When Germany invaded Poland, Stuka bombers devastated Warsaw-and the city's zoo along with it. With most of their animals dead, zookeepers Jan and Antonina Zabinski began smuggling Jews into empty cages. Another dozen "guests" hid inside the Zabinskis' villa, emerging after dark for dinner, socializing, and, during rare moments of calm, piano concerts. Jan, active in the Polish resistance, kept ammunition buried in the elephant enclosure and stashed explosives in the animal hospital. Meanwhile, Antonina kept her unusual ...
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When Germany invaded Poland, Stuka bombers devastated Warsaw-and the city's zoo along with it. With most of their animals dead, zookeepers Jan and Antonina Zabinski began smuggling Jews into empty cages. Another dozen "guests" hid inside the Zabinskis' villa, emerging after dark for dinner, socializing, and, during rare moments of calm, piano concerts. Jan, active in the Polish resistance, kept ammunition buried in the elephant enclosure and stashed explosives in the animal hospital. Meanwhile, Antonina kept her unusual household afloat, caring for both its human and its animal inhabitants-otters, a badger, hyena pups, lynxes.With her exuberant prose and exquisite sensitivity to the natural world, Diane Ackerman engages us viscerally in the lives of the zoo animals, their keepers, and their hidden visitors. She shows us how Antonina refused to give in to the penetrating fear of discovery, keeping alive an atmosphere of play and innocence even as Europe crumbled around her.
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An excellent book how a zoo keepere and his wife survived in Warsaw during the Nazi oppression. Vivid description of life in the ghetto and of Poland during its liberation and then when the Russian army arrived. A remarkable story, and told in an excellent manor
MMBEENE
Jun 21, 2009
Doing the right thing
A quick read, this book was interesting in that it shows a completely different side to WWII. Although the Nazis separated the Jews by putting them into a horrific ghetto, the citizans of Warsaw did not let that stop them--including the zoo keeper and his wife. Although Christian, she sees everyone as human--much as she views the animals of the zoo--creatures created by God to be loved, nurtured, and protected. She risks her life and her family's to do what was morally right even when it meant immediate death if caught. This book demonstrates what people hold dear and what they will truly do in the face of evil. Some participate in the evil, but some rise above it commiting simple, compassionate acts that saves others' lives. I cannot imagine being faced with this choice, but I hope that this inspiring story helps me do the right thing.
pamela1717
May 9, 2009
Abandoned
Even though I abandoned this I will still give it 2 stars simply because I think true life experiences are valuable. I abandoned this one after about 150 pages simply because it just seemed to generalized for me and the information wasn't organized well. I'm not quite sure how exactly to explain it except there just didn't seem to be much of a foundation for some of the occurrences she wrote about--she would address/initiate something as if we already knew it was going on. I wouldn't mind seeing this story again but from a different author.
welshwoman
Mar 21, 2008
Simply Stated
Positive: Poetically written and well-researched describes The Zookeeper's Wife, a retelling of life in Warsaw, Poland before, during and after the Nazi occupation of WWII. Negative: The drama of the story begins slowly, builds to a climax, then drops as quickly. I ended the book emotionally spent, wanting more details and needing closure. In conclusion, The Zookeeper's Wife celebrates the resourcefulness of humans living under the worst of circumstances. Well-worth reading.
