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.

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.

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

- Schindler's List, originally titled Schindler's Ark in Keneally's native Australia, won the Booker Prize in 1982 and was later adapted into an acclaimed film by Steven Spielberg in 1993.
- The novel is inspired by the true stories shared by Poldek Pfefferberg, a Holocaust survivor, who connected Thomas Keneally with other survivors saved by Oskar Schindler, ensuring the compelling narrative was grounded in real testimony.
- Thomas Keneally, an Australian author, was introduced to the story of Oskar Schindler by chance after visiting a luggage shop in Beverly Hills owned by Leopold Pfefferberg, one of the individuals saved by Schindler.

**Oskar Schindler**  
A man from a middle-class Sudetenland German family who becomes a factory owner in Nazi-occupied Poland and displays a complex personality characterized by charm, vices, and transformation in his actions during World War II.

**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**  
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**  
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.

Thomas Keneally

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Novel

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Guide

Study Guide

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Overview

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Schindler's List Summary

Background

Schindler's List Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue-Chapter 9

Schindler's List Prologue-Chapter 9 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 10-19

Schindler's List Chapters 10-19 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 20-29

Schindler's List Chapters 20-29 Summary & Analysis

Chapter 30-Epilogue

Schindler's List Chapter 30-Epilogue Summary & Analysis

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Character Analysis

Schindler's List Character Analysis

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Themes

Schindler's List Themes

Index of Terms

Schindler's List Index of Terms

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Important Quotes

Schindler's List Important Quotes

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Essay Topics

Schindler's List Essay Topics

Schindler's List

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read Schindler's List?

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