Schindler's List

Excellent service and excellent quality

If you're reading this review, that suggests that you are considering buying this novel. Do so now. Schindler's Ark is a remarkable novel that details a remarkable story. Oskar Schindler's rescue of thousands of men, women, and children from the Nazi death machine, is one of the most familiar narratives to arise out of the terrible events of the Holocaust and World War II. Yes, the novel details the appalling machinations that one culture employs to destroy another culture, and those details will have you reeling in horror. You will meet figures of appalling brutality; normal men and women who live only half a normal life, the other half being devoted to becoming creatures of nightmares. But you will also meet Oskar Schindler and his friends, people who give lie to the claim 'there was nothing we could do', who will reaffirm you faith in your fellow man, even as the other side seeks to destroy it. There is something gloriously anarchic in the joie du vivre with which Oskar sticks two fingers up to his own society, and tries to undo some small corner of its evil scheme. You'll cry a lot as you read, but occasionally you'll laugh, and with real pleasure. And you'll ask the question 'what would I do?'

Not a story which I need to recap in the broad strokes thanks to Mr Spielberg, but well worth picking up even if you think you're familiar with it. The novel stands without the sentimentality of the movie, and in the detail highlights in some ways the absolute mundanity of it, from the exploitable corruption of the Nazi's to the very capitalist nature of Schindler's own achievements in salvation. Far more affably narrated by Keneally than you might imagine, there is little apparent effort made here to lionise the titular protagonist or turn the Nazi officers into automatic beasts. The history is ordered, presented, and allowed to stand. A remarkable book about a man who achieved little before the war, almost nothing after it, but who was enabled in a few short years to save over a thousand lives. For all of the failings on display, it's impossible not to be moved by the closing chapters.

Classic read

I had read this book and seen the film years ago, but having recently visited Krakow, Aushwitz, Birkenau, the Jewish ghetto and Schindler's factory museum - I decided to re-read the book whilst the full horror of the holocaust was fresh in my consciousness. I was captivated by the author's historical accuracy. The facts and figures are in total accord with data seen and read during the visit to Poland. The barbarity of one nations treatment of an entire race is chilling but is sensitively treated in the book. The emergent humanity of Oscar Schindler as the war progresses is humbling particularly his seeming disregard for his own safety, whilst helping his workers. All in all, a superb read.

This true story has it all - but above everything else, this tale of Oskar Schindler, the suave industrialist who charms everyone he meets,is an amazing account of how just one person can make such a difference. On the face of it, certainly to the Nazis who clamour for his friendship, Schindler is a hard-faced businessman prepared to exploit the slave labour of the condemned Jews during World War II. To the cogs of the Third Reich, he is a brother. But his factory, however harsh the conditions, is still a haven for the Jews who work there. Without Oskar they would face extermination. Their love for Oskar, and their touching gratitude will outlive the man himself. Indeed, there are apparently 6000 people around today who would not have been born had Oskar Schindler not cared so much for his persecuted Jewish workforce. This tale is harrowing, naturally - more so because the included histories of certain ghetto prisoners make them more rounded, force the reader to root more for their survival. But amidst the horror, there are splashes of humour and goodwill and even titillation. The tricks and chicanery Oskar employs to run rings around the Nazis is very reminiscent of the Robin Hood legend. Writer Thomas Keneally does admit, that certain aspects of the story, whilst may not be entirely accurate, they COULD be accurate. That's enough for me. Oskar Schindler was a great man.

The film Schindler's List totally bypassed me at the time. It was only a comment by my husband that made me look to see if the film was based on a book, and then read that book. I thoroughly enjoyed the book ,as much as you can enjoy a true life story of the atrocities shown to the Jews during the war, and I found it to be very well written, with actual events being written about, from interviews with the people who were there at the time. Admittedly the story didn't always flow smoothly, but that was due to it being written using eye witness accounts, and papers found from the time; such a shame the author never had the chance to interview Schindler himself. The story doesn't make for easy reading, and if you are easily upset, then this isn't for you, but for me it made the facts and statistics of the Holocaust become more more personalised and yet more horrific, hearing individuals personal stories and survival stories, and that men like Goeth actually enjoyed their part in the killings. This is a book every one should read.

This is not a book anyone ought to “like.” It is a disturbing book. It describes in detail the nightmarish experiences of Jews suffering persecution and extermination under the Nazis in Poland during the 1939-45 war. Neither should anyone “dislike” it, because it bears the ring of truth and it is necessary that we are reminded of such evil things. The book describes how German industrialist and businessman Oskar Schindler, a Nazi party member but wholeheartedly opposed to the Nazi treatment of the Jews, does all he can to protect and preserve as many Jews as he can in his factory annexed to a concentration camp, until their liberation at the end of the war. The affection of Schindler for those in his care, and their desperate hope in him shines from the pages and at times brings the reader to the brink of tears. A very powerful, chilling and moving story.

Whenever I read this book,I find something new. This book is very useful to inprove both my english and my knoledge of cruelty of the war. Now I can read this bok by the Kindle device,very easy to handle. Thank you.

As I could hope for. Simple as that.

Thomas Keneally's Man Booker Prize winning novel about how Oscar Schindler saved around 1,200 Jews from the Holocaust is one of the most astounding factual historical stories I have read. Many of you will have seen Spielberg's excellent film of "Schindlers' List". The novel on which it is based gives the reader a better understanding of Schindler than can be conveyed in a 3 hour movie. Keneally was inspired to write the book when he met Poldek Pfefferberg, a Holocaust survivor, who had extensive files about Schindler. Before writing the book Keneally had discussions with survivors (mostly "Schindlerjuden" - Schindler Jews) in many countries, including Australia, Israel, West Germany, Austria, the United States, Argentina, and Brazil. Keneally uses the devices of a novel to describe the enigmatic and ambiguous character of Schindler and how he risked his own life to help many Jews and eventually to save some of them from the death camps. Keneally dedicated the book to Pfefferberg: "who by zeal and persistence caused this book to be written." Oskar Schindler was born in Austria but moved to Cracow in Poland just before the war. There he acted as a model German as a member of a party affiliated to the Nazis and wore a Swastika lapel badge. Oskar was a salesman and a dealer by temperament who knew that at that time when you went in to a German company manager wearing the badge, you got the order. Through his many contacts Schindler profited from the Jewish demise, gaining a large apartment and acquiring an enamel factory making cooking and eating utensils in great demand by the military. He employs many Jews in his factory at low wages who are being forced by the SS to live in the cramped and increasingly dangerous Cracow ghetto. Schindler is an enigmatic character, an entrepreneur and salesman, a womaniser, a boozer, a black marketeer, and a manipulator who is never afraid to use any form of bribery to get what he wants. His social and drinking circle includes most of the senior SS in the region many of whom are violent sociopaths involved with the ultimate solution to the "Jewish problem". Even when he gets permission to set up his own camp next to his factory and provides extra food for the prisoners at his expense from the black market he was still socialising with SS officers in charge of death camps. His womanising continues and he was even spotted by his staff when he was skinny dipping in a water tank with an attractive, and frequently brutal, female SS guard. Why did Schindler finish up risking his life to help and save so many Jews? You will have to read this meticulously researched book to attempt an answer. One suggestion in the book is that one day Schindler saw the SS expelling Jews from the Cracow ghetto, and executing those who didn't comply. He experienced an epiphany so that "Beyond this day," he would claim, "no thinking person could fail to see what would happen. I was now resolved to do everything in my power to defeat the system." This is a fascinating, memorable but frequently brutal masterpiece of a book. It is a an inside story of one of the most terrible times in human history. Keneally tells the story in a somewhat dispassionate way that allows the reader to try to understand what really happened. It is also a good news story - for the few Schindlerjuden - and is emotionally heartwarming as they supported Schindler after the war. Many of the the Schindlerjuden became successful in business, qualified as doctors and lawyers, and became Judges and influential members of their adopted countries. Israel acknowledged what Schindler did and his final resting place is in a Catholic cemetery in Jerusalem.

Excellent book. Critical and deeply moving at the same time. Trustworthy tone.

I had put off reading this book for many years given what happened to the Jewish and other peoples in Poland during the second world war but despite the horror found it to be inspiring. Oscar Schindler, despite his many faults was an amazing man who without hesitation regularly put himself in mortal danger to save "his Jews". Thomas Keneally clearly deserved the Booker prize for this book.