Picture a storyteller who weaves the heartbreak and heroism of World War I into a tapestry of forbidden love—meet Alice Winn! This French-born, Brooklyn-based author has taken the literary world by storm with her debut novel, In Memoriam, a haunting tale that blends meticulous historical research with a deeply moving romance. Winn’s knack for crafting vivid characters and her fearless dive into the brutal realities of war have made her a rising star in historical fiction.
With a voice that’s both tender and unflinching, Winn bridges the past and present, inviting readers to feel the pulse of history through her enchanting narratives. Let’s explore the life, works, and impact of this remarkable writer whose stories linger long after the final page.
The Making of Alice Winn
Born on December 20, 1992, in Paris to Irish and American parents, Alice Mary Felicity Winn grew up with a rich cultural tapestry that shaped her storytelling. Raised in France and educated in England at Marlborough College, she later earned a degree in English literature from St Peter’s College, Oxford. Despite her dyslexia, which delayed her reading until age nine, Winn’s love for stories blossomed early, fueled by her fascination with history and literature. After graduating, she set an ambitious goal: write a novel a year until one was “good.” Before In Memoriam, she penned three unpublished novels, honed her craft as a screenwriter, and taught homeschooled children, all while chasing her literary dreams.
Alice Winn’s Unforgettable Stories
Winn’s debut, In Memoriam, published in 2023 by Knopf and Viking, is a tour de force that catapults readers into the trenches of World War I. The novel follows Henry Gaunt and Sidney Ellwood, two boarding school boys whose unspoken love drives them to enlist, only to face the horrors of the Western Front. Inspired by the student newspapers of Marlborough College from 1913–1919, Winn crafts a narrative that’s both epic and intimate, weaving letters, fictional school journal entries, and visceral battle scenes. Critics have praised its “horrifyingly visceral” quality and its nod to poets like Siegfried Sassoon, with The Guardian calling it a “vivid rendering of love and frontline brutality.”
Winn’s style is a masterful blend of historical authenticity and emotional depth. She doesn’t shy away from the gruesome realities of war—soldiers spilling their guts at the Somme—yet her dialogue sparkles with wit and tenderness. Her characters, especially Gaunt and Ellwood, feel achingly real, their romance a beacon amid chaos. While In Memoriam remains her sole published work to date, its accolades, including the 2023 Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize and Novel of the Year, signal a bright future. Winn’s ability to make history “come viscerally alive,” as author Claire Fuller noted, sets her apart in the genre.
Why Alice Winn Matters
Alice Winn’s impact lies in her ability to humanize the past, giving voice to the silenced—particularly the queer experiences of World War I soldiers. Her portrayal of Gaunt and Ellwood’s love challenges historical erasure, offering a 21st-century lens on a war often romanticized. By drawing from real accounts, like Ernst Jünger’s Storm of Steel, she ensures her fiction resonates with truth, making readers confront the futility and trauma of conflict. Her work has struck a chord globally, with the German translation, Durch das große Feuer, winning the 2024 Young Adult Jury Award at the Frankfurt Book Fair.
Winn’s storytelling also speaks to a generation grappling with identity and memory. Her own “tenuous grasp” of identity—navigating Irish, American, and French roots—mirrors the universal search for belonging, making her narratives deeply relatable. As a debut author, she’s already being compared to literary giants, with readers calling In Memoriam “the next The Song of Achilles.”
- Birth Date: December 20, 1992
- Key Work: In Memoriam (2023)
- Awards: Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize 2023, Waterstones Novel of the Year 2023
- Education: BA in English Literature, St Peter’s College, Oxford
Snag In Memoriam and dive into Alice Winn’s heart-wrenching historical fiction! Her stories will transport you to the trenches and tug at your heartstrings—perfect for anyone craving a blend of history, romance, and raw emotion.