Night of Flames: A Novel of World War II

by Douglas W. Jacobson (contributor)

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. Night of Flames paints a vivid and terrifying picture of war-torn Europe during WWII.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, World War II, Poland, War, Holocaust, Historical

384 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2007

About the author

Doug Jacobson is a World War Two history enthusiast who travels extensivley in Europe. Doug's bebut novel, NIGHT OF FLAMES, was inspired by his belgian relatives and his Polish heritage. The theme of Doug's interest in WW2 is the courage and determination of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events.
NIGHT OF FLAMES received the 2008 "Outstanding Achievement Award" from the Wisconsin Library Association.
Doug's second book, THE KATYN ORDER, is a historical fiction/thriller also set in World War Two and is centered around one of history's most heinous war crimes. THE KATYN ORDER was released in May, 2011.

Reviews

[Corinne Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Night of Flames, our two main protagonists are Jan and Anna - two Polish citizens in Poland at the beginning of the war. However, before we even meet them, this husband and wife are separated as Jan's career with the Polish military sends him to defend his nation from the invading German army and Anna is left in a country on the brink of catastrophe.

Because I don't want to spoil the story, I won't give too many details - but one important piece, which made the book incredibly interesting, is the fact that both of these main characters stumble into the resistance - in two different countries. Anna finds herself in occupied Belgium while Jan's experience with the Polish Cavalry is traumatic, to say the least, and leads him in a completely different direction.

And thus we switch back and forth between the two of them throughout the book as the war progresses and as each of them get deeper and more involved with the resistance. I appreciated seeing regular people choose to fight the Germans in any way they could, sacrificing just about everything they had, instead of sitting by and watching their country be torn apart. Certain scenes are very intense and the language of most of the soldiers was a bit much for me and almost felt inauthentic since the soldiers were nearly always speaking a language other than English. I recognize, however, that I have no idea of what it is like to be a soldier.

Different than most books I have read about the war, this novel certainly involves much more military history and strategy than I am used to reading. We, as readers, become active participants in the missions of the resistance and I grew to have so much respect for these citizen soldiers and the difference they made preparing the way for the Allies. I think the author did a fine job of making the more strategic sections readable for someone like me with essentially no military background. And while the characters aren't maybe as well developed as they could be, I didn't feel like it too detracted too much and the plot and history felt very well researched.

I recently learned that my Grandfather spent the bulk of his time in the war in Antwerp, Belgium (he was there for two years) and I was happy to find a book that gave me immense insight into the war years there. In fact, after reading, I called him (on his 93rd birthday, no less) and we had a long conversation about the book and I'll be sending my copy off to him shortly, as he'd like to read it.

While this is certainly a "war" book, at the heart of this novel is the decision of whether or not to follow in the footsteps of Anna, Jan, my grandpa and countless others, and put your life at stake for a greater cause than your own.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is so much more that I expected. I wanted to read it and requested it from Pump Up Your Book Promotions. I knew it was a novel of WWII and I knew it involved Poland which I knew little about. I believe reading this have given me a better understanding of some of the lesser known, yet very important battles of WWII. The story moves along at a wonderful pace, always moving forward and it kept me turning the pages.

Anna and Jan are the main characters in this novel, a married couple separated by the war, but always thinking of each other and searching each other out. They never give up even when hopes seem dim. Jan is in the Polish Army when the German occupation takes place and Anna is trying to return from Warsaw to Krakow. The book starts before the occupation and then resumes four years later in Begium and other areas of Europe. I learned a lot of the everyday person in the war. This was not a story of the battles so much as a story of life in an occupied country during the war and the hopes and fears of the people who were the resistance.

A fascinating read with wonderful characters. It’s heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. Mr. Jacobson’s characters show what the true human spirit is capable of even in times of true horror. It is well researched and well written. Night of Flames is a book that will stay with you long after reading it. I have recommended it to my husband who is a huge WWII buff and he will be reading it next.

[Juli · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 rating for this really good book. I've known the author and his family since I was a little girl, and I'm so happy that I finally got around to reading his book. I love historical fiction. "Night of Flames" is fast paced and, at times, I cringed at how vivid the details of war were. While I was reading I felt as if I was there with the characters. The historical aspect was intriguing to me and the story was gripping. It was nice to read in the "author's note" at the end, that writing "Night of Flames" was truly a family collaboration.

[Sensitivemuse · Rating 4 out of 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.

[J.S. Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0
A good enough story that got lost in short chapters which frequently changed setting from country to country. The overly stolid, plodding prose style did not help. Jacobson should read ten or 12 high quality works before attempting another novel. The author's note does have an apology of sorts, an aw-shucks-I'm-just-an-engineer apology in it, but this novel needs a ruthless edit and some additional coaching from the WI writers' group. Try reading your stuff out loud. That old trick really does work.

Minor flaws recurred in typesetting from this minor press, and more obvious line editing bloopers
( at least twice, the sun "shown [sic] " rather than shone.

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

In his debut novel set against the backdrop of World War II, Douglas W. Jacobson weaves a complex story of a young Polish couple, Jan and Anna Kopernik, seeking to be re-united amidst the ravages of war torn Europe. The story takes place in Poland and Belgium alternately following Jan and Anna as they try to cope with their separation in horrific war conditions.

When the Germans begin their relentless invasion into Poland in 1939, Anna has just come from Krakow to Warsaw to attend the funeral of her friend Irene's mother. Anna, Irene and Irene's son Justyn attempt to make their way from the ravaged city of Warsaw back to Krakow. A friend of a friend can manage to get them to Italy on a diplomatic visa but when Irene becomes ill, all plans and lives for that matter are dramatically changed.

Jan, an officer in the Polish Cavalry, and his division face some devasting battles. Although Jan manages to escape with non life- threatening injuries, he does not return to his cavalry position. With his ability to speak fluent German, Jan finds himself doing intelligence work for the British.When he is offered the chance to get back to Poland, he is determined not only to do his duty but to find Anna.Unfortunately this proves to be much more difficult than he thought it would be.

After much hardship, travail and hearbreaking losses, Anna ends up in Belgium and becomes involved with a resistance movement called the White Brigade. At one point she is captured by a Nazi officer, Dieter Koenig; a most vile, disgusting and thoroughly evil man. Even though he saves her from being sent to a concentration camp, he is determined to keep her for his own purposes. Jacobson paints such a chillingly vivid picture of this character, I could feel the hair on the back of my neck stand up and I was almost holding my breath to see how this would all pan out.

I truly enjoyed Anna's character as I felt she was a strong, intelligent and brave woman with a very caring nature. At risk to herself, she did not hesitate to help her Jewish friends Irene and Justyn. The character of Jan was not as thoroughly developed as Anna's but I still got the feeling that he was an extremely patriotic and conscientious man who would do whatever was necessary to find his beloved Anna. Would Jan and Anna find each other again in all the chaos? More importantly, would they even survive the war?

Jacobson has obviously done a tremendous amout of research for his plot driven novel and managed to seamlessly mingle fact and fiction into a wonderfully vivid story. The pages just came alive for me with all the historical detail and a myriad of characters. All the accounts of efforts made by the resistance enhanced the storyline. Jacobson has paid homage to these brave individuals who risked much and sometimes all to overcome the oppressors in their homeland. A compellingly told story of loyalty, betrayals and heroism of ordinary citizens in a time when the world seemed to have gone mad. Excellent read. I just loved it! Highly recommended. 4.5****

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 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.

[Gaby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopsis:
Night of Flames begins in September 1939, as Germany invades Poland. Through the characters of Anna and Jan Kopernik, Douglas Jacobson takes us through the days of Poland's occupation, the bravery of vastly outnumbered Polish troops, the overwhelming force of the German military, and the heroism of the underground resistance.

Jan Kopernik, an officer in the famous Wielkopolska Cavalry Brigade, a.k.a. the Polish cavalry, is a career officer sees firsthand the gaps in their intelligence sources. After barely surviving disastrous battles with German troops, Jan escapes to Britain to assist British intelligence. He is sent back to occupied territories on several undercover missions. While back in Poland, Jan searches for his missing wife, Anna.

Anna Kopernik was with her Jewish friend Irene and Irene's son Justyn when the Germans began the blitzkreig. Narrowly surviving the nighttime bombings of Warsaw, Anna leads Irene and Justyn from Warsaw back to Krakow. The granddaughter of a Polish nobleman, daughter of a law professor and a professor in her own right, Anna might have been safe in Krakow, even after the "open city" succumbed to German control. But when the Germans rounded up the intellectuals, Anna's father was dragged to a concentration camp and Anna's position becomes precarious. Her friends Irene and Justyn are ordered to wear armbands with yellow stars identifying their Jewish heritage. Offered travel visas out of Poland, Anna, Irene and Justin attempt the dangerous journey.

Years later, Justyn comes across an American aviator in the fields of the village Warempage, Belgium while checking out "drop sites" for the Allied Forces. Anna helps bring the young American to the safe house operated by the Comet Line. So begins Anna's involvement in the Comet Line and the White Brigade.

Review:
Suspenseful, engrossing, and skillfully executed, Night of Flames brings us a close look into Polish resistance movement during World War II. Douglas W. Jacobson artfully combines a complex plot with deep and sympathetic characters. The bravery and heroism of ordinary citizens in the face of grave personal danger and overwhelming odds will stay with you long after you've finished the book.

Publisher: McBooks Press; illustrated edition edition (October 1, 2008), 384 pages.
Review copy provided by Pump Up Your Book Promotion.

[Bobbie Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Night of Flames
Written By: Douglas W. Jacobson
Published By: McBooks Press, Inc., Ithaca, New York, 2007, First Edition, 383 pages, softcover
ISBN 978-1-59013-166-4

Night of Flames is an entertaining historical fiction novel. I have read several non-fiction, first-hand accounts as well as second-hand accounts of the holocaust so I found this book to be a less-disturbing look at some pivotal parts of the war. This is by no means as graphic as holocaust novels but instead it focuses on the underground movement and the relationship, struggles and heartache felt by Anna and Jan as they try to find their way back to each other.
Up until this point I had not realized that the underground...


**Please follow the link to read the whole review:
http://bookreviewsbybobbie.wordpress....

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Douglas W. Jacobson offers a diverse and personal approach to an unequivocal component of WWII in his meticulously, well-researched first novel. 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....

[Bobbie Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Night of Flames
Written By: Douglas W. Jacobson
Published By: McBooks Press, Inc., Ithaca, New York, 2007, First Edition, 383 pages, softcover
ISBN 978-1-59013-166-4

Night of Flames is an entertaining historical fiction novel. I have read several non-fiction, first-hand accounts as well as second-hand accounts of the holocaust so I found this book to be a less-disturbing look at some pivotal parts of the war. This is by no means as graphic as holocaust novels but instead it focuses on the underground movement and the relationship, struggles and heartache felt by Anna and Jan as they try to find...


**Please follow the link to read the whole review:
http://bookreviewsbybobbie.wordpress....

[David McGowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent story that covers an important part of the era that is often glossed over or not mentioned at all. Poland was used as an excuse to start WWII, and we often here that those who escaped formed the Free Polish Army, headquarterd in Britain. We also hear of the Warsa ghetto dissaster and the Polish Resistance, small though it might have been.
But we don't hear about those individuals who formed the Free Polish and their families. This novel rectifies that, but needs to be followed up by more stories just like it ... and written as well so they are this easy to read.

[Hannah Steenhoven · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. But there were so many name's and places that it got confusing trying to remember who was who and what was what. Because some people were introduced into the story and either shortly killed afterwards or just weren't in it anymore. And the character development could have been better for both of the main characters. But it did have a lot of good information, it was historically accurate, and believable. And the short, side stories were interesting and they all tied into each other in some way.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Night of Flames begins in September 1939, as Germany invades Poland. It carries through 1944. You follow the two main characters, Jan and Anna Kopernik from the invasion of Poland through Belgian underground and behind German lines adventure during the war years.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://adventuresindailyliving.blogsp...

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Exciting and I couldnt put it down.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

True to life account of the Nazi invasion of Poland. Sad but realistic. Good read though.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was ready to rate this novel a 5/5. Love this genre, and the author is a master storyteller. It appeared historically accurate, fast-paced, was realistically written with gripping plot lines. Even better, it didn't rely on "coincidences" to move things along (a frequent tactic of lazy authors). The dialogue seemed to ring (mostly) true, and there were a multitude of characters that added interest to the events described.

There were a couple of oddities, to be sure - I started to think there might be a drinking game embedded due to the number of times I read (always after two male characters in the Resistance met to discuss plans over coffee or drinks): "The two men sat silently for several minutes."

And it seemed like there were way too many variations of "icy fingers of fear ran down her spine" describing the main female character's encounters with Nazis. That was the only description the author could come up with?

Which brings me to why I rated this book a 4 instead of a 5. Anna, the primary female character. She was smart, brave, cool under pressure. And then seemingly out of nowhere, what I can only assume is the author's sexual fantasy unspools. Anna is kidnapped, taken to a remote chalet which is kitted out like a bordello, dressed in provocative clothing and held against her will. Where she is then raped by a Nazi officer who is so taken by her alluring beauty that he just can't help himself.

Hello, did I just drop unexpectedly into a Kathleen Woodiwiss or Sidney Sheldon 1970s romance novel?

After that the novel gets back on track but I just could not give it a 5 rating anymore. Still SMH.

[Marie Carmean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This incredibly well-researched and wonderfully written historic novel was a joy to read. It carried me along from page to page wondering constantly what was going to happen next. Exciting and fascinating, it followed the actual events of World War II, bringing to life the lives of ordinary people who acted heroically during this tragic time. Jan and Anna, a married couple who endure losses and triumphs and tragedies, separately as the war develops in their world, struggle heroically to survive it all. The characters were not based on actual people, but the story reflects many actual events and incidents that the author had heard and read about in his research. What happened for me at the end were actual CHILLS! I mean, the tension is strong right up to almost the last page, and then the resolution gave me chills! How many books can say that!? Started to give it only 4 stars because at times it was difficult to keep all the many minor characters straight (my only complaint) but as I read I realized that each person represented real people who were not minor at all in their real struggles during this time...they are there because their stories needed to be told. The book was amazing enough that I overlooked this little difficulty and went for the five stars!

[Susan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent novel about how the common people served for the Allied Forces. They were brave, resilient and incredibly courageous in their endeavors.
I truly wish this was made into a movie. Although the characters are fictional, the history surrounding it is true. Many people gave their lives in service to the Allies in WW2 and deserve so much praise for their part in the victory.
A must read for any history buff, but especially if you want to learn more about WW2.

[Suellen Stover · Rating 5 out of 5]

WWII Historical Novel Tells a New Story

I have read many books about WWII, some autobiographical, some biographical, and some historical novels. This book introduced me to battles and areas of Europe that I hadn’t read about before. It is a masterfully told story with interesting fictional characters sewn into the fabric of a real story.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love & War & Peace!

Although an easy to read novel, the framework is an extremely well-researched plot based on WW11 in Europe. Although a number of characters and locations, they are easy to follow, with maps showing borders that changed with the invaders. Never can too much be said of the brave resistance fighters, to whom so much is owed!!
A very rewarding read!

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book overall of an area of WWII history that I knew very little about; the Polish and Belgium resistance. I did not give it 5 stars as the author seemed to grow weary of writing at the end and it just sort "dribbled" to a conclusion. Otherwise it was a great "read."

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hooked to the end

Love reading about WWII from many differing viewpoints. This story was excellent in that it detailed the days at the very start of the war when Germany first rolled into Poland. People are amazingly courageous under extreme conditions.

[Stephen Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read!

[Megan Vimarco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down!

[Renee Cameto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to put it down.

[Gina Mendola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Polish protagonist Anna and Jan. Separated by war. Supporters of the resistance in different arenas.

[Johanna R]

Night of Flames joins the group of suspenseful, well written WWII "experiential" novels I've enjoyed. Gripping, well told story, a book that kept me up too late because I couldn't stop reading.

[Karen Mcnicol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunting.
This is not just another WWII novel, it's focus is on the underground who fought and helped to win the war against the Nazi's. Its was a great book and I just enjoyed the story of the people, and makes you hope that you would be as brave as those who helped. It has parts where you cheer and parts that make you want to cry. A must read for all those who like me like to read these type of books.

YES, I recommend this product.