If I understand the situation correctly, you shouldn't be using a whole different view controller. A view controller within a view controller is never a good idea, if it's even possible. Create a UITableView (or subclass), without the controller.
Then create a property for the UITableView and set its properties in your didSelectRowAtIndex.
It's not clear why you're doing this in tableView:didSelectRowAtIndexPath:, since that method is only called when the user taps on a row in the table. Code for putting something into a cell should be called in tableView:cellForRowAtIndexPath:.
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.