The Lost

A Search for Six of Six Million

By: Daniel Mendelsohn

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Length: 22 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

In this rich and riveting narrative, a writer's search for the truth behind his family's tragic past in World War II becomes a remarkably original epic - part memoir, part reportage, part mystery, and part scholarly detective work - that brilliantly explores the nature of time and memory, family and history.

The Lost begins as the story of a boy who grew up in a family haunted by the disappearance of six relatives during the Holocaust - an unmentionable subject that gripped his imagination from earliest childhood. Decades later, spurred by the discovery of a cache of desperate letters written to his grandfather in 1939 and tantalized by fragmentary tales of a terrible betrayal, Daniel Mendelsohn sets out to find the remaining eyewitnesses to his relatives' fates. That quest eventually takes him to a dozen countries on four continents and forces him to confront the wrenching discrepancies between the histories we live and the stories we tell. And it leads him, finally, back to the small Ukrainian town where his family's story began and where the solution to a decades-old mystery awaits him.

Deftly moving between past and present, interweaving a world-wandering odyssey with childhood memories of a now-lost generation of immigrant Jews and provocative ruminations on biblical texts and Jewish history, The Lost transforms the story of one family into a profound, morally searching meditation on our fragile hold on the past. Deeply personal, grippingly suspenseful, and beautifully written, this literary tour de force illuminates all that is lost, and found, in the passage of time.

©2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc. (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Harrowing but riveting

A fabulous but heartrending account of the search for 6 ancestors who simply disappeared during WWII. It is well structured and well written. Although the Biblical references seem to be a little pedantic and tedious they do make sense and give the listener reason to pause and reflect on how the narrative reflects on them personally.

The reading was superb except for the Australian accent which sounded more Cockney. This distracted me for a while until I realised what it was supposed to be

Any one who is interested in history, WWII, Jewish history or simply family research would appreciate this book

Extraordinary

This book is a masterpiece for its detail, writing, and scope. The Audiobook version is amazing, and the printed copy is a treasure.

Exquisite Narration, Breathtakingly Heartfelt Book

This book from a man, a scholar and Classicist, who has spent his life looking back, who travels the world to find the stories of his uncle, aunt, wife and four daughters, reads like a memoir, a detective story, a moral fable, even a romance. It is well-paced and engaging to the point that I put my life on hold just to keep finding out: And then what?
Everyone becomes a fully fleshed-out person: the lost; the old man in Poland who remembers, "The whole town was talking about it; the bodies were there the next day;" the woman in Australia who remembers it all but will die if she has to talk on record; all the way to Mendelsohn himself whose memories range from the childlike to the full-blown, in-your-face.
There are what seem to be digressions for stories from the Torah, from history, from Greek tragedies, but all come to a point. The summations are so beautiful, and the relevance so pointed that they are beyond moving. Simply stunning. Simply lovely.
And Pinchot gives voice to it all, the love, the frustration and anguish, the chuckles and joy. No, really, I mean it. This is the most dramatic, most perfectly nuanced performance I've comes across all year. And trust me, I'm an audio-fanatic. I listen to books like it's the air I breathe.
Brilliant book. The re-imagining of what happened to 16 year old Ruchele will make you cry.
And you'll be grateful to bring her to life for at least that moment. Because despite the horror, at least she was breathing.
She was alive.

Best audible book ever!

This was truly the best book I’ve listened to in the many years I’ve been listening to audiobooks. The story was well constructed to keep the listener engaged throughout. The author’s passion for investigating the subject matter made it so compelling. And the performance of the reader was truly extraordinary.

A harrowing account of the holocaust

This beautifully written account of the holocaust and the impact it had on the survivors and their families left me emotionally drained.
It was so beautifully read, one could only believe that it had the same effect on the reader.
If this was the effect this story had on me as a gentile I can’t imagine its impact on a Jew.
May we never relive such terrible times.
Thank you for book.

Outstanding

What an amazing book, and what an incredible story!
Daniel Mendelsohn honors his uncle, his wife, and their four daughters by telling us about their lives as well as their tragic deaths.
Lots of relevant interpretations of the Hebrew Bible as well that are very interesting.
The performance is the best of any Audible book to which I have listened.
Bravo in every respect!

I loved this book

I would urge everyone to listen to it as Bronson Pinchot is brilliant... brilliant.
The story is so beautifully unfolded. I wept as the end was finally unmasked.
I am so sorry this experience is over- at least the listening- the thinking will continue for a long time.

Deeply Moving

Daniel Mendelsohn is a wonderful writer. The story he tells about his family so beautifully articulates for millions their searing journeys through the hell that was Nazi Germany.

Equally amazing is the way that Bronson Pinchot breathes life into this family’s story.

A German view

Pinchot's narration is wonderful. I first thought that Mendelsohn himself was reading the book, so personal and engaging was his delivery.
As a German, I was listening with a heavy heart to the fate of his relatives in Bolochov. They all had to face a terrible death at the hand of murderous gang of Nazis and their helpers. Perhaps, those that were shot during the actions were the lucky ones as they were spared the tortures and hunger that was awaiting them.
Jews during most of their history were a persecuted people. They certainly were not the only ones who suffered. However, they now have their own Jewish state, miraculously born out of the holocaust. As long as nation states are necessary to provide a last refuge for persecuted minorities, I will support them.

Amazing!

One of the best books I've stumbled across in a long time. Excellent reading, as well.