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Reviews
The Escape Artist: The Man Who Broke Out of Auschwitz to Warn the World by Jonathan Freedland
blaineduncan's review against another edition
5.0
At the heart of this book is both the obvious tragedy and the less apparent philosophy. Freedland does an excellent job of recounting Rudi Vrba's story of survival. The piece is interesting primarily for its intense thoroughness. Freedland does repeat his larger ideas which he likely uncovered in his research, but it doesn't make the story or writing any less than great.
theorooney's review
3.5
An absolutely incredible story and one I’m shocked I’ve never heard about previously. The fact that the escape of two inmates at Auschwitz made so many waves in the movement to end the Holocaust is incredible. What’s equally incredible is the amount of inaction that followed their accounts before change was eventually made, and the life that Rudi Vrna subsequently lived post-war. Really fascinating story.
hhh_111's review against another edition
4.0
Main take aways:
- the power of information and the role it (or more precisely the lack thereof) played in the "calm and orderly" deportation of the jewish community
- the great length to which the Nazis went to to maintain the facade of "safe resettlement"
- some crimes are too horrible to even fathom --> prevented the Auschwitz report from being released publicly sooner
- the inaction of allied leaders when it came to the destruction of Auschwitz
- in the presence of imminent death it is easier to ignore/suppress ones fate than to live with the knowledge that one's live is soon over (especially the Familienlager)
- Rudi not fitting the profile of what an Auschwitz survivor should look like kept his name off of panel lists and out of history books
- whilst Walter‘s driving forces of escape was the spread of information, it appears many allied forces knew to some extent about the annihilation of Jews from early on
Technical critiques:
- many facts towards the middle and end are repeated constantly for no direct reason and it seems like the editors didn't check closely enough - I believed certain punchiness could have been slightly more powerful
- the power of information and the role it (or more precisely the lack thereof) played in the "calm and orderly" deportation of the jewish community
- the great length to which the Nazis went to to maintain the facade of "safe resettlement"
- some crimes are too horrible to even fathom --> prevented the Auschwitz report from being released publicly sooner
- the inaction of allied leaders when it came to the destruction of Auschwitz
- in the presence of imminent death it is easier to ignore/suppress ones fate than to live with the knowledge that one's live is soon over (especially the Familienlager)
- Rudi not fitting the profile of what an Auschwitz survivor should look like kept his name off of panel lists and out of history books
- whilst Walter‘s driving forces of escape was the spread of information, it appears many allied forces knew to some extent about the annihilation of Jews from early on
Technical critiques:
- many facts towards the middle and end are repeated constantly for no direct reason and it seems like the editors didn't check closely enough - I believed certain punchiness could have been slightly more powerful
carrasreadsandthings's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Suicide, Antisemitism, Murder, War, Violence, Toxic relationship, Slavery, Religious bigotry, Gun violence, Grief, Deportation, Genocide, Emotional abuse, Child death, Forced institutionalization, Death, and Blood
Minor: Cancer