I first encountered I Escaped From Auschwitz at University whilst studying Primo Levi's, If This Is A Man. We were required to analyse a related text for perspective. I bought and studied/analysed I Escaped From Auschwitz and thoroughly enjoyed it. As a History and Politics graduate I have a natural affinity to historical fiction. I love books based on real historical events which include a fictional love story or similar. I Escaped From Auschwitz is an entirely factual work which nevertheless appealed to the romantic in me.
Vrba, a Scientist by profession, successfully communicates every emotion, undoubtedly strengthened by the knowledge that they were real, so that you can truly understand his experiences.
In his Prologue Vrba talks about contributing to the defeat of Nazism by opening peoples' eyes. This book undeniably achieves that. I know that when I told people what I was reading they would say 'oh!' or 'that's not very nice' and considered it a horrible topic, or a historical source. Vrba's I Escaped From Auschwitz is in fact both BUT, it personalises an unpleasant subject in a way that the everyday public can appreciate and is a historical source to the general public who can learn so much from one man's experiences and bravery.
I am re-reading this book because I thoroughly enjoyed it and believe that it should be a much greater part of popular reading than it currently is.
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