WW2 Historical Fiction
by Anna Normann

Stories of courage, resistance and resilience.

Meet Anna Normann

Anna Normann is the shared pen name of authors Natalie Normann and Anan Singh. Having previously collaborated on crime novels and children's horror books, the pair have reunited to explore their shared love of history through World War II fiction.

Their latest novels, The Silent Resistance and The Librarian of Oslo, are published by Allison & Busby.

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The Librarian of Oslo

Coming February 18th 2027

When Nazi forces invade Oslo, quiet librarian Liv Dahl becomes an unlikely resistance leader, risking everything to safeguard secrets and lives. As danger tightens around her, Liv must outwit Gestapo agents, protect hidden allies, and navigate a forbidden romance with a mysterious spy. But when betrayal strikes and Liv is deported to Ravensbr ck concentration camp, survival becomes her only mission.

An unforgettable heart-wrenching story of a woman who dares to resist, and the quiet heroism that changes the course of lives including her own.

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The Silent Resistance

Occupied Norway, 1944.

Anni endures the war alone, aiding the resistance while longing for news of her sailor husband. Her daughter, Ingrid, is her joy, and Anni is determined to keep her safe. But when a German official is billeted at their home, danger escalates, and Anni faces an agonising dilemma.

London, 1952.

Ingrid has been trying to understand her mother’s mysterious disappearance at the war’s end. Clinging to Anni’s promise that she would always come back for her, Ingrid sets out to discover what happened all those years ago.

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  • "Spellbinding, poignant and important"

    I read for an escape but the very best books will teach me something too, and The Silent Resistance certainly did. I was immediately immersed into the world of Anni and Ingrid in Norway during the final years of World War Two and loved this deftly written and poignant story of a mother doing the best for her daughter, whilst risking her life supporting the resistance under the gaze of the German occupation. It is a tale that speaks to the unbreakable bonds of love, of loyalty but also examines the difficult decisions that have to be made where there is no good solution. Prior to reading this I had no idea about what had happened in Norway during the war, the appalling injustices on both sides, and now I want to read a whole heap more so I do hope we will have more novels from this author in this setting. Overall, a beautifully written rollercoaster of a book that will stay with me for a long time. Highly recommended.

    ~ Laura KW, January 10, 2025 ~

  • "One of the best WW2 novels I've read"

    This is one of the best WW2 novels I’ve read. It is set in Norway towards the end of the war, and in the years afterwards as Ingrid tries to unravel the mystery of what happened to her beloved mother Anni. The book opens with 8-year-old Ingrid being bullied by classmates, with accusations that her mother was a collaborator in a relationship with a Nazi. We then move back: we see how brave Anni is as a member of the resistance, and how her feelings grow for Herr Gerber, the German civilian administrator billeted in their house. The story also moves forward through the twentieth century as Ingrid finds snippets of truth about what happened. The awful truth is heartbreaking and had me in tears. At the heart of this book is the depth of love of Anni for her daughter Ingrid, a relationship that is beautifully drawn. But it's also a page-turner: I feared for the family’s wellbeing, and wanted to know what happened next. If you enjoy WW2 stories and want a new perspective, I highly recommend this book.cription goes here.

    ~ Elizabeth Bennet, December 16, 2024 ~

  • "Powerful and poignant!"

    The Silent Resistance is a fresh perspective on the second World War from the point of view of a beleaguered nation whose citizens resisted in silence, working tirelessly and fearlessly in the background while waiting for the day they would be free again. It is the powerful and poignant story of one woman’s attempts to navigate loyalty to her country while indulging in forbidden love. And also her daughter’s subsequent search for her mother and the truth about what really happened during the war - including some extraordinary injustices! It is a gripping read, at times heart-breaking but ultimately uplifting, and it kept me spell-bound all the way through. The romantic element was all I could have hoped for, with not one but two love stories. I also learned so much about this period of history in Norway, and I couldn’t help but shed a few tears at the end – in the best possible way. I absolutely loved this book and would recommend it whole-heartedly!

    ~ P. C. Fenton, December 5, 2024 ~