I assume the former employer has said negative things to companies for which you have applied. The question is was this untruthful information. For instance, if you were in charge of sales and they said your sales dropped each year and they actually did, then I could see where it was legal.
Furthermore, if they mention you were often late to work and you were and they documented this, then this would be legal. But, it is my understanding that if they do not document the negative behaviors of which you have accused, then they never existed and thus you may have the opportunity to sue. This assumes that the only reason you did not get the job is because of the former employers lies and that may be awfully hard to prove in a court of law.(Just because it is true may not mean that it is something that can be proven).
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.