Gone to Soldiers: A Novel

Gone to Soldiers is an epic novel spanning World War II that follows ten narrators, each with distinct stories shaped by the war. The narrative emphasizes the experiences of women in the war effort, including Bernice, who becomes a fighter pilot against her father's wishes, and Naomi, a Parisian Jew who relocates to Detroit while her twin sister Jacqueline remains in France to join the resistance. The novel depicts the concentration camps, combat on multiple fronts—including the beaches of Okinawa, the skies above London, and the Mediterranean—as well as the work of code breakers and families awaiting the return of loved ones. Through its prose, the book portrays both the heroism and the ordinary struggles of people who lived through the war, showing their flaws and inner conflicts alongside their efforts to defend liberty during an extraordinary period.