Night

By: Elie Wiesel

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 4 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and the Congressional Gold Medal, Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel offers an unforgettable account of Hitler's horrific reign of terror in Night. This definitive edition features a new translation from the original French by Wiesel's wife and frequent translator, Marion Wiesel.

Night is an unmistakably autobiographical account of the author's own gruesome experiences in Nazi Germany's death camps. Told through the eyes of 14-year-old Eliezer, the tragic fate of the Jews from the little town of Sighet unfolds with a heart-wrenching inevitability. Even as they are stuffed into cattle cars bound for Auschwitz, the townspeople refuse to believe rumors of anti-Semitic atrocities. Not until they are marched toward the blazing crematory at the camp's "reception center" does the terrible truth sink in.

Recounting the evils at Auschwitz and Buchenwald, Wiesel's enduring classic of Holocaust literature raises questions of continuing significance for all future generations: How could man commit these horrors, and could such an evil ever be repeated?

Check out more selections from Oprah's Book Club.

©1972, 1985 Elie Wiesel
Originally published in 1958 by Les Editions de Minuit
Translation 2006 by Marion Wiesel
Preface to the New Translation 2006 Elie Wiesel
(P)2006 Recorded Books LLC

Critic reviews

"Elie Wiesel’s memoir of life in the Nazi death camps has been reissued with a new translation by Wiesel’s wife, Marion. Read by George Guidall, this new edition is a brilliant and haunting reminder of these horrific crimes, as well as a testament to Wiesel’s faith and resilience. Guidall is the ideal reader, and gives yet another masterful performance. Every word Guidall utters reminds the listener of the fear, the suffering, and the hatred Wiesel witnessed and experienced as he drew upon his every instinct to fight for survival. The audio edition also contains a new preface by Wiesel, as well as Guidall’s performance of Wiesel’s Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech. NIGHT is already a classic, and this audio edition is a superb complement to the text. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award." (AudioFile magazine)

"[A] slim volume of terrifying power." (The New York Times)

Must read

Personel recording of the Holocaust from the eyes of a child.
Must be read by everyone who consider himself human.

A Must (Required) Read

Perhaps one of the most powerful audio experiences I have ever had. In fact, this reading, both the text itself and George G.'s reading of it have effected me profoundly. I had never read the book before. It has been on my "to read" list for many years. There is no question that I would have been a much different man had I read this sooner in life.

I am not Jewish. But all decent non-Jews should make an imperative effort to read and know this book. Each person who does can only walk away from it knowing that they too will not forget what happened and will feel empowered to know they themselves will never let it happen again.

Have read this book a dozen times

Night by Elie Wiesel together with VIctor Frank's Man's Search For Meaning are two of the most important books I have ever read. Whenever I begin to feel sorry for myself, relistening to either helps me keep my life in perspective. These two men together with many of the characters described in their books give new meaning to the term "man's indomitable spirit". Mr. Wiesel was so honest about his innermost thoughts and feelings as he and his father attempted to endure the daily horrors of concentration camp life that I was continously asking myself how I would have reacted under similar conditions. Frankly, I too often found myself coming up short in my comparative predictions. Mr. Wiesel and Dr. Frankl have definitely become two role models that have made me a better man.

great

This book was a book my son a freshman in high school was required to read so we both listen to it and we both enjoyed. For my son I think it is important to know about a very dark time in history.

Very interesting but too short

Where does Night rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Better than average. But I don't think he went into enough detail the horrors of life in a concentration camp.

What did you like best about this story?

That he survived.

What does George Guidall bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The horrors seem to come more alive from his performance.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The part about his father. So sad.

Any additional comments?

It is book well worth getting. I just found it too short. I wanted more information.

Disturbing

This book will bring your emotions to the surface as it so vividly describes the ability of mankind to practice genocide, and specifically the Nazi program of WW2. It is incredibly powerful, well narrated and should be read by anyone who has a conscience and questions man's behavior and cruelty on this planet

Powerful. Listened start to end in one morning.

Where does Night rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 5

What was one of the most memorable moments of Night?

The night when Elie and his father try and keep eachother awake to stay alive.

Have you listened to any of George Guidall’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No this is the first, but searching for more!

Well written and narrated but hard to listen to

This true story is very somber and therefore it's not something for easy listening. The story is very well written and George Guidall is excellent (as always).

sobering, painful, and important

I've heard about this book for ages....it's a classic of its type and began an important outpouring of stories and memories of the experiences of those held hostage by tyrannical madmen and their political/military machines. This was first published in English in 1960, and it's a powerful indictment of the inhumanity and cruelty of the Nazis in their push for land and racial purity. Since then there have been more -- about the Nazis, Pol Pot, or Stalin -- but without Elie Weisel I don't think any of them would have found the publishers or the audience to tell their tales and alert the world.

After the end of Night, keep listening for Elie Wiesel's Nobel Prize acceptance speech!

Heart wrenching and powerful.

Elie’s ability to describe his torturous life in the concentration camps is at time unbearable to hear but also very necessary to listen. How could the Germans do what they did? They were pure evil.