Why Write about the Great War?

Why did six Christian authors write about WWI–the Great War?

Bestselling novelists Carrie Turansky, Pepper Basham, Kate Breslin, J’Nell Ciesielski, Roseanna White, and Michelle Ule all released a WWI novel during 2018-2019.

Why the Great War?

For many reasons.

Downton Abbey inspired several writers.

Kate Breslin 

“My interest in WWI and the early 1900s was sparked a few years ago watching the PBS series, Downton Abbey.

I’d already written about WWII in my debut novel, For Such a Time, but there seemed little written about the Great War.

“As I researched my first WWI-related novel, Not By Sight, I found the era’s history fascinating. It also provided an opportunity for fresh new stories.”

Roseanna White‘s agent asked her if she had written anything from the Downton Abbey or Edwardian period for possible publication.

“I had an idea that would work well in that period, and wrote a series set in 1910-1913 for Bethany House.

Of course, then I realized war was on the horizon, and I decided it would be fun to continue my exploration into the next stage of history, as England entered the Great War.”

Carrie Turansky simply followed the timeline for her Edwardian Bride series, which started in 1911.

As her series followed the Ramsey family all the way into WWI, it was natural to include the war in her third and final book, A Refuge at Highland Hall.

“When I took a research trip to England and visited Tyntesfield, the estate that inspired Highland Hall, I found the war-time diary of a woman in the bookstore on the estate. It was so interesting to read how people on the home front in England were impacted by the war. I took many true incidents from that diary and used them in the story.”

A Refuge at Highland Hall is a standalone story with a hero and heroine unique to the series. Readers may enjoy reading all three books to get a better feel for the impact the war had on lives.

Others were drawn to the unique era in publishing or the drama of the times.

Pepper Basham loved “the age of change and discovery in the WWI era,” that she wrote about in My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge.

“There’s so much going on. There’s something about the WWI era–where the “gentleman’s war” became much less gentlemanly. It shows the devastation of the human condition and the need for hope more than some other eras.”

J’nell Ciesielski enjoys reading about chivalrous men and feisty women. WWI gave her the perfect opportunity to describe such a romance!

Michelle Ule wrote numerous blog posts about how she went to work one day and ended up five years later an expert on WWI!

All that information played a role in her A Poppy in Remembrance.

“I wrote about a specific story: Oswald Chambers’ revival among the ANZAC troops in Egypt during the war–the one inspirational story out of a horrific slog.

“I enjoyed learning and writing about a young woman’s attempt to become a foreign correspondent in a man’s world.

“In addition, a visit to New Zealand inspired a hero because of the 58% casualty rates that country experienced during the Great War.”

Different angles on the Great War

A variety of heroines find their lives complicated by the Great War.

The stories include a female ambulance driver falling in love with an army captain. (Among the Poppies)

A clockmaker’s daughter tangles with a thief-turned spy. (An Hour Unspent)

The trials of a widowed British nurse falling in love with a flyer. (High as the Heavens)

A debutante who returns home to assist with orphans and meets a flyer. (A Refuge at Highland Hall)

Journalism captures the attention of a would-be foreign correspondent who can’t decide if she really loves a New Zealand soldier. (A Poppy in Remembrance)

And one story set in the American Appalachians featuring a teacher and a missionary. (My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge)

The women are all resourceful in the face of a devastating war.

Why can modern readers learn from World War I?

All the authors found the war fascinating.

Several fashioned their stories around hope and how to see God at work amid the horrors of war.

“In any time period, people need to know there is hope. I think it felt more poignant in this era when the world suddenly expanded and all sorts of people were thrust together.

“When you get a bunch of people together who need Jesus, you’re bound to need a lot of hope,” explained Pepper Basham.

Michelle Ule agreed.

“Since A Poppy in Remembrance is a coming of age story, spiritually, emotionally and professionally, Claire needs to have hope to survive the four miserable years.

“Her spiritual discovery mixes with her life and provides her with a conviction that her journalism needs to provide hope to a broken world following the war.”

The timeless importance of individual character

“The lessons of courage, trusting God, and taking a stand against evil are timeless, and I hope they will be inspiring to readers,” said Carrie Turansky.

In her writing, Kate Breslin discovered,

“Those who lived a hundred years ago weren’t all that different from us today. They worked hard, had their dreams, and experienced the same joys, fears, hopes, and sorrows.

“They were ordinary people who in times of crisis could rise beyond themselves to accomplish the extraordinary.”

Roseanna White agreed:

“We all know history repeats itself–or “at least rhymes,” as one author said.

“In a lot of ways our modern world is mirroring the way things were before the outbreak of the Great War, which is scary.

“But I tend to focus more on individuals than sweeping history.

“In my stories, I really want to explore how the least of us can have huge, lasting impact upon our world when we do the extraordinary, ordinary things God calls us to.”

Among the Poppies grappled with a woman refusing to let social status or gender prevent her from serving her country.

How did writing the books change the authors’ perspectives on WWI?

“The roots of the war and the end result of the Great War were more complicated than I expected,” Michelle Ule said.

Zeppelin bombing of Antwerp (Wikimedia Commons)

“Many of the catastrophic events of the 20th century, especially WWII and the growth of Communism, were directly linked to the war.

“I really don’t like Woodrow Wilson. I’m shocked American banks ultimately paid the reparations bill.”

The technological advances surprised several people.

Carrie Turansky learned a great deal about aviation.

“It was so interesting to see how developments in aviation moved forward quickly to combat this challenge and protect England.

“I learned about the Zeppelins coming from Germany and bombing England, and this was the first time airships had been used like this.”

Several of us recognized the Great War planted the seeds for World War II.

“Until I really began studying this era, I was much more familiar with World War II,” Roseanna White said.

“Much of the technology, methods, intelligence, and even mindsets that we know from that later war had their start in the first World War.”

Kate Breslin hoped her readers learn about history without feeling like they’ve received a history lesson!

“I love weaving historical facts into my fictional stories.

“It still surprises me how much of the innovation we employed during WWII had its roots in WWI. Our ancestors were extremely inventive and clever!”

Pepper Basham perhaps said it best:

“Spiritually, I loved delving into the aspects of forgiveness from various perspectives.

“Time-wise, I enjoyed researching the indomitable reach of the human spirit to love, sacrifice, and adapt to change.”

All six found great fodder for telling wonderful stories about a difficult time in history.

Why not take a look at their Great War novels?