WWII History at the GBF

Though the greatest war in world history ended some 68 years ago, we continue to struggle to get our arms around it.  Hundreds of books come out every year – fiction, non-fiction, and even children’s – that call our collective memories to that calamitous period of time

At this year’s GBF, six authors have stories to tell us about that all-important historical time.

Lynne Olson

Lynne Olson may be America’s premier historian when it comes to the politics and policy of World War II.  Her latest book, “Those Angry Days,” focuses on the debate in America between 1939 and 1941 about whether or not to get involved in the war.  Its central characters are FDR, who wanted to intervene, and Charles Lindbergh, who was the unofficial spokesman for the isolationists.   Looking back on that time, it may seem obvious that America should’ve intervened; however, prior to Pearl Harbor, it was an extremely difficult and controversial decision – and a fascinating story.

Evan Thomas

You probably know Evan Thomas as a distinguished journalist, best-selling author, and frequent television commentator.  His latest book is “Ike’s Bluff: President Eisenhower’s Secret Battle to Save the World.”  While the book’s main focus is on Eisenhower’s presidency, its deep insight into one of the war’s leading characters certainly earns it a spot on this list.

Leslie Maitland and Rachel S. Cox

Leslie Maitland and Rachel S. Cox both focus on individual human stories during, and will be paired in a panel called “Crossing World War II Battle Lines.”  Maitland, a former reporter for the New York Times, has written “Crossing the Borders of Time,” which traces the escape of her German Jewish mother from Europe in 1938.  And Cox’s “Into Dust and Fire” tells the story of five young Americans who, well before the U.S. enters the war, decide to join the British in their fight against the Nazis.

Jennifer Roy

The Holocaust is the subject of Jennifer Roy’s non-fiction children’s book, “Yellow Star,” which traces the story of Roy’s Aunt Syvia.  Syvia was four years old in 1939, when the Germans invaded Poland.  A few months later, her family was forced into the crowded Lodz ghetto, with more than a quarter of a million other Jews. At the end of the war, when Syvia was 10, only about 800 Jews remained-only 12 of them were children.

Kathleen Kinsolving

Kathleen Kinsolving’s book is called “Dogs of War” and it takes a look at World War II from a different sort of perspective; the eyes of three famous dogs.  Those dogs belong to FDR, General Patton, and General Eisenhower and the book traces their war stories through pictures and anecdotes.

So, as you see, if you enjoy reading about World War II, you need to be with us a the Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 18th!