SchindlersList

=About The Author:=

Thomas Micheal Keneally was born on October 7, 1935 in Homebush, New South Wales. He recieved his college education at St. Patricks College in Strathford. He orginally went into training to become a priest, but left before he completed his training. He also worked in teaching and acting. He wrote the book "Schindler's List" in 1982 under it's original title "Schindler's Ark". He won a Booker prize for it. Other than novels, both fiction and non-fiction, Keneally also wrote screenplays and memoirs.

=Inspiration:=

There are many things that make Schindler's Ark an amazing story. Thomas Keneally was inspired to write this piece after an interview with a houlocaust survivor named Poldek Pfferberg. It was then that he learned of Herr Schindler. He was interested by him and pursued his story for some time, and after doing lengthy interviews and much searching, he decided to write the book. Schindler's Ark is a historical novel. The contents of it are as true as possible, even the dialouge is reconstructed as well as it could be based on statements from people who he interviewed.

=Plotline:=

The story is basically one of an unlikely hero in depsperate times. Schindler helped to save many Jews in his time through his unwillingness to back down for what he wanted, even when he was going against the law. Although Schindler did save many lives and is considered a hero, he really only came upon these circumstances by coincidence. In the beginning he is just like everone else at the time, even with the hate of the Jews, but over time he learns to respect the people, starting by pity. Even though he only pitied them at first, it was his first stop in seeing them as people, as equals. It was this lesson that led him to helping many Jews, and the fact that he saw money as no object only helped his cause more. The book is mainly about the experinces in Krackow, but also about Hilter's cruelty and the very interesing character of Schindler that inspired the book itself.

=The Character of Schindler:=

There are many reasons that it is easy to find Schindler fascinating. Looking at who he was, no one would suspect that he would become a hero. Schindler was a drinker. He was married, but still had many long affairs. He even had a certain dsitaste for the Jews in the beginning. He was in no way what most would classify as a "good person". But still, he accomplished so much, even if most of the oppurtunity was dropped onto his lap. Schindler was definitely a smart man, a self-made entreprenuer, and very wealthy. All of these things helped him, but they didn't make him righteous. The label "hero" he is given now is one of almost coincidence, as he really didn't do any of it for the Jews, at least not in the beginning. Still, his character is fascinating because he accomplished so much and saved so many people, and still he cannot fit under our standards of a "good person".

=Recomendation:=

I would definitely recommend this book for those who enjoy historical novels as well as those who like even fiction. Though the story is true, it has the same compelling plot as any fiction book, and isn't "boring" like alot of non-fiction books are percieved. If you are interested in novels about the houlocaust, I would also recommend "The Diary Of Anne Frank" and "Night", which are two other great books. Those are more about the perception of the Jews. One thing that is very interesting is that Schindler's List is from a German perspective, which is less common in books about the houlocaust. I would highly recommend it as a great read. What makes it an outstanding book is it's subject matter, which is fascinating and disturbing at the same time. Also, the amazing character of Schindler, as well as a picture of Hitler's effects on Germany.

=Sources:=

"Thomas Keneally". Wikipedia. October 7, 2008 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Keneally. www.middlemiss.org/ images/photos/keneally.jpg www.gwu.edu/.../images/ Schindler's%20List.jpg