62 pages • 2 hours read
Schindler's List
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Book Brief
429
Novel • Fiction
Poland • 1940s
1982
Adult
18+ years
1150L
Super Short Summary
Schindler’s List by Thomas Keneally recounts the story of Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist and Nazi Party member who saves over 1,200 Jewish people during World War II by employing them in his factory. As the Holocaust intensifies, he risks his life and fortune to protect his workers from extermination camps. With help from Itzhak Stern and others, he compiles "Schindler’s List" to relocate them to a safer factory in Moravia. The novel details Schindler's life-saving actions against the backdrop of Nazi-occupied Poland. The book depicts antisemitism, extreme human suffering, and graphic violence.
Dark
Emotional
Inspirational
Melancholic
Mysterious
Reviews & Readership
165,435 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Thomas Keneally's Schindler's List is widely praised for its meticulous historical research and powerful storytelling, evoking deep emotional responses from readers. Critics commend its detailed character portrayals, particularly Oskar Schindler's transformation. However, some find the narrative style somewhat disjointed. Despite this, it remains a compelling account of heroism during the Holocaust.
Who Should Read Schindler's List?
A reader who would enjoy Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally is typically interested in historical narratives, especially those focusing on World War II and the Holocaust. Comparable to readers of The Diary of Anne Frank and Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, these readers value poignant, true stories of heroism and human endurance amid adversity.
165,435 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Amon Goeth
Amon Goeth
An Austrian-born SS officer who oversees a labor camp in Poland and is depicted as cruel and power-driven, representing the darker side of humanity during the war.
Itzhak Stern
Itzhak Stern
An educated Jewish accountant in Cracow who plays a crucial role in encouraging Schindler to employ Jewish workers at his factory, offering a less costly labor force and a chance to save lives.
Poldek Pfefferberg
Poldek Pfefferberg
A Jewish man from Cracow who survives wartime atrocities and later dedicates his life to preserving and sharing the story of Schindler's efforts through film and literature, contributing to the wider recognition of these events.
429
Novel • Fiction
Poland • 1940s
1982
Adult
18+ years
1150L
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