Sydney Writers' Festival

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1982 Man Booker Prize Winner ‘The story of Schindler and of the people he saved was the story of a pocket of goodness in a perverted society.’  Thomas Keneally ‘Oskar had done nothing astounding before the war and been unexceptional since.  He was fortunate, therefore, that in that short fierce era between 1939 and 1945 he had met people who summoned forth his deeper talents.’ Comment by Emilie Schindler to a German TV documentary crew Schindler’s Ark Synopsis In the shadow of Auschwitz, a flamboyant German industrialist grew into a living legend to the Jews of Cracow. He was a womaniser, a heavy drinker and a bon viveur, but to them he became a saviour. This is the extraordinary story of Oskar Schindler, who risked his life to protect Jews in Nazi-occupied Poland and who was transformed by the war into a man with a mission, a compassionate angel of mercy.

What SWF Director Chip Rolley has to say about the book:

'Keneally portrays Oskar Schindler as a compassionate savior, but not a saint. The complexity of Schindler's character offers an enthralling read where the reader is forever questioning whether in fact they even like the man.'

What the papers say:
‘Brilliantly detailed, moving, powerful and gripping’  The Times 

‘Thomas Keneally has done marvelous justice to a marvelous story’  Sunday Times 

‘This remarkable book has the immediacy and the almost unbearable detail of a thousand eye witnesses who forgot nothing.’  New York Times Book Review 

Want to know more?
Read chapters from the book

Did you know?
The State Library of New South Wales discovered a carbon copy of the original Schindler’s List  in their archives only last year? Read more about it.

View the list and listen to Thomas discuss the work

Image courtesy of the
State Library of New South Wales

Watch and listen to Thomas discuss his protagonist in this short youtube video (2.47 min)

Thomas Keneally joins a bookclub at the British Library to discuss Schindler’s Ark.
Listen to the BBC World Service podcast interview for their bookclub with Thomas Keneally (26.27min)

Learn more about Thomas’s journey and research for this prizewinning book in his non-fiction book
Searching for Schindler

Schindler’s secretary tells of her role and eventual salvation
Click here to read

Hear from the man himself when he discusses his book with Man Booker Judge from his winning year at the Sydney Writers' Festival. For further info on his event on Thursday 20 May 5:30pm click here.

Have your say..
Tell us what you think about this complex man. Did you prefer the book to the film?  Have you visited the State Library NSW and seen the list yourself?  Was Schindler truly a hero? Please give the book your rating out of 5 stars and leave a comment below.