Historical fiction book · Curated
The Matchbox Girl
Alice Jolly · historical fiction
A nonverbal girl’s life in Nazi-era Austria, told with unusual power (Walter Scott Prize 2026).
About this historical novel
The Matchbox Girl by Alice Jolly is historical fiction set around 1930s–1940s in the Interwar / World War II era period with key settings including Austria. A nonverbal girl’s life in Nazi-era Austria, told with unusual power (Walter Scott Prize 2026).
On HisFic we tag it under 1. Literary historical fiction so you can pair it with similar story types. Recurring themes include war, disability, and survival. It also appears on our prize-winner shelf—useful if you like critically recognized historical novels.
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Plot summary
A nonverbal girl’s life in Nazi-era Austria, told with unusual power (Walter Scott Prize 2026).
Awards
- ★ Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction · 2026 (winner)
UK’s leading HF prize (founded 2010). Often called the most prestigious award dedicated to historical fiction.
Subgenres
Eras
Browse this mix
More like this on HisFic
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- The Book Thief · Markus Zusak
A girl steals books in Nazi Germany; Death narrates a story of words and survival.
- The Book Thief · Markus Zusak
Death narrates the story of a girl who steals books in Nazi Germany—and the family that hides a Jewish man.
- Tightrope · Simon Mawer
A female SOE agent’s wartime courage and Cold War aftershocks (Walter Scott Prize 2016).
Regions & places
Europe
Austria
Themes
- war
- disability
- survival
Tags
award-winner