Take a photo of a barcode or cover
adamsw216 's review for:
The Escape Artist: The Man Who Broke Out of Auschwitz to Warn the World
by Jonathan Freedland
adventurous
informative
sad
medium-paced
British Journalist Jonathan Freedland presents a narrative telling of select events from the Holocaust through the story of one man, Walter Rosenberg (aka. Rudolf Vrba). Rosenberg was a Slovak-Jewish prisoner of Auschwitz during World War II. Freedland takes us through his early life and the events leading up to his imprisonment in Auschwitz, life in the prison, his eventual escape, and the aftermath. He dedicates plenty of time to background information about the persecution of the Jews, other stories of imprisonment and escape, as well as logistical and socio-political happenings.
I feel I must point out that this book rests squarely in the "popular history" (or "pop history) category. This is not an academic study and does not attempt to adhere to the scholarly rigor which would be required of a more serious and in-depth work. As such, there are the occasional bits of hyperbole, sensationalizing, omissions, and simplification. Personally, I did not feel this detracted from the overall message, nor did it undermine the factual information contained within. I think that pop history has an important job in informing and piquing the interest of the public who might not otherwise pick up a single book on the subject. However, as with any work of popular non-fiction, it is important that readers understand that this is just one part of a much larger story.
Walter Rosenberg lived an interesting life. He was intelligent, good at reading people, and quick to learn. While he was ethnically Jewish, he was not particularly religious in practice. The Germans attempted to imprison him before Auschwitz, but he escaped. Ultimately, however, he ended up in Auschwitz. His experiences there changed him forever, but he never became the picture of a man that most people associate with a Holocaust survivor. After the war, he looked younger than his age with his youthful complexion and thick dark hair. He was critical of the Jewish leadership and their actions leading up to and during the Holocaust. Freedland believes that all of these reasons combined are what, perhaps, prevented him and his story from becoming a household name like Primo Levi or Elie Wiesel.
Rosenberg was a complex man, not broken by his time in Auschwitz, but forever changed. This is the story of his life and the lives of those around him, but it is also the story of the Holocaust on a slightly wider scale. I wouldn't say it does the latter effectively, but I think it works for what it is.
For someone on a journey to learn more about the Holocaust though various books and stories, I think this could be a great and interesting addition to your reading list.
I feel I must point out that this book rests squarely in the "popular history" (or "pop history) category. This is not an academic study and does not attempt to adhere to the scholarly rigor which would be required of a more serious and in-depth work. As such, there are the occasional bits of hyperbole, sensationalizing, omissions, and simplification. Personally, I did not feel this detracted from the overall message, nor did it undermine the factual information contained within. I think that pop history has an important job in informing and piquing the interest of the public who might not otherwise pick up a single book on the subject. However, as with any work of popular non-fiction, it is important that readers understand that this is just one part of a much larger story.
Walter Rosenberg lived an interesting life. He was intelligent, good at reading people, and quick to learn. While he was ethnically Jewish, he was not particularly religious in practice. The Germans attempted to imprison him before Auschwitz, but he escaped. Ultimately, however, he ended up in Auschwitz. His experiences there changed him forever, but he never became the picture of a man that most people associate with a Holocaust survivor. After the war, he looked younger than his age with his youthful complexion and thick dark hair. He was critical of the Jewish leadership and their actions leading up to and during the Holocaust. Freedland believes that all of these reasons combined are what, perhaps, prevented him and his story from becoming a household name like Primo Levi or Elie Wiesel.
Rosenberg was a complex man, not broken by his time in Auschwitz, but forever changed. This is the story of his life and the lives of those around him, but it is also the story of the Holocaust on a slightly wider scale. I wouldn't say it does the latter effectively, but I think it works for what it is.
For someone on a journey to learn more about the Holocaust though various books and stories, I think this could be a great and interesting addition to your reading list.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Torture