Schindler's List is an award-winning work of historical fiction by Australian author Thomas Keneally. The novel is based on the true story of Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist who saved the lives of more than 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust.
The novel takes place in Nazi-occupied Poland in the once vibrant city of Kraków, where Schindler is given control of a prosperous enamelware factory formerly owned and fully staffed by Jews. Initially motivated by greed and self-interest, he gradually develops compassion for his employees and transforms the factory into a safe haven for not only his original staff but also numerous “skilled workers,” which include rabbis, women, children, and the ill. Through his audacity, cunning, wealth, and connections, Schindler keeps them all fed, healthy, and safe from SS guards. Set against the shadow of the Kraków Ghetto and the notorious Płaszów forced labor camp, run by the brutal commandant Amon Göth, Schindler’s List offers a stark contrast between the best and worst of humanity.
Schindler's List draws on the testimonies of the very people Schindler saved to create an intimate exploration of the human spirit's capacity for good amid the darkest of evils. Keneally's work is celebrated not only for its historical accuracy but also for its emotional depth, portraying Schindler as a complex figure—a womanizer, heavy drinker, and opportunist who becomes an unlikely savior. The novel won the Booker Prize in 1982 and in 1993 was adapted into a critically acclaimed film by Steven Spielberg. A milestone of Holocaust literature, Schindler's List is an enduring testament to the power of individual compassion and courage against the forces of systemic oppression, tyranny, and genocide.
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About the author
Thomas Keneally
Thomas Michael Keneally is an Australian author and playwright. He gained international acclaim for his novel Schindler's List (originally titled Schindler's Ark), which won the Booker Prize in 1982 and served as the basis for Steven Spielberg's Academy Award-winning film, Schindler's List. Keneally's work often explores themes of history and morality. Over his prolific career, he has traversed various genres, including memoirs, screenplays, and works on politics and history.
Born in Sydney, 1935, into a family of Irish descent, Keneally devoted his youth to studying for the priesthood. After years of seminary training, he shifted his focus to education and literature. Beginning in 1964, his writing career spanned five decades and more than 30 novels, notable among them The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, Confederates, and Gossip from the Forest—each earning Booker Prize nominations—and more recently, The Daughters of Mars and Napoleon's Last Island. Beyond fiction, Keneally’s works of nonfiction and memoirs offer insightful reflections on historical events and social issues.
Keneally served on the Literature Board of the Australia Council and as president of the National Book Council. Recognized for his services to literature and the community, he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1983 and is celebrated as an Australian Living Treasure.
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