Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, a New York Times Bestseller for over 200 weeks, and the inspiration behind a four-part Netflix series, Anthony Doerr’s All The Light We Cannot See is a war novel with some serious critical acclaim behind it. Set during World War II, it follows the parallel stories of a blind French girl and a young German soldier, as both deal with the impact of war and eventually cross paths in Saint-Malo, amidst the bombing of the city. 

Although released in 2014, a book review of All The Light We Cannot See feels strikingly relevant today, in a world where innocent lives continue to be caught in the crossfire of global conflicts. Themes of human resilience, survival, the fragility of peace, and the power of small acts of kindness are poetically told, with many readers remarking on the visually evocative storytelling. It’s an especially impressive accomplishment, considering the fact that much of Doerr’s writing centres around the theme of blindness.

The American author devoted a decade to crafting All the Light We Cannot See, investing a significant portion of that time into extensive research on World War II. To call it a conventional war story, however, would do a disservice to the nuanced ways it approaches character development and the human condition. Beyond the-surface level horrors of the Nazi regime, deeper questions are asked: what motivates us to remain compassionate and curious in the darkest of times? Do knowledge, beauty, and learning hold any value in oppressive systems? 

Doerr’s love of science and technology weaves itself into the story. He’s previously said that the initial spark for the novel came during a train ride in 2004, when a fellow passenger became outwardly frustrated at their phone call disconnecting as the train passed through a tunnel.  “I decided I wanted to tell a story set in a time when the magic of this kind of long-distance communication was not taken for granted – when hearing the voice of a stranger or loved one in your ear was magical…When I learned how Hitler and the entire Nazi party used it as a tool for propaganda, I knew I would set the novel in World War II”, he previously told Ohio Magazine.

This thread appears in the novel through radios, which serve as both tools of war, and symbols of human connection. Where Werner, a German orphan, comes to the attention of the Hitler Youth due to his talent for repairing radios, Marie-Laure, a blind French girl, broadcasts coded messages to support the French Resistance. The contrast between the radio’s destructive potential and its capacity to inspire and connect becomes a central theme, highlighting how technology can both divide and unite, depending on who holds the power.

Ultimately, Marie-Laure’s inability to see holds a mirror up to the moral and emotional blindness in the world around her. But despite that, it’s a novel filled with hope. The “light we cannot see” serves as a metaphor for the invisible but powerful forces – hope, kindness, and connection – that get us through the most harrowing moments. Beautifully told and deeply moving, it’s a bittersweet, unforgettable story that reminds us of the quiet resilience of the human spirit. With over 15 million copies sold worldwide, it’s a novel well worth adding to your list if you’ve not yet read it.

Other works by Anthony Doerr

• About Grace (2004)

• Four Seasons in Rome (2007)

• Cloud Cuckoo Land (2021)

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More than just a war story, All The Light We Cannot See is a beautiful exploration of hope and resilience. If you’re interested in books that offer fresh perspectives on what it means to be human, explore our latest reviews. You can also find more thoughts and commentary on our blog.