Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Unavailable
    Night of Flames: A Novel of World War II
    Unavailable
    Night of Flames: A Novel of World War II
    Unavailable
    Night of Flames: A Novel of World War II
    Ebook571 pages7 hours

    Night of Flames: A Novel of World War II

    By Douglas W. Jacobson

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    Painting a vivid and terrifying picture of war-torn Europe during World War II, this tale chronicles the lives of Anna, a Krakow university professor, and her husband Jan, a Polish cavalryman. After they are separated and forced to flee occupied Poland, Anna soon finds herself caught up in the Belgian Resistance, while Jan becomes embedded in British Intelligence efforts to contact the Resistance in Poland. He soon realizes that he must seize this opportunity to search for his lost wife, Anna.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMcBooks Press
    Release dateOct 1, 2008
    ISBN9781590133033
    Unavailable
    Night of Flames: A Novel of World War II

    Read more from Douglas W. Jacobson

    Related to Night of Flames

    Related ebooks

    Historical Fiction For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      The Plagues Steph Cha

      Sep 29, 2020

      The Plagues Steph Cha
      9 min read

    • Article

      In Love And War

      Jun 10, 2021

      April 1943 - Krakow, Poland Irena was bent over her needlework, stitching the frayed seam of her skirt when she heard a single gunshot ring out. She jerked and then scowled. After four years of war, she ought to be used to it. Why, the other night a

      11 min read

    • Article

      Shelter

      May 28, 2022

      Shelter
      4 min read

    • Article

      Lay Your Burden Down

      Mar 1, 2019

      Lay Your Burden Down
      15 min read

    • Article

      The Ladies Book Club

      Apr 10, 2024

      “Our brains are shaped with the capability to care deeply but also to kill. This deep ambivalence is potentially problematic. A society filled with people who are inherently very compassionate and very violent might prove unstable.”1 1Emile Bruneau,

      25 min read

    • Article

      Quantum Radio

      Feb 22, 2023

      Quantum Radio
      5 min read

    • Article

      O Fortuna, Velut Luna

      Sep 15, 2018

      What is Miss Treece’s trouble, according to a popular notion? The man A has failed to show up. Arousing herself at the restaurant, she fixes her lipstick when her solo supper concludes and takes herself down the stairs situated behind the bar. There,

      3 min read

    • Article

      Crescent City

      Dec 1, 2021

      Crescent City
      5 min read

    • Article

      Hey, Necromancer!

      Sep 18, 2018

      Hey, Necromancer!
      8 min read

    • Article

      The Glass Ceiling

      Aug 21, 2023

      ‘You’re late.” Evangeline glanced up from her workbench, neck already aching from the intricate creation before her: a hat decorated with no fewer than six hummingbirds, pinned to netting so fine it would look as though the creatures were, indeed, fl

      6 min read

    • Article

      It Happened to Me…

      Apr 21, 2022

      It Happened to Me…
      8 min read

    • Article

      Silence and Air Raids

      Nov 25, 2022

      Silence and Air Raids
      14 min read

    • Article

      Two Poems

      Sep 1, 2022

      Are you ready? I nodded. She slid the needle inand the sick cat, who only a moment before had tried toleap to the floor closed his eyes and exhaled. Andthat’s it, she said a little too brightly, pulling the needle out.That’s it? I asked. That’s all t

      3 min read

    • Article

      Notes from St. John the Divine

      Oct 3, 2022

      I wondered whether Joan would have been pleased by any of this. The post Notes from St. John the Divine appeared first on The Millions.

      6 min read

    • Article

      Two Poems

      Jul 1, 2023

      I The teenaged girl is searching for a placethat goes through, the holeto put the tampon inside. When she finds itshe asks her mother, Is this where the penis would go?Yes, her mother explains.Then I will never have sex. II Sweltering New York City.

      5 min read

    • Article

      Book Club

      Nov 9, 2023

      Book Club
      5 min read

    • Article

      Crossed Wires

      Feb 23, 2024

      Crossed Wires
      5 min read

    • Article

      A Symposium on Childhood

      Sep 1, 2021

      A Symposium on Childhood
      25 min read

    • Article

      Where Is Your Mind?

      Feb 16, 2021

      Where Is Your Mind?
      4 min read

    • Article

      Literary Paper Dolls: Franny

      May 20, 2019

      Literary Paper Dolls: Franny
      5 min read

    • Article

      Four Poems

      Mar 1, 2022

      When making an axe handlethe pattern is not far off. —Gary Snyder My mother was either horizontal on the couch,or vertical, a plumb line from her spineto the top of her head to the ceiling that spinswhen she drinks, alcohol and an air bubbletrapped,

      4 min read

    • Article

      Quiet Night

      Aug 7, 2023

      Quiet Night
      19 min read

    • Article

      Horror Begins At Home: The Haunting New Chapter In Domestic Noir

      Oct 29, 2022

      When Dee walks through the front door in Catriona Ward’s recent thriller The Last House on Needless Street, readers of gothic fiction find themselves in a familiar place. The house is “an underworld; a deep cave where lonely shafts of light fall on s

      4 min read

    Reviews for Night of Flames

    3.5/5

    48 ratings16 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 3/5
      I read this author’s other book a year and a half ago, enjoying most of it but finding the ending lacking. This novel both shines and suffered from the same areas as the last one.The book’s plot is phenomenal. The tale starts out stunning with the invasion of Poland and just keeps the steam up all the way to the liberation of Antwerp four years later. There is not one slow area of the book; it’s just chock full of nail-chewing escapes, close calls, horrifying battles, and the struggle against an overwhelming invader/enemy. All of this is a big plus in a spy/Resistance thriller.I enjoyed the characters in this volume, too. Anna more than Jan, as she seemed the more developed of the two, but both kept me on the edge of my seat on their journeys through war-torn Europe and fighting against the Nazis. I liked how vulnerable and realistic both were. They weren’t super-secret agents but real people driven to act against the ultimate evil.Where this book falters, like the first, was towards the end and the ending itself. Again we have a serious lack of resolution. The reader is left hanging when it comes to character development and dealing with the entire trauma the author put them through. The actual spy stuff is concluded but then we’re left with nothing on how the characters dealt with the war itself and all its brutality.This is especially evident with Anna’s storyline. I mean, dang this girl was put through the ringer but nothing. No scenes of healing or peace after her ordeal. Just a scene asking for time. I mean, really?!?! Her storyline also suffered towards the end from a bit too much melodrama. The whole thing with Dieter felt out of place and just stuck in there for sh*ts and giggles. So good things and bad things within, this book was about the same as the previous. A plotline that won’t let you go and realistic, down-to-earth characters were a real plus. Yet, an ending that lacked resolution and some out-of-place melodrama towards the end really sucked the good out of the book. A solid three stars, I’d give this book a read if you’re in the market for a spy thriller as they story pleases. Brace yourself for that ending, though.
    • 5/5
      This is a very good book. One of the better ones I have read in a long time. Jan Kopernik is the Polish Jack Ryan. Look forward to more books from this author.
    • 4/5
      I read this book some months ago, had have only just realized that I forgot to write up a review. It is the story of a Polish academic wife and her army husband, who are therefore separated by the war, and their struggle to survive, and the hope that each other still lives and that they will find each other. The Belgian resistance movement is a shining star in the book. I knew a little about the French resistance (thanks 'Allo 'Allo!), but this telling of the courage of the Belgian resistance members, and though people placed in undercover assignments at the peril of their lifes is quite amazing. I do remember as I was reading the book, that there was a little time jump at one point of the characters narratives, and I was so caught up in the story that I wished that the story had continued on. I really enjoyed this book.
    • 4/5
      Douglas Jacobson's Night of Flames is a gritty "spy" novel set during World War II beginning in 1939 during the invasion of Poland by the Nazis. The main protagonists Anna and Jan Kopernik are separated by war and face near misses with the wrath of the Germans. Anna joins the resistance in Belgium reluctantly, while Jan jumps at the opportunity to help MI6 on a secret mission in Poland with the hope that he can find his wife."Anna's eyes snapped open and she sat bolt upright. The shrill sound blasted into her brain, penetrating through the fog of sleep like an icy wind. She blinked and looked around the dark room, trying to focus on shadowy images as the sound wailed on and on." (Page 11)Anna is in Poland with her friend, Irene, and her son when the bombings start in earnest, leaving them and their driver very few options on the way back to Krakow and her father, a professor at the local university. Anna is hit by significant loss and constant worry about her husband, who's career is with the Polish military. Night of Flames is a fast-paced novel that pushed through the front lines and skulks in the shadows of the resistance."'The best thing any of us can do is try and keep out of their way, and if you get stopped or challenged, be as cooperative as you can.''So you're telling us to act like house pets in our own city.'" (Page 65)Jacobson's no-nonsense writing style will place readers in the heart of the resistance, though some readers could get bogged down by the military strategy and direction, such as how the resistance used holes dug in the earth to hold lanterns that were lit to signal the Allies as to where to drop supplies. Readers will either enjoy the detailed strategy or wish for a greater focus on the characters. Anna is the most developed of the two protagonists, though Jacobson does give each nearly equal time through alternating chapters. These chapters help build tension, leaving the reader in suspense as to whether they will ever be reunited.Readers who enjoy learning about World War II and who enjoy spy novels will like this novel. But Night of Flames is more than just a war novel; it is about how ordinary citizens can rise up to reclaim their homeland and their dignity in the face of adversity signifying an indelible human spirit.
    • 4/5
      Like some of the books I have read from this era, Night of Flames reflects the hardships people had to endure during this time; from hiding away and avoiding arrest, to desperately trying to survive through very difficult times, to leaving your home and finding another one hoping you'd be safe there, and to find your loved ones hoping they had survived. These are most of the themes covered in this book.You go through the book through the eyes of mostly Anna and Jan Kopernik. Jan, who's a Polish officer and hesitantly becomes a member of the Resistance and spy, and Anna, his wife who then becomes a member of the Resistance in Belgium. There's a few characters whom you share the point of view as well, but Anna and Jan are the main ones. Of the two, I like Anna the most. She turned out to be the stronger of the two and the most resourceful. (Examples include her having to get out of Poland with some friends and arriving at Belgium to survive and helping the Resistance). Having said that, you'll find Anna goes through a lot but manages to come out of it alive (although mentally scarred, as you'll see when you read the book). I don't know what to say about Jan. There was really nothing he could have done better as his main goal through the book was to find Anna. I guess you could say he was strong as well; having to go through dangerous missions while not forgetting his main goal at the same time but I just find that I am emotionally more attached than Anna than I am of Jan for some reason, I suppose her character just developed a lot better. Speaking of characters...Dieter Koenig will make you skin crawl, the hairs on your arms rise, and your stomach to heave. That's all I have to say about that.Plotwise; I love the plot. There were a lot of nail biting moments and plenty of action. This is definitely not a boring book. There's not much deviation from the plot although I noticed the main focus was really on Anna and her part in the Resistance. Not to say Jan didn't have an equal share in the plot..I suppose Anna's part in the plot was just a little more exciting! Given the theme of the story, I'd have to say it was sad. The ending wasn't really what I expected and left me with a sense of melancholy. Perhaps it was meant to be that way. Let's just say the ending was rather, bittersweet. I'll leave you to judge.Overall a great book for the World War II history fan like I am. Definitely not one to be missed. Pick it up when you can. It's a good read and the action will leave you turning page after page.
    • 4/5
      The subtitle pretty much says it all: A Novel of World War II. This is a classic old-fashioned WWII novel. All the elements are here: Otherwise ordinary people challenged by war to become quiet heroes; lovers separated for years; unspeakable brutality; Jews running for their lives; Resistance fighters and spies; despicable Nazi villains. The characters aren’t developed indepth and the writing is workmanlike. This isn’t great literature but it’s a good story well told. During the invasion of Poland, Anna and Jan Kopernik are separated. He ends up in England with the Polish army and serves as a British spy. She saves the Jewish son of their best friends and ends up in Belgium helping the Resistance during the long occupation. Jacobson has clearly done a great deal of research about the two theatres of war covered in the book: The invasion of Poland and the Battle of Antwerp during the Allied invasion. He weaves the facts into the fictional story lending it authenticity while still allowing for suspense. If you like a good WWII story without a lot of frills, this is the book for you.
    • 5/5
      The nice folks at Library Thing helped me get an advance reading copy of this fine World War II historical fiction. This is a plot-driven tale, not a character-driven one, so if you are longing for carefully crafted and embellished characters this is not your book. But, if you enjoy taking your dose of history nicely wrapped in a story, this is an excellent choice.Jacobson's tale follows a husband and wife through Germany's occupation of Poland. The husband is an officer in the Polish cavalry; the wife gets drawn into the Polish resistance. The readers get an intimate view of the lives of ordinary people forced into extraordinary situations. It is well-researched and detailed, without becoming tiresomely weighted down with historical facts and figures. The pace is brisk -- it was hard to put down and the ending was very satisfying, if not a wee bit predictable.
    • 3/5
      The historical background of this book was very well written but, the characters could have been more developed. I felt like I never got a true feeling of the characters and had some disconnect. I tend to read more about the American and British side of WWII so, in that respect I did learn more about the Belgian and Polish Resistance.
    • 3/5
      In 1939, Hitler's forces invaded Poland, creating havoc and destruction throughout the country with air raids, infantry and tank operations. Many citizens joined the resistance, secretly carrying out operations aimed at hindering the German war machine while aiding the Allies in any way possible. On this backdrop we meet Anna and Jan Kopernik, a Polish couple separated by the war. Jan is a Major in the Polish Calvary, stationed in western Poland very close to the German border, who eventually becomes a secret operative. After the invasion, Anna must flee alone to Belgium, reluctantly becoming part of the Belgian resistance. In their search to find each other amidst the frantic war, Anna and Jan will come face to face with the senseless death and tragic brutality that has overtaken their world. Surrounding Anna and Jan's adventure are the stories of the dozens of wartime heroes who risked their lives and freedom to root out the Germans from their countries, some quietly slipping into the night, and some paying the ultimate price.Though the story in this book was very gripping and engaging, there were many areas that I thought the book could have been better. Firstly, the characters seemed somewhat wooden and unrealistic. Introspection by any of the characters was slim and sparse. They never reflected deeply, nor thought and let the reader see how their mind was working. It was all exposition and reaction, never anything substantial or meaningful. I felt like I didn't know any of the characters or the reasoning behind their actions, which cut me off from elements of the story. This, coupled with improbable dialogue, made the players seem unbelievable. Another problem was that many characters were mere stereotypes -- the histrionic war widow, the taciturn and emotionless soldier, the distant informer -- which made them seem like cardboard cut-outs instead of real people. I wanted to be able to connect with these people and their situation, but couldn't. I found that their personalities and behaviors made them remote and inaccessible. There wasn't enough meat there to really get into, and it affected my immersion in the story. Then there was the introduction of so many characters in such a short space of time. Many were only touched once and then forgotten. Others would be revisited long after a brief introduction, making it difficult to remember who was who and what situation they had came from. The effect was very cluttering and claustrophobic.This was a big book, with big ideas and a lot to say. The problem was, everything was crunched down and compacted. There were a lot of situations that I felt should have been more deeply covered, and story lines that were left cold. In particular, there was one point where the storyline jumped from 1939 to 1943 with no mention of what had happened in between, making the story seem a bit disjointed. I would have liked to know how the characters had fared and what had happened during this huge space of time, and what accomplishments had been made on the war front. Another irritating aspect of the story was all the coincidences that took place. The timing and situations were designed to make the ending tie up neatly and quickly. The coincidental aspect of so much of the story was off-putting.There were points to praise though. The amount of historical detail and research that went into this story was impressive. I could tell by the authors confidence in the writing that he had done his homework regarding the multiple battles and significant aspects of this war. Also, there was a good amount of tautness in the storyline that kept my interest and kept me wondering about the outcomes of each specific engagement. Each mission was painted with great intensity and detail, stretching out to capture the imagination of the reader. As a story of war, I would consider this a very successful book. It had all the action and strategy, and combined with meticulous research, it kept packing punches. The human element though, was less developed and more troublesome.I do think there are many who would enjoy this book. War enthusiasts, particularly of WWII, will get much from this novel, as well as those who are interested in well-dissected history. I learned a lot from this story, particularly about the Polish resistance and its many successful endeavors during the invasion. An interesting concept that in some instances was executed well, and in others was not.
    • 2/5
      The first part of this book was the story of the German invasion of Poland in 1939. It tells about the fate of one Polish family from Krakow, the husband fighting in the Polish cavalry, the wife desperately trying to keep the rest of her family safe from the SS at whatever cost. This section, unfortunately, was enormously boring. The writing itself fell flat. I put this book down for a while and came back to it later hoping I would be in the mood for it later, but it didn't help. The writin...more The first part of this book was the story of the German invasion of Poland in 1939. It tells about the fate of one Polish family from Krakow, the husband fighting in the Polish cavalry, the wife desperately trying to keep the rest of her family safe from the SS at whatever cost. This section, unfortunately, was enormously boring. The writing itself fell flat. I put this book down for a while and came back to it later hoping I would be in the mood for it later, but it didn't help. The writing was utterly unengaging. I had trouble paying attention and when I did I was annoyed by things such as the way no character could be described unless they were standing in front of a mirror or a still body of water. But after 150 pages, we got to part two. This part was the story of the same family struggling to survive in war torn Europe four years later. The war is still raging and the husband and wife are both involved in resistance movements in Poland and Belgium. This part was much more interesting than the first part. The writing itself was still boring, but here the story was interesting enough to make up for it somewhat. Over all, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. Life is too short for boring books. I'm sure there must be better World War II resistance movement stories out there.
    • 5/5
      Night of Flames, by Douglas W. Jacobson, is a novel about World War II, and more specifically, about the Belgian resistance movement known as the White Brigade. The story is told primarily through the eyes of Jan and Anna Kopernik, a young Polish couple who is separated thoughout much of the war but each plays an important role in the resistance effort.The book opens in Warsaw, Poland in September, 1939, with Germany carrying out mass air raids on the city. Anna, a thirty-something university associate professor, is visiting Warsaw from Krakow with her Jewish friend Irene and Irene's 10 year-old son Justyn. When Warsaw is bombed, the travelers flee home to Krakow only to find it has suffered the same fate. With the help of an Italian diplomat, Anna, Irene and Justyn obtain travel visas out of Poland.Meanwhile, Anna's husband Jan is an officer in the Polish army. In the beginning of the book, the army suffers crushing defeat at the hands of the Germans. Many of Jan's comrades are killed, including his best friend, who is also Irene's husband and Justyn's father. When Poland surrenders to Germany, Jan escapes to Britain, where he is recruited to work in the resistance movement. The book then skips ahead to 1943, and the author introduces several members of the Belgian resistance. They are ordinary people - husbands, wives, and sons united in a common desire to reclaim their country from conquering Germany. Some are country peasants and merchants, others are urbane intellectuals. Anna, now living with Justyn in rural Belgiam, serves the movement by helping fallen Allied aviators out of occupied Belgium. Jan moves about Europe, doing espionage for the White Brigade.Night of Flames is a plot-driven novel that delves deeply into a little-known facet of World War II: the Belgian resistance movement. Much of the story recounts various operations carried out by the movement. Throughout the novel, the reader is in suspense about how the efforts of the White Brigade will play out. Will the movement be crushed, or survive to play an important role in the Allied invasion?Jacobson brings history alive with vivid details that convey the increasing desolation of war. The sound of air raid sirens and the ensuing panic. Polish infantrymen sprinting across an open field that is being strafed by Germans. A group of university professors polishing off what they know will be their last bottle of cognac for a very long time.As the novel unfolded, it was impossible not to wonder about the fates of Anna, Jan and other members of the White Brigade. Of course, it could not end well for every character. Who would survive, and who would not: it's a question that prevails in almost every war story. Anna and Jan lost so many of the people they cared about, and in their search for one another, kept missing each other; Jan would end up in a place Anna had been a few days after she had left.Night of Flames is sure to interest anyone who enjoys historical fiction, specifically that relating to WWII, while the imagery and suspense employed by Jacobson, as well as his diverse cast of characters make this a novel that may appeal to an even larger audience.
    • 4/5
      Douglas W. Jacobson offers a diverse and personal approach to an unequivocal component of WWII in his meticulously, well-researched first novel. Yes, it originates with the German invasion of Poland in 1939, to introduce us to the fictional characters of Jan and Anna Kopernik. Through their divergent paths, we proceed to the" true grit" of this book: the examination of the grossly unrecognized heroes of the resistance movement in Poland and in Belgium. I believe this extraordinary novel is a well-deserved tribute to the strength of seemingly unremarkable patriots whose love of country, life, and fellow man galvanized them to risk their lives to unknowingly alter the course of WWII history. Their heroic achievements are accurately recounted in a historical page-turner that deserves not only to be read, but also to be remembered. The title is perfect: NIGHT OF FLAMES.... Well done, Mr. Jacobson!!
    • 3/5
      Night Of Flames is a very well-researched novel set during WWII. The invasion of Poland and its occupation by Germany is told in harrowing detail, leaving readers with an understanding of the horrific effects of war on soldiers and civilians. The main characters, Jan and Anna, are a married couple drawn into the resistance movement. Their unflinching and consistent courage in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles seemed a bit contrived, as did the constant references to Anna's red-haired beauty. It was, however, a riveting look at the Polish and Belgian resistance movement during this darkest hour in world history.
    • 3/5
      This thriller about the Polish and Belgian resistance to the Nazis during WWII has a gripping plot line, but not very well-developed characters. Our main characters, Jan and Anna, along with many of the secondary characters behaved predictably, utilizing melodramatic and stilted dialogue. Despite a disappointing character line-up though, the book was difficult to put down due to its jam-packed twists and turns.
    • 3/5
      WWII is my favourite time period and setting for a book so this was a great read for me. The author does a great job of making you feel you are right there, seeing, hearing and feeling everything as the characters do. His use of description is not overdone but just right. The book moves along at a good pace without taking away from the often heartbreaking journey of our 2 main characters, Anna and Jan. I found the ending a bit abrupt but not jarring. Hitler's brutes wreak havoc in their lives of course. I've read so much about this era and it never ceases to amaze me that these creeps were real and did these horrible things - could an author ever make up such despicable persons and acts and yet the evil did exist. Our characters and the many sub characters show how individuals, some in small and some in great ways, rose up against this tyranny without a second thought. They had to in order to remain human.
    • 4/5
      Anna and Jan Kopernik are living in Warsaw when Germany invades Poland in 1939. The war separates the young married couple but they never lose their hope of being reunited. Shifting points of view between Anna and Jan, we’re taken along a journey of violence, destruction, resistance, and hope. Jacobson delivers a gripping, realistic portrayal of ordinary people living and surviving under extraordinary circumstances.