Irene Nemirovsky began “Suite Francaise” soon after the German invasion of France in 1940.  Comprised of two novels – “Storms in June” and “Dolce” – the work is remarkable not only for its scope and breathtaking style, but for the fact that it was written contemporaneous to the German invasion and occupation of France.  It is perhaps the earliest work of fiction about World War II, but it was not discovered until 1998 and published in 2004, where it was met with great critical acclaim and became a best-seller. 

“Storms in June” features an array of characters fleeing Paris as the Nazis descend.  The rich hoard goods, load up trucks with possessions they cannot leave behind, while the poor go hungry, fleeing Paris by foot as mortar shells hit the ground.  Nemirovsky shows readers just how dark human beings can be when their lives, their wealth, their comfort is threatened.

“Dolce” carries over several of the characters from “Storms in June.” Set in a the rural village of Bussy, the novel explores the conflicts between farmers and townspeople, French and occupying Nazi soldiers, rich and poor. 

Nemirovsky intended to write three other novels chronicling the war.  “Captivity” would have explored the resistance movement, while the plots to “Battles” and “Peace” were never outlined in Nemirovsky’s notebook.  She was arrested as a Jew in 1942 and killed at Auschwitz.  Had she finished all five novels of “Suite Francaise,” Nemirovsky would have created an epic work rivaling “War and Peace.” War, it seems, not only destroys precious lives, but also great art.