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Simon WiesenthalA truly heroic story of the war and, like the tree planted in Oskar Schindler's honor in Jerusalem, a fitting memorial to the fight of one individual against the horror of Nazism.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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During World War II, Nazi Party member Oskar Schindler took over a formerly Jewish-owned Polish factory. In order to save the lives of his workers he persuaded the Nazis to let him build a new factory and allow him to draw up a list of a thousand Jews to work at the camp.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Schindler's List, Thomas Keneally's 1980 non-fiction "novel" about Oskar Schindler's transformation from a bon vivant German (actually, Sudeten German, born in what is now part of the Czech Republic) war profiteer to savior of over 1,000 Jews during World War II, is one of the most fascinating accounts about the darkest chapter of that global conflict, the Holocaust. It vividly portrays the horrors of the Nazi effort to exterminate the Jewish inhabitants in German-occupied Europe while at the same time proving that one person, no matter how flawed and contradictory in nature he or she is, can rise to the occasion and make a difference.
In his Author's Note, Keneally explains that he uses the oft-used technique of telling a true story in the format of a fictional account, partly because he is primarily a novelist (Confederates, Gossip From the Forest) and "because the novel's techniques seem suited for a character of such ambiguity and magnitude as Oskar." He also acknowledges the persistence of Leopold Pfefferberg, a Los Angeles leather-goods store owner and one of the "Schindlerjuden" -- the handful of mostly Polish Jews saved by Schindler from the SS by Oskar's use of his charm, connections with high Nazi Party officials, and ultimately, the fortune Schindler had gone to make in Krakow after Poland's surrender in the fall of 1939.
Like Steven Spielberg's 1993 Academy Award-winning film it inspired, Schindler's List (published in Europe as Schindler's Ark) describes how Schindler takes over a factory -- formerly owned by Jewish investors -- and makes a fortune selling, among other things, pots and pans to the German Army. But as the war goes on and Schindler sees first-hand the horrible crimes the Third Reich is committing in the name of the "Final Solution," the well-connected charmer and ladies' man becomes more concerned about saving lives than making money. First, he has a few fortunate Jews listed with the SS as "essential war-industry workers" in his Krakow factory; later, when he discovers that SS Commandant Amon Goeth has been given orders to dispose of every inmate and slave laborer at the Plaszow Labor Camp before the advancing Soviets reach Krakow, he spends all of his wealth paying Goeth and other corrupt SS officials for the lives of nearly 1,200 of the Jewish men, women, and children who form Schindler's workforce.
While Spielberg's movie faithfully captures the novel's account of the Holocaust years, Keneally's book gives the reader more details about Oskar's life before and after the war, including a short account of his prewar activities and his postwar business failures in Europe and Argentina. However, Keneally's focus is on Schindler's inspiring transformation from shameless and charming entrepreneur to "Righteous Person," proving that decency and righteousness can triumph over even the most implacable tyranny and hatred.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I first read this in 1985 and whilst a teenager. Since then I have probably read it another dozen or so times and it loses nothing of it's power however well you know the outcome. It is easily the one book that has had a profound impact on my life and hopefully Oskar's lessons have made me a better person. On the strength of Schindler's Ark I visited Kracow to see the ghetto, and Auschwitz, and when I could choose a history course to teach, chose one involving Nazism. Although unbearably sad, it remains an incredibly uplifting tale - everyone should read it!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I too read the novel (which won the 1982 Booker Prize) after I saw the film. I too usually find that this detracts from reading the book, but it didn't in this case. The book is depressing because you wonder how can anyone act in that way, yet uplifting because there are some people willing to act against evil - at great cost. Everyone should read the book AND see the film.
My only quibble about the book is the ugly, small typeface.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Schindlers List
Book was for a daughters friend so hopefully she happy with it.Ordered it for her as she not got internet.
Published 16 months ago by Michael B. Essery
A Testament to a Flawed and Human Hero
I understand that there was some controversy when this book won the Booker Prize because, though it is presented as a novel, it is non-fictional in approach and detail. Read more
Published on 3 Dec 2009 by Graceann Macleod
hard going
I loved the film, but couldn't get on with the book. The authors style just didn't work for me, I gave up very early on which is rare for me as I will usually read pretty much... Read more
Published on 16 Jun 2009 by edzshed
Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally
Schindler's list
If you enjoyed the film with Liam Neeson then there are many instances in the book which give a detailed and meaningful background to scenes which might have... Read more
If you enjoyed the film with Liam Neeson then there are many instances in the book which give a detailed and meaningful background to scenes which might have... Read more
Published on 29 April 2009 by John D. Dold
Touching and magnificient!
This book was captivating from start to finish. I was immediately drawn in to the harshness that the Jewish population had to go through. Read more
Published on 20 April 2009 by Miss C. Valcin
"He who saves a single life saves the whole world."
Thomas Keneally's Booker Prize-winning, fictionalized biography of Oskar Schindler memorializes a member of the Nazi party who endangered his own life for four years, working... Read more
Published on 22 Jun 2008 by Mary Whipple
A must read book. Buy it!!!!
Best holocaust book I have read to date. Very well written and informative. Book does differ from the film with obvious detail that you would expect. Read more
Published on 21 Jun 2008 by Nick Clark
For content and accuracy, a must read.
For content and accuracy this is a must read as it conveys far more than a film could ever attempt to do. Read more
Published on 18 Mar 2008 by G. J. R. Morris
Moving account of humanity during the Second World War
I have wanted to see Spielberg's movie for quite some time,and I think I'm glad I watched it before reading the book. Read more
Published on 23 Mar 2007 by Jay
A must read...
I agree with another review, in that I wasn't fond of the style of writing. At the begining I found it difficult to get into for that reason, but I'm glad I continued. Read more
Published on 16 Aug 2006 by Emma
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