Echoes of War: Books That Remember the Fallen

May10,2025

A harrowing and poetic portrayal of German soldiers’ experiences in World War I, highlighting the futility and devastation of war.

All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque

A blend of memoir and fiction about American soldiers in the Vietnam War, focusing on grief, trauma, and the emotional weight they carry

The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien

Set during the Spanish Civil War, this novel reflects on death, duty, and the collective cost of conflict.

For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway

A powerful historical account of the massacre in Nanking, China during World War II — a painful yet vital remembrance of civilian and military loss.

The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang

A classic memoir about the Vietnam War that candidly explores the transformation from idealism to disillusionment through the lens of death and destruction.

The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang

A visceral first-hand account of brutal combat in the Pacific during WWII, emphasizing the sacrifices and horrors faced by soldiers.

With the Old Breed by Eugene B. Sledge

A memoir of a young woman’s loss during World War I, capturing the grief of an entire generation mourning their dead.

Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain