The Escape Artist: The Man Who Broke Out of Auschwitz to Warn the World
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- Create Date：2023-01-09 06:52:50
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Jonathan Freedland
- ISBN：0063112337
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Summary
In a book that is part thrilling adventure， part exploration of some of the darkest secrets of the Holocaust， award-winning journalist and best-selling novelist Jonathan Freedland uncovers the extraordinary story of the first Jew to break out of Auschwitz， a man who was determined to warn the world—and pass on a truth too few were willing to hear。
In April 1944， Rudolf Vrba became the first Jew to break out of Auschwitz—one of only four who ever pulled off that near-impossible feat。 He did it to reveal the truth of the death camp to the world—and to warn the last Jews of Europe what fate awaited them at the end of the railway line。 Against all odds， he and his fellow escapee， Fred Wetzler， climbed mountains， crossed rivers and narrowly missed German bullets until they had smuggled out the first full account of Auschwitz the world had ever seen—a forensically detailed report that would eventually reach Franklin Roosevelt， Winston Churchill and the Pope。
And yet too few heeded the warning that Vrba—then just nineteen years old—had risked everything to deliver。 Some could not believe it。 Others thought it easier to keep quiet。 Vrba helped save 200，000 Jewish lives—but he never stopped believing it could have been so many more。
This is the story of a brilliant yet troubled man—a gifted “escape artist” who even as a teenager understand that the difference between truth and lies can be the difference between life and death， a man who deserves to take his place alongside Anne Frank， Oskar Schindler and Primo Levi as one of the handful of individuals whose stories define our understanding of the Holocaust。
In April 1944， Rudolf Vrba became the first Jew to break out of Auschwitz—one of only four who ever pulled off that near-impossible feat。 He did it to reveal the truth of the death camp to the world—and to warn the last Jews of Europe what fate awaited them at the end of the railway line。 Against all odds， he and his fellow escapee， Fred Wetzler， climbed mountains， crossed rivers and narrowly missed German bullets until they had smuggled out the first full account of Auschwitz the world had ever seen—a forensically detailed report that would eventually reach Franklin Roosevelt， Winston Churchill and the Pope。
And yet too few heeded the warning that Vrba—then just nineteen years old—had risked everything to deliver。 Some could not believe it。 Others thought it easier to keep quiet。 Vrba helped save 200，000 Jewish lives—but he never stopped believing it could have been so many more。
This is the story of a brilliant yet troubled man—a gifted “escape artist” who even as a teenager understand that the difference between truth and lies can be the difference between life and death， a man who deserves to take his place alongside Anne Frank， Oskar Schindler and Primo Levi as one of the handful of individuals whose stories define our understanding of the Holocaust。
Reviews
Sarrah Samuels
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If i could give more than 5 stars… I would。 You can have all the information to give but if you don’t have belief， it’s useless。 But in the end， he ended up saving more people than he will ever know and that counts enormously。 I couldn’t put this book down。 The details of what went on， what he saw and experienced is what made him the man he became。 Even though he escaped hell， it still followed him。
James
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This is an incredible story of escape from Auschwitz against all odds。 But it’s also much more than that。 The story doesn’t finish with Rudi’s escape but continues with his mission to inform Hungary’s Jews and the rest of world about the horrors of Auschwitz。 This book explores the responses to the reports of what was happening there。
Sarnfield
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Just when you think there can’t be any more horrifying details about life in Auschwitz and Birkenau， along comes a book like this。 Very graphic in some of the details and that is not a negative， this information needs to be told。 After the escape and the writing of the report， the telling becomes a little dry， but picks up again in the later years of Vrba’s life。 It is a credit to the author that he portrays Vrba with all of his faults， while still showing us what a truly incredible man he was。 Just when you think there can’t be any more horrifying details about life in Auschwitz and Birkenau， along comes a book like this。 Very graphic in some of the details and that is not a negative， this information needs to be told。 After the escape and the writing of the report， the telling becomes a little dry， but picks up again in the later years of Vrba’s life。 It is a credit to the author that he portrays Vrba with all of his faults， while still showing us what a truly incredible man he was。 Kudos to the author for the massive amount of research that went into the writing。 。。。more
Whitney Redfern
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Excellent book。
Paul Natusch
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Excellent book， gives a good understanding of the holocaust and the reactions of people/governments at the time
Micha Goebig
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An outstanding story we’ll told （I listened to the audio book）
Brianne Noyes
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Wow。 💔 I am almost to the point of no words。 And no words that I have can describe how my heart has changed because of this book。 The Escape Artist is one of the most impactful Holocaust accounts from a survivor that I’ve ever read and I’m shocked I haven’t heard it before。 The bravery， sacrifice， brokenness， and determination that it takes to break out of Auschwitz and alert the world to the horrors taking place there-- and the worlds response: those who were critical， incredulous， doubtful， co Wow。 💔 I am almost to the point of no words。 And no words that I have can describe how my heart has changed because of this book。 The Escape Artist is one of the most impactful Holocaust accounts from a survivor that I’ve ever read and I’m shocked I haven’t heard it before。 The bravery， sacrifice， brokenness， and determination that it takes to break out of Auschwitz and alert the world to the horrors taking place there-- and the worlds response: those who were critical， incredulous， doubtful， complicit， or determined to use this information to save others。 I’m just humbled。 It’s made me want to be a better person and to make sure my eyes are wide open to others。 11/10 and should rank in the same category as Unbroken。 ✨ Information + Belief = Knowledge。 But what happens if there isn’t belief？✨ “Jewish tradition says that to save one life is to save the whole world。” 。。。more
Julie
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Incredible。 Not an easy read （in terms of content， the writing was very easy to follow）， but so very worth it。 A powerful story that I wish I'd known earlier。 Incredible。 Not an easy read （in terms of content， the writing was very easy to follow）， but so very worth it。 A powerful story that I wish I'd known earlier。 。。。more
Joan Pehkonen
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Hard to read- unbelievable details about the horror and a young man’s bravery- so sad it took so long for people to believe
Hannah Phillips
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Absolutely incredible story。 Heartbreaking， heart stopping and heartwarming all at once。 Had to keep reminding myself that it’s a true story。
Alicia Primer
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Many heartbreaks in the story of a man who escaped from Auschwitz to warn the world， only to face disbelief and inaction。 If only it weren’t true。
Alissa
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Every time I think I know a lot of the atrocities of The Holocaust I seem to pick up a book and learn more。 This book gave such detail into what these victims endured and had to overcome。 I cannot fathom how anyone could go through this and somehow escape， try to get the information to people who could do something and then sit by while they did nothing。 Both heartbreaking and empowering， I cried just trying to imagine the conditions and overall resilience those in the camps had to have to get o Every time I think I know a lot of the atrocities of The Holocaust I seem to pick up a book and learn more。 This book gave such detail into what these victims endured and had to overcome。 I cannot fathom how anyone could go through this and somehow escape， try to get the information to people who could do something and then sit by while they did nothing。 Both heartbreaking and empowering， I cried just trying to imagine the conditions and overall resilience those in the camps had to have to get out alive。 。。。more
Mark Bullen
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This is not just an amazing story of survival and triumph over adversity but a detailed account of the chilling， efficient cruelty of the “final solution” and how the German Nazis were able to find willing state collaborators in all European countries who willingly participated in the slaughter of millions of Jews。 It also brings to light the deep seated anti-semitism that pervaded the world at the time and how this led to the inaction of the allies when the evidence of the holocaust was crystal This is not just an amazing story of survival and triumph over adversity but a detailed account of the chilling， efficient cruelty of the “final solution” and how the German Nazis were able to find willing state collaborators in all European countries who willingly participated in the slaughter of millions of Jews。 It also brings to light the deep seated anti-semitism that pervaded the world at the time and how this led to the inaction of the allies when the evidence of the holocaust was crystal clear and there was an opportunity to stop the slaughter。 Everybody should read this book。 。。。more
Susie，
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Some things I knew， some things I didn’t know。 It was good and heartbreaking。 Also a reminder that most governments already knew what was going on， and still didn’t care enough to do something to stop mass genocide， no matter how many reminders they got that it was happening。
Barbara
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The remarkable thing about this biography is the author’s ability to make Walter Rosenberg come to life。 Rosenberg， also known as Rudolf Vrba， really escaped the Auschwitz concentration camp and warned many people of the atrocities that were taking place。 These are facts that other historians have written about， but author Jonathan Freedland shows the shrewdness and ingenuity behind the escape。 I could only read a few dozen pages at a time， then I had to take a break from the brutality that was The remarkable thing about this biography is the author’s ability to make Walter Rosenberg come to life。 Rosenberg， also known as Rudolf Vrba， really escaped the Auschwitz concentration camp and warned many people of the atrocities that were taking place。 These are facts that other historians have written about， but author Jonathan Freedland shows the shrewdness and ingenuity behind the escape。 I could only read a few dozen pages at a time， then I had to take a break from the brutality that was taking place in Poland， Hungary and Germany throughout the war。 The savagery of battle should never be forgotten。 。。。more
Du
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Both a tragic and a heroic story。 I really enjoyed the style the book uses to convey this story and the implications of the actions taken by the primary actors。 It has the Eric Larson feel for non-fiction， with a solid story behind it。 Good experience to read with some solid lessons to learn。
steven
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Compelling history， difficult to put downExtraordinarily well written。 Riveting history that centers upon a unique individual who experienced unimaginable horror as a young man and lived to tell the world of what he had seen。 This book is a stimulating exploration of human behaviour and it brings to mind questions about disinformation， cruelty， belief and disbelief as well as the apparently indomitable nature of life itself， as lived by this force of nature， Rudy Vrba。
Neil Johnston
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An excellent book
Annie
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Mandatory reading to remind yourself of the imminent and persistent danger we’re living through with holocaust denial。 Beautifully written。 Informed。 Well researched。
Spellcheck
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Compelling read。
Todd Burton
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Phenomenal read。
Kate Sampsell
，
must readPretty much everyone should read this amazing book。 It’s a solid history that reads like an adventure novel。 The author answers many questions raised by prior scholarship on the Holocaust that had felt to me like open wounds。 Fantastic book。
Julie
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A Little Known Hero I read this with my teen son， and it was a story neither of us had heard before。 Towards the end， there are parts that drag， and there are so many names and places introduced that you would need a flow chart to keep it all straight。 Still — if you think you pretty much know the story of Auschwitz， you really don’t until you read this book。
Tisha
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Once again， I am reminded to never， ever complain about my life。
Rebecca
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This was probably the most heart-wrenching， in-depth， graphic， account I have read of the Holocaust。 I learned a lot of details I had never encountered before。Walter/Rudy’s story is so detailed… I hesitate to use the words incredible or intriguing， because the story is absolutely credible and horrifying， but learning the ins and outs of everyday life in the camp， the rigid mechanics of it， as well as the reaction once the news was broken， made this book unputdownable， and learning these new deta This was probably the most heart-wrenching， in-depth， graphic， account I have read of the Holocaust。 I learned a lot of details I had never encountered before。Walter/Rudy’s story is so detailed… I hesitate to use the words incredible or intriguing， because the story is absolutely credible and horrifying， but learning the ins and outs of everyday life in the camp， the rigid mechanics of it， as well as the reaction once the news was broken， made this book unputdownable， and learning these new details kept me hungry for every scrap of information this man memorized as he prepared to escape to bring news of this terrible reality to the rest of the world。 It really is true what they say at the end of this book， the details of what happened are so extreme they are difficult to believe， because you just can’t imagine that it could be true。 I think that is why so many people have a morbid fascination with the Holocaust。 The details don’t sink in because you literally CAN’T process how it happened， so you continue to read and listen to accounts， and are astounded every time at the horror that took place。 In this case， I think Rudy would be glad that people read so much about this period of history。 He risked everything to bring this information to the world， and continuing to read these accounts and internalize the information and spread it to future generations is exactly what he would have wanted。 。。。more
Hannah Guglielmana
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so good。 i didn’t know this was about the auschwitz reports until like halfway through the book。 well written and very interesting
Jesse Lynn
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A harrowing account of a man who pulled off what was seemingly impossible: Walter Rosenberg， later Rudolph Vrba， escaped from Auschwitz， to warn the world of the atrocities taking place there。 The way the story is told is moving， candid and honestly soul-destroying。 It was hard to read at times， not only because of the crimes the Nazis committed in the camps， but also to read of the inaction of those outside them。 In the latter half of the book when we follow the Vrba-Wetzler report， where it go A harrowing account of a man who pulled off what was seemingly impossible: Walter Rosenberg， later Rudolph Vrba， escaped from Auschwitz， to warn the world of the atrocities taking place there。 The way the story is told is moving， candid and honestly soul-destroying。 It was hard to read at times， not only because of the crimes the Nazis committed in the camps， but also to read of the inaction of those outside them。 In the latter half of the book when we follow the Vrba-Wetzler report， where it goes， how it was being passed around between countries， and yet nothing was being done， I found myself becoming more and more distressed。 After reading of all the crimes and inhumane treatment of Jews through Vrba's eyes， and reading in detail what Vrba and Wetzler went through to get out of the camp to try and prevent the deaths of the Hungarian Jews， and so many of them dying anyway。。。it was heartbreaking。 The frustration and pain that the two escapees felt must have been debilitating。 Freeland uses a quote towards the end of the book， by French-Jewish philosopher Raymond Aron。 When asked about the Holocaust， Aron said， "I knew， but I didn't believe it。 And because I didn't believe it， I didn't know。" It's a powerful quote that applies to a lot of people and how they confronted the truth concerning what the Nazis were doing。 I'd highly recommend this book。 It's written accessibly and honestly reads like a novel， it's profound and moving and heartbreaking， and ultimately， incredibly important。 。。。more
Anuradha Goyal
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I found the book too factual and hence the 4 stars but otherwise it was very difficult to digest that a few human beings could commit such atrocities towards others。 Were the nazis all robots ？ Had they no emotions and feelings ？ To gas so many people， even little children and then burn their bodies。 And what has this world done to get justice for all those who had their loved ones so brutally murdered ？ Have we all just forgotten about them all ？ The book was an eye opener and it was heart warm I found the book too factual and hence the 4 stars but otherwise it was very difficult to digest that a few human beings could commit such atrocities towards others。 Were the nazis all robots ？ Had they no emotions and feelings ？ To gas so many people， even little children and then burn their bodies。 And what has this world done to get justice for all those who had their loved ones so brutally murdered ？ Have we all just forgotten about them all ？ The book was an eye opener and it was heart warming to read how the few who escaped showed such bravery and helped saved the lives that they did。 Not enough praise can be heaped on them ever。 🙏🏽🙏🏽 。。。more
Fiona
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Superb。 Freeland composes an exciting biography balanced on the precipice of the horrors in Auschwitz。
Roz Thompson-Van Eeden
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