to America after the war and turned their stories into those of American pluck and heroism. It’s important to remember that these stories of successful heroes – at least in the context of World War II – are the exception and not the rule.

Given these divisive times and the current global political climate, it is my hope – and the hope of those who contributed to this anthology – that this trend in the popularity of World War II fiction will lead to curiosity, action, and prevention. For if you show an interest in this time in history and the stories that result from it, how can you not be curious and concerned about the events taking place now? The questions of how and why must be underscored with a resounding never again!

Some of the authors bring stories of resistance directly from their family history, all bring a unique perspective in the form of tight storytelling that will keep you intrigued from page one. This project for a good cause has morphed into a project of the heart. The passion of these writers is woven through the tapestry of their stories. It is important that the horrors of World War II are documented and remembered. World War II fiction gives us a story – with a protagonist and villain that entertain – that allows us to learn about history and garner a literary knowledge of the past. I believe these stories will invoke an emotional response that will keep the suffering and the sacrifice in our memories. While it is crucial – especially given our current political climate – that we never forget, it is even more important that we actively remember, and that we undertake to prevent the horrors of the Nazi regime before they happen again.

Terry Lynn Thomas
November 2018