Several of the stories address the moment of the Armistice itself: the news arriving via a telephone call or the ringing of church bells. The protagonist of Beatriz Williams's (Tiny Little Thing) "An American Airman in Paris" recalls the doomed mission he was flying as the agreement was signed. In "The Photograph," Kate Kerrigan (The Dress) examines the complicated assignments (and emotions) of British soldiers assigned to quash Irish rebellion during the war. Lauren Willig, author of the Pink Carnation series, shifts back and forth in time to probe the long-term effects of war in "The Record Set Right."
Set in a variety of locations--Paris, Dublin, rural Alsace, the American South--the stories form a compelling, heartbreaking mosaic of the wartime experiences shared by soldiers, nurses, civilians caught in the crossfire of battle, and those who loved them. The titular poppies, still a symbol of the Armistice, are woven into every story. Hazel Gaynor (A Memory of Violets) concludes the collection with "Hush," which ends not only with poppies but also with daffodils and hope. Readers of historical fiction, especially fans of these particular novelists, will find much to enjoy here. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams