The book thief is a story about the power of words and the ability of books to feed the soul. Theyre so many events going on and none of them are important to the story line whatsoever. Markus zusak grew up in sydney, australia, and still lives there with his wife and two children. His book is based on the information of this parents and that of the world and books.
There are many books about the second world war and the holocaust, but this book is one of the greats, precisely because it doesnt focus exclusively on the horror, but on the lives of ordinary people living in a small town near munich. Liesel meminger, the book thief, is nine when she pockets the gravediggers handbook, found in a snowy cemetery after her little brothers funeral. Death narrates the story of liesel meminger, beginning when she is nine years old and suffering from the death of her brother and separation from her mother. The book thief author, markus zusak, was greatly influenced by his parents experience with the holocaust.
Narrated by death, the book thief is the story of liesel meminger, a nineyearold german girl who given up by her mother to live with hans and rosa hubermann in the small town of molching in 1939, shortly before world war ii. Soon she is stealing books from nazi book burnings, the. While death isnt exactly omniscient, he does have access to information that a. Zusak took it to his australian publisher, who had handled his other youngadult books, and the publisher immediately took it to the arm of the company that handled literary fiction for adults. The book thief, by markus zusak the new york times book. The book thief by markus zusak scholastic books for kids.
The book thief is a historical novel by australian author markus zusak and is his most popular work. Like the curious incident of the dog in the nighttime, which was initially targeted at young adults in britain but to adults in the usa, the book thief is one of those rare books that really does speak to both young and old alike. The film is based on the 2005 novel of the same name by markus zusak and adapted by michael petroni. The official website of the book thief your spot for the latest on markus zusak and the book thief united states holocaust memorial museum this site provides concise information and is a great quick reference for many of the events alluded to in the novel. This is her story and the story of the inhabitants of her street when the bombs begin to fall. Nominated as one of americas bestloved novels by pbss the great american read. The book thief is a historical novel by australian author markus zusak and is his most popular work published in 2005, the book thief became an international bestseller and was translated into 63 languages and sold 16 million copies. Liesel meminger is a young girl growing up outside of munich in nazi germany, and death tells her story as an attempta flying jump of an attemptto prove to me that you, and your human existence, are worth it. While subjected to the horrors of world war ii germany, young liesel finds solace by stealing books and sharing them with others.
In 2003, rare book dealer and bibliodetective ken sanders tracked and caught a con artist with designs on first editions of some of the most cherished books in the world. His work is translated into more than forty languages, and has spent more than a decade on the new york times bestseller list, establishing zusak as one of the most successful authors to come out of australia. Author markus zusak is a young writer whose parents lived in europe during the war. She also discovers the power of words and books as hitlers nazi agenda threatens to destroy. With sophie nelisse, geoffrey rush, emily watson, ben schnetzer. The book thief anniversary edition by markus zusak. Its just a small story really, about, among other things. I think its extremely important that all generations read books like the book thief. The next time he saw her was when he came for a pilot who had crashed his plane. There are many lovely, tender elements to be found in the book thief.
The book thief on apple books apple books apple apple. Zusak is the awardwinning author of the underdog, fighting ruben wolfe, getting the girl,i am the messenger, recipient of a 2006 printz. The book thief movie tiein by markus zusak, paperback. By clicking submit i am signing up to receive news about books, authors, and more from penguin random house.
Liesel stole books from a grave digger, a bonfire and the mayors wife, ilsa herman. Also in 2018, bridge of clay was selected as a best book of the year in publications ranging from entertainment weekly to the wall street journal. Markus zusak biography list of works, study guides. Teen, 14 years old written by missbookaholic april 7, 2018. Their titles also signify important moments in liesels life, as does the first book the grave diggers handbook, which signifies the losses of her mother and brother books also represent learning and power. Tyen, scholar and ambitious archaeologist, uncovers an ancient magic tome, a font of potentially dangerous information, forged from the body of an unwilling woman named vella. Book summary the majority of the novel takes place in the fictional town of molching, germany, near munich, between 1939 and 1943. The doubleday hardback of the book thief, published at the beginning of january 07, stayed in the top ten of the sunday times bestsellers for nine weeks. The book thief is an extraordinary, heartbreaking book. It was published to critical acclaim in australia and in america where it reached no. Following on the heels of i am the messenger, nominated for best young adult book at the 2006 l. Even though many of the characters in this book are fictional, the origins of the towns, events and actions are historically accurate.
Get it today with same day delivery, order pickup or drive up. This is a devastatingly powerful book that bears several rereadings, and should become a staple of literature discussion groups for sophisticated teen and adult readers. Markus zusak was born in 1975 and is the author of five books, including i am the messenger and the international bestseller, the book thief, which is translated into more than forty languages. Death keeps plenty busy during the course of this wwii tale, even though zusak i am the messenger works in miniature, focusing on the lives of ordinary germans in a small town outside munich. A sympathetically drawn death narrates the story of orphan liesel meminger, who finds friendship and a new family in a small town in germany during world war ii. At a young age, zusak has already asserted himself as one of todays most innovative and poetic novelists. The book thief is the kind of book that you read in stunned silence, shaking your head in. United states holocaust memorial museum this site provides concise information and is a great quick reference for many of the events alluded to in the novel. With the publication of the book thief, he is now being dubbed a literary phenomenon by australian and us critics.
The book thief was added to the worlds arsenal of wwii novels in 2005 and quickly became a bestseller. His newest, muchanticipated novel, bridge of clay, will release in october 2018. In 2006, zusaks fifth novel the book thief was published in his native australia as the authors first work of adult fiction, yet marketed by its american publisher knopf as another work of young adult fiction. Adolf hitler is constructing his empire, and death has never been busier. When her foster father helps her learn to read and she discovers the power of words, liesel begins stealing books from nazi book. The book thief, by markus zusak the new york times. He lives in sydney, australia, with his wife and children. Jan 01, 2014 the book thief is a beautiful book about an ugly period of history.
See a complete list of the characters in the book thief and indepth analyses of liesel meminger, max vandenburg, hans hubermann, and rudy. This is the tale of the book thief as narrated by death. Its just a small story really, about among other things. Printz honor book, and the school library journal and publishers weekly best childrens book of the. Mar 17, 2014 the book thief is set in nazi germany, at the start of world war two. Narated by death, the book thief is an unforgettable novel about the ability of books to feed the soul. Markus zusak is the international bestselling author of six novels, including the book thief and most recently, bridge of clay. The book thief is a 20 war drama film directed by brian percival and starring geoffrey rush, emily watson, and sophie nelisse. In the memory thief by lauren mansy, in the city of craewick, memories reign. Faust the dog, written by mattheus ottleberg, a christmas gift from hans and rosa hubermann to liesel meminger. The grave diggers handbook, a training book about grave digging, which liesel meminger protagonist found lying in the snow at werner memingers funeral. The film is about a young girl living with her adoptive german family during the nazi era.
The book thievery happens in a 15 minute span of the whole 2 hour movie. Sep 01, 2005 this is a book to treasure, a new classic. The state of israel gives nonjews who saved jewish lives, or attempted to save jewish lives, the formal recognition of. Set in germany in the years 19391943, the book thief tells the story of liesel, narrated by death who has in his possession the book she wrote about these years. First off, the title, the book thief doesnt even really apply to the movie at all. The book thief tells the story of preworld war ii by.
Mar 14, 2006 when death tells a story, you pay attention. So begins liesels love affair with books and words, and soon she is stealing. Markus zusak has a way with words, and it shines in the book thief. It is the gravediggers handbook, and this is her first act of book thievery. Knopf 97803856385 by markus zusak and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices.
Search for the publisher in a database like hoovers or mergent. The australian writer markus zusaks brilliant and hugely ambitious new youngadult novel is startling in many ways, but the first thing. Narrated by death, who over the course of the book. These databases will provide you with information about the publisher as a company. At once hopeful and devastating, its an observation of humanity from an outsider who s. Some important information this novel is narrated by death this new edition features exclusive first chapter from markus zusaks brand new literary novel bridge of clay, out in autumn 2018. This book has won many awards, including the ala best books for young adults, michael l. Rielle struggles against the strictures of polite society, where inborn magical gifts can too easily lead to arrest and assault, and where women are expected to submit to. A girl some words an accordionist some fanatical germans a jewish fist fighter and quite a lot of thievery i can read pretty much. The narrator is death himself, a companionable if sarcastic fellow, who travels the globe handing souls to the conveyor belt of eternity. Publishing houses open publishing houses close publishing houses. Death introduces himself as the narrator of the novel. Where can i find information about the publisher of a book. The official website of the book thief your spot for the latest on markus zusak and the book thief united states holocaust memorial museum this site provides concise information and is a great quick reference for many of the events alluded to in.
The book thief is a novel by markus zusak that was first published in 2005. In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, awardwinning author markus zusak has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time. It won the adult library services association best books for young adults, among other awards. In 20, the book thief was made into a major motion picture, and in 2018 was voted one of americas alltime favorite books, achieving the 14th position on the pbs great american read. The official website of the book thief your spot for the latest on markus zusak and the book thief. Find the best books, literary resources and educational solutions for kids at scholastic, a leader in publishing and education for nearly 100 years. The book thief and millions of other books are available for instant access.
It was adapted into a 20 feature film of the same name. Celebrating the way that books and stories unite people in the face of tragedy, this haunting, weighty, and transformative book is. The author is a prizewinning writer of childrens books, and this, his first novel for adults, proved to be a triumphant success. The book thief is a story about the power of words to make worlds. The first time he saw the book thief, he says, was on a train. The book thief by zusak, markus and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The book thief is set in nazi germany, at the start of world war two. The additional anniversary edition footnotes written by the author at the end of the book provide wonderful insight. The book thief by markus zusak, 9780552773898, available at book. The book thief was published for adults in zusaks native australia, and i strongly suspect it was written for adults. Times book festival, markus zusaks the book thief is an astounding piece of literature. Published in 2005, the book thief became an international bestseller and was translated into 63 languages and sold 16 million copies. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis.
The powerobsessed ruler of the city, madame, has cultivated a society in which memory are currency, citizens are divided by ability, and gifted individuals can take memories from others through touch as they please. If you are looking to find more information about the publisher of your book, there a couple of things you can do. The book thief readers circle reprint paperback by. Jan 01, 2008 the book thief by marcus zusak was the bestselling debut literary novel of the year 2007, selling over 400,000 copies. Since the book thief is a work of historical fiction a story based on a real setting. The book is accompanied by a borders promotional linen bag printed with an image from the dust jacket front on one side and one of death and liesel on the other. Successful upon publication, over one million copies of the book thief have been sold internationally, and the novel received a. Liesel meminger cannot read when she arrives at her new home, but finds herself drawn to books.