Searching for Schindler

By: Thomas Keneally

Narrated by: Humphrey Bower

Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's Summary

A memoir of Tom's journey around the world to discover the complete story of Oskar Schindler and those on his now-famous list.

In 1980, Tom Keneally walked into a store in Beverly Hills owned by Polish Jew Leopold Pfefferberg Page to buy a new briefcase. For the next few years, Tom's life was taken over by this charismatic and driven man, known as Poldek, and the story he wanted shared. The resulting book was Schindler's Ark, which went on to win the Booker Prize and ultimately became the Oscar-award-winning film Schindler's List.

Tom and Poldek travelled across the US, Germany, Israel, Austria and Poland, interviewing survivors and discovering their extraordinary stories. Searching for Schindler is very much Tom's journey; he reflects on his early days as a successful but less than confident writer, and how this book, the film it became and the people he met, changed his and his family's lives forever.

©2008 Tom Keneally (P)2008 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd.

Critic Reviews

"Had I read Searching for Schindler before making the film, I may have made it an hour longer. I owe you so much. The world owes you more." (Steven Spielberg)

A bit of a chore to finish.

I found the beginning of the story very interesting. I enjoyed learning about how Thomas Keneally met Poldeck who gave him the inspiration for writing the story. I liked learning about the survivors of the holocaust and their stories. The second part of the book is about making the movie and that is where it began to drag.

I feel that only the writer's fans or the film's fans may be interested in this book. Midway through the book it begins to ramble and become boring. I began to look forward to its completion.

Great performance by the narrator Humphrey Bower.

Sadly wonderful

A great tale by a great Aussie Author and perfectly delivered by our premium actor, Humphrey Bower. A magical t6ale about the worst possible subject. Get it, you will not be disappointed.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Interesting but needed an editor

I enjoyed the majority of this story but in retrospect, I may have been better off, and just as informed, had I read the original work 'Schindlers Ark' instead. This book seems like the author was just looking to produce some more royalties. The most interesting parts of the book were probably already covered in the original.

2 of 4 people found this review helpful

Insights from the author of Schindler's List

This book is an account of how the author, Thomas Keneally, was drawn into writing the story of Oscar Schindler. In itself it is an intriguing and multi-faceted story of a holocaust survivor that felt so indebted to Schindler that he spent his lifetime on the lookout for a writer to immortalize him, on the page and in film. It is also about Thomas Keneally himself and the long journey of writing a book and then getting it filmed. And the impact that such a demanding project had on him and his own family. It involved the vagaries of the publishing industry, the difficulty of the research, the various perspectives of the survivors, not all of whom saw Schindler as a saint. It also touches on the showbiz issues surrounding the film, the locations, the stars, the premieres the legacy. I liked the Spielberg film and so I was interested in how it came about, if you are too then you will enjoy this book, as it is It is well written as well read.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Stunning

It's probably a good idea to read "Shindler's Ark" or see the film version, "Shindler's List" before listening to this audiobook, because it will heighten your enjoyment and amazement at the story told. I found it really quite compulsive listening - beautifully written and very well narrated indeed by Humphrey Bower.

You will not regret adding this to your library.

Loved it

Any additional comments?

Loved finding out the story behind the film. Much more interesting and moving once you know.