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醿炨儤醿愥儨醿樶儭醿⑨儤
醿涐儥醿樶儣醿儠醿斸儦醿樶儭 醿儤醿溼儛醿ㄡ償醿� 醿撫儛醿ａ儻醿斸儬醿斸儜醿斸儦醿�, 醿椺儯醿涐儶醿� 醿溼儛醿涐儞醿曖儤醿氠儤 醿愥儧醿戓儛醿曖儤, 醿涐儩醿椺儺醿犪儩醿戓儤醿氠儤 醿儨醿濁儜醿樶儦醿� 醿炨儩醿氠儩醿溼償醿氠儤 醿炨儤醿愥儨醿樶儭醿⑨儤醿♂儛 醿撫儛 醿欋儩醿涐優醿濁儢醿樶儮醿濁儬醿樶儭 醿曖儦醿愥儞醿樶儭醿氠儛醿� 醿ㄡ優醿樶儦醿涐儛醿溼儤醿� 醿涐儤醿斸儬. 醿涐儯醿♂儤醿欋儩醿♂儤 醿п儠醿斸儦醿� 醿樶儧 醿涐儷醿樶儧醿� 醿掅儛醿溼儭醿愥儶醿撫償醿氠儤醿� 醿ㄡ償醿♂儛醿償醿� 醿掅儠醿樶儳醿曖償醿戓儛, 醿犪儛醿� 醿涐儛醿� 醿椺儛醿曖儭 醿掅儛醿撫儛醿儞醿� 醿涐償醿濁儬醿� 醿涐儭醿濁儰醿氠儤醿� 醿濁儧醿樶儭 醿儦醿斸儜醿ㄡ儤, 醿曖儛醿犪儴醿愥儠醿樶儭 醿掅償醿⑨儩醿ㄡ儤 醿掅儛醿涐儩醿涐儸醿п儠醿撫償醿ａ儦醿�. 醿♂儬醿ａ儦醿樶儛醿� 醿涐儩醿ａ儦醿濁儞醿溼償醿氠儛醿�, 醿掅儛醿撫儛醿犪儵醿斸儨醿愥儴醿� 醿ㄡ優醿樶儦醿涐儛醿溼儭 醿撫儛醿斸儺醿涐儛醿犪儛 醿掅償醿犪儧醿愥儨醿斸儦醿� 醿濁儰醿樶儶醿斸儬醿� - 醿搬儩醿栣償醿溼儰醿斸儦醿撫儤. 醿♂儸醿濁儬醿斸儞 醿涐儤醿♂儤 醿撫儲醿樶儯醿犪儤醿撫儛醿� 醿愥儧醿濁儨醿愥儬醿樶儞醿斸儜醿� 醿斸儬醿椺儠醿樶儭 醿撫儛 醿愥儠醿♂償醿戓儭 醿涐儯醿♂儤醿欋儩醿♂儤醿� 醿椺儺醿犪儩醿戓儛醿�. 醿儤醿掅儨醿� 醿♂儛醿め儯醿儠醿氠儛醿� 醿撫儛醿斸儞醿� 醿儨醿濁儜醿樶儦 醿め儤醿氠儧醿�, 醿犪儩醿涐償醿氠儤醿� 醿犪儩醿涐儛醿� 醿炨儩醿氠儛醿溼儭醿欋儤醿� 醿掅儛醿撫儛醿樶儲醿�.
250 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1946
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About the author
W艂adys艂aw Szpilman
4听books519听followersPolish pianist, composer and memoirist.
Szpilman is widely known as the protagonist of the Roman Pola艅ski film The Pianist , which is based on his autobiographical book recounting how he survived the Holocaust. In November 1998 W艂adys艂aw Szpilman was honoured by the president of Poland with a Kommandor Order with a Star of Polonia Restituta.
Szpilman is widely known as the protagonist of the Roman Pola艅ski film The Pianist , which is based on his autobiographical book recounting how he survived the Holocaust. In November 1998 W艂adys艂aw Szpilman was honoured by the president of Poland with a Kommandor Order with a Star of Polonia Restituta.
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January 7, 2014This is the first time I am reviewing a book that I have tried and failed to rate.
How do I decide on a rating anyway? Should I judge the prose? the content? the author's style of presentation? his narrative voice? the quality of the translation?
Do I even have the right to?
Awarding a star rating to this man's unbelievably harrowing and miraculous tale of surviving a war which claimed the lives of 6 million of his fellow brethren for no reason at all, seems a more sacrilegious act than calling Infinite Jest a bad book on 欧宝娱乐.
So I choose not to.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, a pianist working for the Polish radio station, takes us through the years of Nazi occupation of Poland and Warsaw, in particular, and the insensate violence that had the Jewish inhabitants of the city (the ones who were fortunate enough to be spared the concentration camps) living the most brutal and unforgiving of nightmares for a period of almost 5 years.
Wladyslaw Szpilman
Szpilman writes with a kind of unnerving indifference, as if this were someone else's tale of horrors he is narrating and not his own. It is obvious that since he had written this in 1946, immediately after the war, his senses may still have been numbed under the influence of the barbarous acts he had witnessed through the 6 years of the Occupation. His voice doesn't sound sarcastic, debilitated or even a little bit acerbic. Instead, he gives us a neat, uncluttered, unemotional, chronologically ordered account of events which saw him narrowly escaping certain death many, many times.
But this is not just his story. A surprise awaits the unsuspecting reader at the very end, in the form of Wilm Hosenfeld, a Nazi officer who saved Szpilman's life in the last few months of 1944. An astonishingly mild-mannered, generous soul who not only kept the knowledge of Szpilman's existence a secret from the other SS officers, but saved him from certain death out of starvation and the unbearable cold.
But true to the nature of war which justifies countering violence with more violence, Hosenfeld was taken as a prisoner of war when the Soviets finally recaptured Poland. He was tortured to death years later (1952) in some unnamed labor camp in the icy swathes of Stalingrad. His tormentors were especially cruel with him, angered by his claims of having saved the lives of many Jews and Poles during the Warsaw occupation. Which, of course, was nothing but the truth.*
Wilhelm Adalbert Hosenfeld
It goes without saying, while reading this book I had no sense of time or any movement around me, I had no idea whether it was still daytime or whether night had fallen. Turning over the last page, when I finally took note of my surroundings I discovered my pillow was half-wet with tears and that I had a dreadful headache.
Some of the most poignant, haunting and reflective passages of the narrative are in Wilm's journal which was recovered years later and incorporated into Szpilman's memoir -
A mere German officer seems to have had the moral strength to admit -
And yet the "great" Der F眉hrer, in front of whom a vast Empire bowed down at one point of time, could only choose the coward's way out by committing suicide in the end.
A million stars to the courage of Wladyslaw Szpilman, who aided the Jewish resistance in the Warsaw ghetto, disregarding the constant threat to his own life. A million stars to his unflinchingly honest attempt at looking back at a terrible past. A million stars for enabling the citizens of the world to read, know and derive lessons from the story of his life. A million stars to Wilm Hosenfeld for holding on to his conscience at a time when morality and compassion were in short supply.
And a million stars to the triumph of the human spirit.
(So you see the correct rating of this book should be 5 million stars which is beyond the scope of 欧宝娱乐.)
*Wilm Hosenfeld was posthumously recognized as a in 2009 by Israel.
P.S.:- This review maybe updated after I watch the movie.
How do I decide on a rating anyway? Should I judge the prose? the content? the author's style of presentation? his narrative voice? the quality of the translation?
Do I even have the right to?
Awarding a star rating to this man's unbelievably harrowing and miraculous tale of surviving a war which claimed the lives of 6 million of his fellow brethren for no reason at all, seems a more sacrilegious act than calling Infinite Jest a bad book on 欧宝娱乐.
So I choose not to.
Wladyslaw Szpilman, a pianist working for the Polish radio station, takes us through the years of Nazi occupation of Poland and Warsaw, in particular, and the insensate violence that had the Jewish inhabitants of the city (the ones who were fortunate enough to be spared the concentration camps) living the most brutal and unforgiving of nightmares for a period of almost 5 years.
Wladyslaw Szpilman
Szpilman writes with a kind of unnerving indifference, as if this were someone else's tale of horrors he is narrating and not his own. It is obvious that since he had written this in 1946, immediately after the war, his senses may still have been numbed under the influence of the barbarous acts he had witnessed through the 6 years of the Occupation. His voice doesn't sound sarcastic, debilitated or even a little bit acerbic. Instead, he gives us a neat, uncluttered, unemotional, chronologically ordered account of events which saw him narrowly escaping certain death many, many times.
But this is not just his story. A surprise awaits the unsuspecting reader at the very end, in the form of Wilm Hosenfeld, a Nazi officer who saved Szpilman's life in the last few months of 1944. An astonishingly mild-mannered, generous soul who not only kept the knowledge of Szpilman's existence a secret from the other SS officers, but saved him from certain death out of starvation and the unbearable cold.
But true to the nature of war which justifies countering violence with more violence, Hosenfeld was taken as a prisoner of war when the Soviets finally recaptured Poland. He was tortured to death years later (1952) in some unnamed labor camp in the icy swathes of Stalingrad. His tormentors were especially cruel with him, angered by his claims of having saved the lives of many Jews and Poles during the Warsaw occupation. Which, of course, was nothing but the truth.*
Wilhelm Adalbert Hosenfeld
It goes without saying, while reading this book I had no sense of time or any movement around me, I had no idea whether it was still daytime or whether night had fallen. Turning over the last page, when I finally took note of my surroundings I discovered my pillow was half-wet with tears and that I had a dreadful headache.
Some of the most poignant, haunting and reflective passages of the narrative are in Wilm's journal which was recovered years later and incorporated into Szpilman's memoir -
"Evil and brutality lurk in the human heart. If they are allowed to develop freely, they flourish, putting out dreadful offshoots...."
A mere German officer seems to have had the moral strength to admit -
"Our entire nation will have to pay for all these wrongs and this unhappiness, all the crimes we have committed. Many innocent people must be sacrificed before the blood-guilt we've incurred can be wiped out. That's an inexorable law in small and large things alike."
And yet the "great" Der F眉hrer, in front of whom a vast Empire bowed down at one point of time, could only choose the coward's way out by committing suicide in the end.
A million stars to the courage of Wladyslaw Szpilman, who aided the Jewish resistance in the Warsaw ghetto, disregarding the constant threat to his own life. A million stars to his unflinchingly honest attempt at looking back at a terrible past. A million stars for enabling the citizens of the world to read, know and derive lessons from the story of his life. A million stars to Wilm Hosenfeld for holding on to his conscience at a time when morality and compassion were in short supply.
And a million stars to the triumph of the human spirit.
(So you see the correct rating of this book should be 5 million stars which is beyond the scope of 欧宝娱乐.)
*Wilm Hosenfeld was posthumously recognized as a in 2009 by Israel.
P.S.:- This review maybe updated after I watch the movie.
March 29, 2018
You might say all of us owe our very existence to the lottery of chance that allowed our ancestors to survive the second world war. Maybe this is one reason I find it such a compelling subject. The margins of genetic survival were narrowed to a much greater extent than at any time in recent history. And of course if you're Jewish this was exacerbated a thousand-fold and more. If you were interned in the Warsaw Ghetto your chances of survival were about the same as any of us being struck by lightning in our lifetime. So one huge point of interest here, behind all the horror, is how did this man manage to survive? I can't answer this question. It doesn't appear to have anything to do with any quality he possessed that others didn't. He wasn't particularly intrepid or brave or robust physically, he wasn't inordinately wealthy, he didn't breach his ethics to survive. In fact, at times he seems almost comically inept as any kind of resistor, never highlighted better than when at the end of the war he goes to meet the Russian liberators dressed in a German military overcoat. (The woman soldier who shoots at him misses.) In some ways he reminds me of Primo Levi, another highly sensitive artistic man who you'd think wouldn't have the qualities to survive. I always remember his account of how he was captured as a partisan. His band didn't have a single weapon and were caught hiding in the kind of hideout children make. Surely the odds of someone so ill-suited to the deprivations and depravities of a death camp wouldn't last three months?
There were several key moments when individuals who might easily have murdered Szpilman let him off the hook. Was it charm? He doesn't though come across as particularly charming. He doesn't get on with his brother and takes little interest in his sisters. He seems a bit of an introspective loner, unrealistic (he's often worrying about the health of his hands and the implications frostbite will have on his career as a pianist). It's as if he carried with him some untouchable quality that his persecutors recognised. That he was marked out to survive. There's always a kind of mysticism at work in these survival stories. To realise this is also to begin to understand the tragic phenomenon of survivor guilt. How hard it must be to be singled out as special when you know you're no more special than countless others who perished.
Perhaps even harder to comprehend than the gas chambers are the personal and intimate acts of barbarity, especially the cold-blooded killing of children. In this regard the Ukrainian and Lithuanian SS are particularly monstrous. It's probably important to remember it wasn't only Germans who were sadistic killers. One horror they performed was to smash the heads of children against a wall by swinging them by the legs. I remember watching an interview with a Lithuanian guard who had participated in countless atrocities. His answer to every question was to tell the interviewer he couldn't possibly understand. He refused to apologise. As far as he was concerned he had paid his penance by spending ten years in a Russian gulag as if he considered what he did little more than an illegal act. He struck me as a completely worthless human being. And I couldn't for the life of me understand why fate had chosen to usher him safely into old age. The pathetic self-love this man must have possessed to believe his life was more important than the barbarous acts he performed beggars belief.
There were several key moments when individuals who might easily have murdered Szpilman let him off the hook. Was it charm? He doesn't though come across as particularly charming. He doesn't get on with his brother and takes little interest in his sisters. He seems a bit of an introspective loner, unrealistic (he's often worrying about the health of his hands and the implications frostbite will have on his career as a pianist). It's as if he carried with him some untouchable quality that his persecutors recognised. That he was marked out to survive. There's always a kind of mysticism at work in these survival stories. To realise this is also to begin to understand the tragic phenomenon of survivor guilt. How hard it must be to be singled out as special when you know you're no more special than countless others who perished.
Perhaps even harder to comprehend than the gas chambers are the personal and intimate acts of barbarity, especially the cold-blooded killing of children. In this regard the Ukrainian and Lithuanian SS are particularly monstrous. It's probably important to remember it wasn't only Germans who were sadistic killers. One horror they performed was to smash the heads of children against a wall by swinging them by the legs. I remember watching an interview with a Lithuanian guard who had participated in countless atrocities. His answer to every question was to tell the interviewer he couldn't possibly understand. He refused to apologise. As far as he was concerned he had paid his penance by spending ten years in a Russian gulag as if he considered what he did little more than an illegal act. He struck me as a completely worthless human being. And I couldn't for the life of me understand why fate had chosen to usher him safely into old age. The pathetic self-love this man must have possessed to believe his life was more important than the barbarous acts he performed beggars belief.
August 1, 2024
brak mi slow na to, jak bardzo ta ksiazka rozdarla mi serce. pozycja opisuje realia warszawskich robinsonow bardzo dosadnie i nie owijajac w bawelne, co, zarowno jak jezyk (poniewaz to pamietniki ujawnione przez syna Szpilamana) moze byc problematyczne dla niektorych czytelnikow. historia jest nieziemsko smutna i opowiadana z ogromna inteligencja i zalem. jesli chcecie czytac wiecej literatury wojennej, albo dopiero zaczac, to jest ksiazka dla was. natomiast jako personalna dygresje dodam, ze ta ksiazka powinna byc lektura.
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January 2, 2018There is no way for me to rate or review this book that would do it justice. Read it. Read it now.
May 27, 2022
This memoir is simply one of the best ever written on the Warsaw Ghetto, and has a significant educational, historical, and literary value that the world should never forget. Szpilman, a Jewish classical pianist, played the last of his live music from Warsaw before Polish Radio went off the air in September 1939 as the Nazis invaded Poland. In a tone that is at once dispassionate and immediate, Szpilman relates the terrible horrors of life inside the ghetto.
This book has a glaring clarity to it, and he brings to life the banalities of this gut-wrenching existence that was heartbreaking, shocking, and unforgettable. He shows how Jewish residents of the Polish capital adjusted to life under the occupation, and there are times, when he describes with calm detachment devoid of fury the many corpses littered about the streets of the ghetto, and the daily public executions, that you feel he may still be shell-shocked. Hiding out in various buildings, after escaping a train ride to death, and working in a labour camp, there were many times when he thought this is the end, and even planned his suicide with the Nazis closing in. only for him to survive another day, another week, another month, and so on. What he endured is a testament to the human spirit, he simply found a way to keep going, while hell was everywhere around him.
His writing I found his lucid prose had more in common with say Primo Levi than with the morally urgent style of Elie Wiesel, and Szpilman, all things considering, is a great observer of all the things going on around him, and leaves no doubt, this book will forever live on in the hearts and minds of those who have read it. The fact I'd seen the film many times over, didn't hamper the book at all. A masterpiece of non-fiction.
This book has a glaring clarity to it, and he brings to life the banalities of this gut-wrenching existence that was heartbreaking, shocking, and unforgettable. He shows how Jewish residents of the Polish capital adjusted to life under the occupation, and there are times, when he describes with calm detachment devoid of fury the many corpses littered about the streets of the ghetto, and the daily public executions, that you feel he may still be shell-shocked. Hiding out in various buildings, after escaping a train ride to death, and working in a labour camp, there were many times when he thought this is the end, and even planned his suicide with the Nazis closing in. only for him to survive another day, another week, another month, and so on. What he endured is a testament to the human spirit, he simply found a way to keep going, while hell was everywhere around him.
His writing I found his lucid prose had more in common with say Primo Levi than with the morally urgent style of Elie Wiesel, and Szpilman, all things considering, is a great observer of all the things going on around him, and leaves no doubt, this book will forever live on in the hearts and minds of those who have read it. The fact I'd seen the film many times over, didn't hamper the book at all. A masterpiece of non-fiction.
March 27, 2018
I loved The Pianist for a number of reasons but the supreme reason goes to W艂adys艂aw Szpilman's storytelling. Szpilman writes down the struggles which he endured in order to survive in Warsaw under the occupation of the Nazis. W艂adys艂aw voice never grows bitter, neither do his emotions twist to constant abhorrence and it鈥檚 why, I find myself greatly respecting him. His story was in no means told to invoke hatred or disgust towards Germans. His intention was not to spit out political statements about WWII. As mentioned on the title of the book, it was solely based on his extraordinary true story to survive when the whole of Europe went into chaos. Not to forget, it was about his determination to live long enough so that one day he could hopefully achieve his dreams.
Wladyslaw Szpilman was a Polish Jew born in Warsaw. He had three siblings and two loving parents. He was a talented musician growing up. He studied in Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw and then attended the prestigious Academy of Arts in Berlin before Hitler was in power. He then worked at a polish radio performing Jazz and classical music. But in 1939, the Nazis invaded Poland and developed a new general government which established a ghetto in Warsaw, specifically for Jews. Life for W艂adys艂aw turned into a daily torture. Hunger and illness sweeped every corner of the streets in the ghetto. Senseless hate by the Nazis and unjustified murder led Szpilman to escape rather than await his death. However, survival behind the walls of the Warsaw ghetto proves to be as difficult as a rapid death.
Szpilman, out of all odds, survived the six year war. Considering all he underwent, it did not leave him with a taste of vengeance and animosity. I thought at first that if I read more in-between the lines then I would catch some slight repugnance towards the Germans, but W艂adys艂aw displayed none whatsoever. I was not the only one curious about this, so when the book reached the epilogue (written by a German poet Wolf Biermann), I finally had my answer, which strengthens my respect for Szpilman.
I will lastly talk about Captain Wilm Hosenfeld (who I can't help but include in my review). Captain Wilm appeared as if something out of a fairy tale: the one good guy among a sea of cruel men. Hosenfeld helped Szpilman survive when he was closest to his death. Captain Wilm is very much a hero with his capability to clearly draw the line between wrong and right when countless others in Germany were utterly and completely swayed by the Nazi Ideology. The book gives an extract from the diary of Hosenfeld. His opinion is straightforward and clear on how villainous he thought the Nazis were.
Overall, you might/or might not pick up The Pianist, but if you鈥檙e still interested in the story then the film version of The Pianist is also a great insight of W艂adys艂aw Szpilman's survival.
Wladyslaw Szpilman was a Polish Jew born in Warsaw. He had three siblings and two loving parents. He was a talented musician growing up. He studied in Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw and then attended the prestigious Academy of Arts in Berlin before Hitler was in power. He then worked at a polish radio performing Jazz and classical music. But in 1939, the Nazis invaded Poland and developed a new general government which established a ghetto in Warsaw, specifically for Jews. Life for W艂adys艂aw turned into a daily torture. Hunger and illness sweeped every corner of the streets in the ghetto. Senseless hate by the Nazis and unjustified murder led Szpilman to escape rather than await his death. However, survival behind the walls of the Warsaw ghetto proves to be as difficult as a rapid death.
鈥淭omorrow I must begin a new life. How could I do it, with nothing but death behind me? What vital energy could I draw from death?鈥�
Szpilman, out of all odds, survived the six year war. Considering all he underwent, it did not leave him with a taste of vengeance and animosity. I thought at first that if I read more in-between the lines then I would catch some slight repugnance towards the Germans, but W艂adys艂aw displayed none whatsoever. I was not the only one curious about this, so when the book reached the epilogue (written by a German poet Wolf Biermann), I finally had my answer, which strengthens my respect for Szpilman.
鈥淥ne thing strikes me; Szpilman鈥檚 emotional register seems to include no desire for revenge. We once had a conversation in Warsaw; he had toured the world as a pianist and was now sitting, exhausted, at his old grand piano, which needed tuning. He made an almost childish remark, half ironically but half in deadly earnest. 鈥淲hen I was young man I studied in music for two years in Berlin. I just can鈥檛 make Germans out鈥hey were so extremely musical!鈥�
I will lastly talk about Captain Wilm Hosenfeld (who I can't help but include in my review). Captain Wilm appeared as if something out of a fairy tale: the one good guy among a sea of cruel men. Hosenfeld helped Szpilman survive when he was closest to his death. Captain Wilm is very much a hero with his capability to clearly draw the line between wrong and right when countless others in Germany were utterly and completely swayed by the Nazi Ideology. The book gives an extract from the diary of Hosenfeld. His opinion is straightforward and clear on how villainous he thought the Nazis were.
鈥淚t is hard to believe all this, and I try not to, not so much of anxiety for the future of our nation, which will have to pay for these monstrous things someday 鈥� but because I can鈥檛 believe Hitler wants such things and there are Germans who will give such order. If it so, there can only explain: they鈥檙e sick, abnormal or mad.鈥�
Overall, you might/or might not pick up The Pianist, but if you鈥檙e still interested in the story then the film version of The Pianist is also a great insight of W艂adys艂aw Szpilman's survival.
July 23, 2019
This is the tragic memory reported by the pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman, about his survival inside the Warsaw Ghetto; about his unfortunate and yet miraculous encounter with german SS that saved him.
I must be sincere, i have read this book many years ago, well before the famous related movie came out ( that i found marvellous and intimate and very faithful to the book).
I decided to read it again with my 14 years old daughter due to her homework asked by her teacher for italian literature.
The story of this book will go deep in your heart and soul, it is just a pity that the real feelings of the main character, Wladi, are kind of hidden to the readers, what he really felt during the last days of the Nazi emperor........ but at the end i asked myself, why, for wich reason Szpilman had to share his feelings with us ( future readers), that live in a safe, comfort and flawed world !?
Memoria tragica riportata dal pianista Wladyslaw Szpilman della sua sopravvivenza dentro il ghetto di Varsavia e l'incontro fortuito e miracoloso di una SS che lo salv貌.,
Devo essere sincera, l'avevo letto secoli fa, ben prima dell' uscita del film ( che ho trovato stupendo e ben fedele al libro). Ho deciso di rileggerlo insieme a mia figlia 14enne perch猫 richiesto dalla sua prof di Italiano. Una storia che entra nel cuore, purtroppo un filino arida nel trasmettere le emozioni e dei sentimenti vissuti dal protagonista in quei giorni devastanti della caduta dell' impero nazista., ma poi perch猫 mai avrebbe dovuto condividerle con noi belli, tranquilli e pasciuti!???
I must be sincere, i have read this book many years ago, well before the famous related movie came out ( that i found marvellous and intimate and very faithful to the book).
I decided to read it again with my 14 years old daughter due to her homework asked by her teacher for italian literature.
The story of this book will go deep in your heart and soul, it is just a pity that the real feelings of the main character, Wladi, are kind of hidden to the readers, what he really felt during the last days of the Nazi emperor........ but at the end i asked myself, why, for wich reason Szpilman had to share his feelings with us ( future readers), that live in a safe, comfort and flawed world !?
Memoria tragica riportata dal pianista Wladyslaw Szpilman della sua sopravvivenza dentro il ghetto di Varsavia e l'incontro fortuito e miracoloso di una SS che lo salv貌.,
Devo essere sincera, l'avevo letto secoli fa, ben prima dell' uscita del film ( che ho trovato stupendo e ben fedele al libro). Ho deciso di rileggerlo insieme a mia figlia 14enne perch猫 richiesto dalla sua prof di Italiano. Una storia che entra nel cuore, purtroppo un filino arida nel trasmettere le emozioni e dei sentimenti vissuti dal protagonista in quei giorni devastanti della caduta dell' impero nazista., ma poi perch猫 mai avrebbe dovuto condividerle con noi belli, tranquilli e pasciuti!???
December 21, 2019
This book contains horrendous passages on the holocaust in Warsaw 鈥� the ghettoization of the Jewish people 鈥� and then their subsequent removal to death camps which happened to the authors entire family. What was most shocking to me were the random acts of killings that the author witnessed that could occur at any moment. No one was safe from brutality.
I did find this book helped me to understand more the movie 鈥淪chindler鈥檚 List鈥� such as the Jewish police that worked with the Nazis.
As with most autobiographies I did find certain omissions. For example, I still cannot understand how in the 鈥渦mschlagplatz鈥� (the rail station where Jews were gathered prior to embarkation to the death camps) the author became separated from his family. Who called out his name and physically grabbed him away from his family? This was a key turning point in his life.
I found the two essays at the end of the book to be really interesting. After reading the diary excerpts from the German officer Wilm Hosenfeld, who can doubt that the German people did not know of the atrocities going on in Eastern Europe?
The essay by Wolf Biermann is exactly how I felt about the book (from page 212) 鈥� 鈥淩eaders will notice that although this book was written amidst the still smouldering ashes of the Second World War, its language is surprisingly cool. Wladyslaw Szpilman describes his recent sufferings with an almost melancholy detachment.鈥� I would feel this to be a necessary coping mechanism for dealing with this most brutal period of the author鈥檚 life.
I did find this book helped me to understand more the movie 鈥淪chindler鈥檚 List鈥� such as the Jewish police that worked with the Nazis.
As with most autobiographies I did find certain omissions. For example, I still cannot understand how in the 鈥渦mschlagplatz鈥� (the rail station where Jews were gathered prior to embarkation to the death camps) the author became separated from his family. Who called out his name and physically grabbed him away from his family? This was a key turning point in his life.
I found the two essays at the end of the book to be really interesting. After reading the diary excerpts from the German officer Wilm Hosenfeld, who can doubt that the German people did not know of the atrocities going on in Eastern Europe?
The essay by Wolf Biermann is exactly how I felt about the book (from page 212) 鈥� 鈥淩eaders will notice that although this book was written amidst the still smouldering ashes of the Second World War, its language is surprisingly cool. Wladyslaw Szpilman describes his recent sufferings with an almost melancholy detachment.鈥� I would feel this to be a necessary coping mechanism for dealing with this most brutal period of the author鈥檚 life.
December 1, 2015
As always these books are so incredibly hard to read, not just to read but to understand how these cruelties could have ever happened. This book was different in that it was not only written by someone in Poland who survived the Holocaust, but someone who probably only survived because of the help of a German officer.
Excerpts from this officer's diary are included in the back of the book as are explanatory notes tying everything together. The tome of the book is rather matter of fact, since it is written right after the war it was explained that it was written this way because the author could still not quite come to terms with the massive amounts of cruelty and lives lost.
I never knew that although more Polish Jews were exterminated than elsewhere, some three to four hundred thousand Poles risked their lives to save Jews. After the war, the author continued to play piano in Poland. This was for a long time a banned book, I am glad that now everyone has the opportunity to reads this story.
Excerpts from this officer's diary are included in the back of the book as are explanatory notes tying everything together. The tome of the book is rather matter of fact, since it is written right after the war it was explained that it was written this way because the author could still not quite come to terms with the massive amounts of cruelty and lives lost.
I never knew that although more Polish Jews were exterminated than elsewhere, some three to four hundred thousand Poles risked their lives to save Jews. After the war, the author continued to play piano in Poland. This was for a long time a banned book, I am glad that now everyone has the opportunity to reads this story.
November 13, 2024
鈥淣u a fost o lupt膬 pe via葲膬 葯i pe moarte. A fost o lupt膬 pe moarte. Lupta pentru a muri lupt芒nd.鈥�
Emo葲ionant de frumoas膬 aceast膬 carte.
Cred c膬 卯ntr-o mare de pove葯ti care au ca tem膬 principal膬 WWII(葯i care ne plac), aceasta e una dintre cele mai bine scrise.
Oamenii pot salva lumea, e cert, c芒t de des aleg s膬 o fac膬 卯ns膬?! C芒nd bun膬tatea 葯i umanitatea sunt uitate, ies la iveal膬 demonii, urmeaz膬 pierzania?
Cartea trebuie citit膬 pentru c膬 nu trebuie s膬 uit膬m niciodat膬 ceea ce s-a 卯nt芒mplat 卯n urm膬 doar cu c芒teva decenii. S膬 v膬 face葲i timp pentru ea, merit膬 tot timpul din lume!
Ini葲ial i-am acordat un punctaj mai mic, dar am realizat, la doi ani de la 卯ncheierea lecturii, unele scene descrise au r膬mas cu mine.
鈥漅膬ul 葯i brutalitatea stau la p芒nd膬 卯n sufletul omului. Dac膬 li se 卯ng膬duie s膬 se dezvolte 卯n voie, ele 卯nfloresc, ajung芒nd s膬 dea la iveal膬 ni葯te ml膬di葲e 卯nsp膬im芒nt膬toare ..鈥�
Emo葲ionant de frumoas膬 aceast膬 carte.
Cred c膬 卯ntr-o mare de pove葯ti care au ca tem膬 principal膬 WWII(葯i care ne plac), aceasta e una dintre cele mai bine scrise.
Oamenii pot salva lumea, e cert, c芒t de des aleg s膬 o fac膬 卯ns膬?! C芒nd bun膬tatea 葯i umanitatea sunt uitate, ies la iveal膬 demonii, urmeaz膬 pierzania?
Cartea trebuie citit膬 pentru c膬 nu trebuie s膬 uit膬m niciodat膬 ceea ce s-a 卯nt芒mplat 卯n urm膬 doar cu c芒teva decenii. S膬 v膬 face葲i timp pentru ea, merit膬 tot timpul din lume!
Ini葲ial i-am acordat un punctaj mai mic, dar am realizat, la doi ani de la 卯ncheierea lecturii, unele scene descrise au r膬mas cu mine.
鈥漅膬ul 葯i brutalitatea stau la p芒nd膬 卯n sufletul omului. Dac膬 li se 卯ng膬duie s膬 se dezvolte 卯n voie, ele 卯nfloresc, ajung芒nd s膬 dea la iveal膬 ni葯te ml膬di葲e 卯nsp膬im芒nt膬toare ..鈥�
November 29, 2017
艢mier膰 miasta = The Pianist: The Extraordinary Story of One Man's Survival in Warsaw, 1939鈥�45, W艂adys艂aw Szpilman
The Pianist is a memoir by the Polish-Jewish pianist and composer W艂adys艂aw Szpilman in which he describes his life in Warsaw in occupied Poland during World War II. After being forced with his family to live in the Warsaw ghetto, Szpilman manages to avoid deportation to the Treblinka extermination camp, and from his hiding places around the city witnesses the Warsaw ghetto uprising in 1943 and the Warsaw uprising (the rebellion by the Polish resistance) the following year. He survives in the ruined city with the help of friends and strangers, including Wilm Hosenfeld, a German army captain who admires his piano playing.
鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮: 賲丕賴 噩賵賱丕蹖 爻丕賱 2014 賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳: 倬蹖丕賳蹖爻鬲 : 丿賮鬲乇 禺丕胤乇丕鬲 爻丕賱賴丕蹖 1939 鬲丕 1945 賲蹖賱丕丿蹖貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 賵賱丕丿蹖爻賱丕賵 丕卮倬蹖賱賲丕賳貨 跇乇跇 倬胤乇爻蹖貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 丕賳鬲卮丕乇丕鬲 賲丕賴蹖貨 1393貨 丿乇 228 氐貨 卮丕亘讴: 9789642091980貨 賲賵囟賵毓: 噩賳诏 噩賴丕賳诏蹖乇 丿賵賲 - 賯鬲賱 毓丕賲 蹖賴賵丿蹖丕賳 - 爻乇诏匕卮鬲賳丕賲賴 賲賵爻蹖賯蹖丿丕賳丕賳 蹖賴賵丿蹖 賱賴爻鬲丕賳 - 賯乇賳 20 賲
毓賳賵丕賳 賮蹖賱賲: 倬蹖丕賳蹖爻鬲貨 讴丕乇诏乇丿丕賳: 乇賵賲賳 倬賵賱丕賳爻讴蹖貨 鬲賴蹖賴鈥� 讴賳賳丿賴: 丌賱亘乇鬲 爻. 乇賵丿蹖貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 讴鬲丕亘: 賵賱丕丿蹖爻賱丕賵 丕卮倬蹖賱賲賳貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 賮蹖賱賲賳丕賲賴: 乇賵賳丕賱丿 賴丕乇賵賵丿 貨 亘丕夭蹖诏乇丕賳: 丌丿乇蹖賳 亘乇賵丿蹖貨 鬲賵賲丕爻 讴乇趩賲丕賳貨 賮乇賳讴 賮蹖賳丕賱蹖貨 賲賵乇蹖賳 賱蹖倬賲賳貨 丕賲蹖賱蹖丕 賮丕讴爻貨 賲賵爻蹖賯蹖: 賵賵趩蹖趩 讴蹖賱丕乇貨 賮蹖賱賲鈥屫ㄘ必ж臂�: 倬丕賵賱 丕丿賱賲賳貨 鬲丿賵蹖賳: 貨
Herv茅 de Luze
鬲丕乇蹖禺鈥屬囏й� 丕賳鬲卮丕乇: 4 丿爻丕賲亘乇貙 2002 賲蹖賱丕丿蹖 (丌賲乇蹖讴丕)貨 賲丿鬲 夭賲丕賳: 150 丿賯蹖賯賴貨 讴卮賵乇: 丕賳诏賱爻鬲丕賳貙 丌賱賲丕賳貙 賮乇丕賳爻賴 賵 賱賴爻鬲丕賳貨 夭亘丕賳: 丕賳诏賱蹖爻蹖貙 丌賱賲丕賳蹖貙 乇賵爻蹖貨 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
The Pianist is a memoir by the Polish-Jewish pianist and composer W艂adys艂aw Szpilman in which he describes his life in Warsaw in occupied Poland during World War II. After being forced with his family to live in the Warsaw ghetto, Szpilman manages to avoid deportation to the Treblinka extermination camp, and from his hiding places around the city witnesses the Warsaw ghetto uprising in 1943 and the Warsaw uprising (the rebellion by the Polish resistance) the following year. He survives in the ruined city with the help of friends and strangers, including Wilm Hosenfeld, a German army captain who admires his piano playing.
鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮: 賲丕賴 噩賵賱丕蹖 爻丕賱 2014 賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳: 倬蹖丕賳蹖爻鬲 : 丿賮鬲乇 禺丕胤乇丕鬲 爻丕賱賴丕蹖 1939 鬲丕 1945 賲蹖賱丕丿蹖貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴: 賵賱丕丿蹖爻賱丕賵 丕卮倬蹖賱賲丕賳貨 跇乇跇 倬胤乇爻蹖貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 丕賳鬲卮丕乇丕鬲 賲丕賴蹖貨 1393貨 丿乇 228 氐貨 卮丕亘讴: 9789642091980貨 賲賵囟賵毓: 噩賳诏 噩賴丕賳诏蹖乇 丿賵賲 - 賯鬲賱 毓丕賲 蹖賴賵丿蹖丕賳 - 爻乇诏匕卮鬲賳丕賲賴 賲賵爻蹖賯蹖丿丕賳丕賳 蹖賴賵丿蹖 賱賴爻鬲丕賳 - 賯乇賳 20 賲
毓賳賵丕賳 賮蹖賱賲: 倬蹖丕賳蹖爻鬲貨 讴丕乇诏乇丿丕賳: 乇賵賲賳 倬賵賱丕賳爻讴蹖貨 鬲賴蹖賴鈥� 讴賳賳丿賴: 丌賱亘乇鬲 爻. 乇賵丿蹖貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 讴鬲丕亘: 賵賱丕丿蹖爻賱丕賵 丕卮倬蹖賱賲賳貨 賳賵蹖爻賳丿賴 賮蹖賱賲賳丕賲賴: 乇賵賳丕賱丿 賴丕乇賵賵丿 貨 亘丕夭蹖诏乇丕賳: 丌丿乇蹖賳 亘乇賵丿蹖貨 鬲賵賲丕爻 讴乇趩賲丕賳貨 賮乇賳讴 賮蹖賳丕賱蹖貨 賲賵乇蹖賳 賱蹖倬賲賳貨 丕賲蹖賱蹖丕 賮丕讴爻貨 賲賵爻蹖賯蹖: 賵賵趩蹖趩 讴蹖賱丕乇貨 賮蹖賱賲鈥屫ㄘ必ж臂�: 倬丕賵賱 丕丿賱賲賳貨 鬲丿賵蹖賳: 貨
Herv茅 de Luze
鬲丕乇蹖禺鈥屬囏й� 丕賳鬲卮丕乇: 4 丿爻丕賲亘乇貙 2002 賲蹖賱丕丿蹖 (丌賲乇蹖讴丕)貨 賲丿鬲 夭賲丕賳: 150 丿賯蹖賯賴貨 讴卮賵乇: 丕賳诏賱爻鬲丕賳貙 丌賱賲丕賳貙 賮乇丕賳爻賴 賵 賱賴爻鬲丕賳貨 夭亘丕賳: 丕賳诏賱蹖爻蹖貙 丌賱賲丕賳蹖貙 乇賵爻蹖貨 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
September 12, 2016
The Pianist by Written immediately after the war by survivor Wladyslaw Szpilman. This book was suppressed for decades. The Pianist is a stunning testament to human endurance and tells the story of the horrendous events that took place in Nazi-occupied Warsaw and the Jewish ghetto.
This is quite a short book but it certainly packs a punch. You can almost feel the urgency of the writer to get his story down on paper and yet the story is told in such a way that you feel a confidence and a clarity that almost makes you feel connected . This is a story of one man's survival in a city devastated by war and how his will to survive keeps him alive.
This first-hand account of the Jewish pianist, Wladyslaw Szpilman, gave me a fantastic and important detailed insight regarding Warsaw, its people and the events leading up to the Warsaw Rising of 1944.
I have read quite a few books on the War and the holocaust but this book looks at events from a completely different perspective and I found it very refreshing.
鈥淓very war casts up certain small groups among ethnic populations minorities too cowardly to fight openly, too insignificant to play an independent political part, but despicable enough to act as paid executioners to one of the fighting powers鈥� (Quote from The Pianist).
This is not an easy subject to read and yet I never felt the author set out to shock the reader but just to tell his story the way it happened to him. The one thing I did miss or thought the book lacked was emotion and I am not sure why this is, perhaps it鈥檚 the urgency to tell the story as it happened, perhaps it鈥檚 the terrible effects all the atrocities had on the author or perhaps not being a writer he is not able to convey emotion in his writing. Would I? if having enjured what this man went through be able to convey emotion. I really don鈥檛 think so.
A captivating read that will certainly stay with me and I feel I learned a little more about this time in history.
This is quite a short book but it certainly packs a punch. You can almost feel the urgency of the writer to get his story down on paper and yet the story is told in such a way that you feel a confidence and a clarity that almost makes you feel connected . This is a story of one man's survival in a city devastated by war and how his will to survive keeps him alive.
This first-hand account of the Jewish pianist, Wladyslaw Szpilman, gave me a fantastic and important detailed insight regarding Warsaw, its people and the events leading up to the Warsaw Rising of 1944.
I have read quite a few books on the War and the holocaust but this book looks at events from a completely different perspective and I found it very refreshing.
鈥淓very war casts up certain small groups among ethnic populations minorities too cowardly to fight openly, too insignificant to play an independent political part, but despicable enough to act as paid executioners to one of the fighting powers鈥� (Quote from The Pianist).
This is not an easy subject to read and yet I never felt the author set out to shock the reader but just to tell his story the way it happened to him. The one thing I did miss or thought the book lacked was emotion and I am not sure why this is, perhaps it鈥檚 the urgency to tell the story as it happened, perhaps it鈥檚 the terrible effects all the atrocities had on the author or perhaps not being a writer he is not able to convey emotion in his writing. Would I? if having enjured what this man went through be able to convey emotion. I really don鈥檛 think so.
A captivating read that will certainly stay with me and I feel I learned a little more about this time in history.
October 8, 2023
Voi folosi un cuv芒nt pentru a descrie cartea asta care de altfel mi se pare prea bombastic 卯n orice alt context, dar aici fix a葯a este: devastatoare! O carte absolut devastatoare. Cu fiecare poveste despre r膬zboi pe care o aflu, mai ales despre Holocaust sau alte genocide, mi se 卯ncre葲e葯te carnea pe mine, c膬 ni葯te oameni au putut s膬 se transforme 卯n astfel de creaturi malefice... E prea pu葲in s膬 le spun "animale", fiindc膬 animalele nu fac r膬u de dragul r膬ului... Oricum, o carte foarte bun膬, care se cite葯te cu lacrimi 卯n g芒t. Recomand!
May 3, 2021
鈥濸颈补苍颈蝉迟耻濒鈥�
Wladyslaw Szpilman 10!
Acele c膬r葲i care ating cele mai sensibile corzi, c膬r葲ile bune 葯i puternice, despre ele scriu cel mai mult 葯i greu, iar cuvintele se adun膬 haotic. Vin cu un sfat 卯nc膬 de la 卯nceputul acestei mici recenzii. V膬 rog frumos s膬 face葲i ca mine, distan葲i-v膬 de orice se 卯nt芒mpl膬, pune葲i pe fundal s膬 c芒nte Chopin (scriu mai jos de ce), 葯i delecta葲i-v膬 cu o lectur膬 de calitate.
Wladyslaw Szpilman este pianist la un post de radio din Var葯ovia, c芒nd se treze葯te cu nem葲ii care invadeaz膬 Polonia 葯i 卯i fur膬 sensul vie葲ii. Ultima lui interpretare a lui Chopin, Nocturne Op.9 No2, 卯l opre葯te 卯n fa葲a unei amenin葲膬ri care pare a fi mai degrab膬 o rulet膬 ruseasc膬 cu titlul 鈥瀋um vei muri?鈥�. Istoria lui Szpilman se putea termina diferit, mort de foame, 卯mpu葯cat de ucraineni sau nem葲i, ori de ru葯i, sinucidere (sp芒nzur膬toare sau s膬ritur膬 de la 卯n膬l葲ime, mai era 葯i varianta prin otr膬vire, dar nu era mereu posibil膬), ars de viu sau dup膬 bombardament, ori sc膬pat viu ca prin minune.
Cei 6 ani au fost petrecu葲i 卯ntr-o constant膬 ghicitoare, ce final 卯l a葯tepta, regulile jocului se schimbau mereu, fiecare an aducea cu sine o stricte葲e mai dobor芒toare, o senza葲ie de speran葲膬 care se stingea aidoma unei lum芒n膬ri. 葮i cel mai straniu a fost percep葲ia propriului con葯tient 卯n momentul lecturii, tu 葯tii exact c芒t a durat r膬zboiul, 葯tii care a fost soarta Poloniei, c芒nd a fost eliberat膬 葯i cum, dar f膬r芒ma ceea de naivitate se zb膬tea cu fiecare zi pomenit膬 de autor, via葲a lui Wladyslaw a devenit important膬 pentru mine 葯i speran葲a mea 卯n omenire.
Cartea lui Wladyslaw Szpilman este despre Omenie 葯i Omenire, cei doi piloni care pot salva lumea, iar lipsa acestora dau fr芒u demonilor care ne pot duce spre pierzanie. Printre mul葲imea de istorii citite despre WW2, Holocaust, Evrei 葯i Gulagurile sovietice, 鈥濸颈补苍颈蝉迟耻濒鈥�, de departe este cea mai bine scris膬 carte din aceast膬 list膬 neagr膬.
Oamenii sunt foarte stranii, tind s膬 creeze distrug芒nd.
Categoric intr膬 deja 卯n topul celor mai bune c膬r葲i, pentru c膬 am pl芒ns la pu葲ine din ele, iar 鈥濸颈补苍颈蝉迟耻濒鈥� este cea de-a treia carte care m-a f膬cut s膬 pl芒ng, chiar fiind 卯n public nu m-am putut ab葲ine, privirea tat膬lui s膬u am v膬zut-o cu ochii mei. Scriu aceste cuvinte, 葯i iar m膬 podidesc lacrimile. Neap膬rat s膬 v膬 face葲i timp pentru ea, merit膬 tot timpul din lume!
Lecturi pline de speran葲膬 v膬 doresc!
Wladyslaw Szpilman 10!
Acele c膬r葲i care ating cele mai sensibile corzi, c膬r葲ile bune 葯i puternice, despre ele scriu cel mai mult 葯i greu, iar cuvintele se adun膬 haotic. Vin cu un sfat 卯nc膬 de la 卯nceputul acestei mici recenzii. V膬 rog frumos s膬 face葲i ca mine, distan葲i-v膬 de orice se 卯nt芒mpl膬, pune葲i pe fundal s膬 c芒nte Chopin (scriu mai jos de ce), 葯i delecta葲i-v膬 cu o lectur膬 de calitate.
Wladyslaw Szpilman este pianist la un post de radio din Var葯ovia, c芒nd se treze葯te cu nem葲ii care invadeaz膬 Polonia 葯i 卯i fur膬 sensul vie葲ii. Ultima lui interpretare a lui Chopin, Nocturne Op.9 No2, 卯l opre葯te 卯n fa葲a unei amenin葲膬ri care pare a fi mai degrab膬 o rulet膬 ruseasc膬 cu titlul 鈥瀋um vei muri?鈥�. Istoria lui Szpilman se putea termina diferit, mort de foame, 卯mpu葯cat de ucraineni sau nem葲i, ori de ru葯i, sinucidere (sp芒nzur膬toare sau s膬ritur膬 de la 卯n膬l葲ime, mai era 葯i varianta prin otr膬vire, dar nu era mereu posibil膬), ars de viu sau dup膬 bombardament, ori sc膬pat viu ca prin minune.
Cei 6 ani au fost petrecu葲i 卯ntr-o constant膬 ghicitoare, ce final 卯l a葯tepta, regulile jocului se schimbau mereu, fiecare an aducea cu sine o stricte葲e mai dobor芒toare, o senza葲ie de speran葲膬 care se stingea aidoma unei lum芒n膬ri. 葮i cel mai straniu a fost percep葲ia propriului con葯tient 卯n momentul lecturii, tu 葯tii exact c芒t a durat r膬zboiul, 葯tii care a fost soarta Poloniei, c芒nd a fost eliberat膬 葯i cum, dar f膬r芒ma ceea de naivitate se zb膬tea cu fiecare zi pomenit膬 de autor, via葲a lui Wladyslaw a devenit important膬 pentru mine 葯i speran葲a mea 卯n omenire.
Cartea lui Wladyslaw Szpilman este despre Omenie 葯i Omenire, cei doi piloni care pot salva lumea, iar lipsa acestora dau fr芒u demonilor care ne pot duce spre pierzanie. Printre mul葲imea de istorii citite despre WW2, Holocaust, Evrei 葯i Gulagurile sovietice, 鈥濸颈补苍颈蝉迟耻濒鈥�, de departe este cea mai bine scris膬 carte din aceast膬 list膬 neagr膬.
Oamenii sunt foarte stranii, tind s膬 creeze distrug芒nd.
Categoric intr膬 deja 卯n topul celor mai bune c膬r葲i, pentru c膬 am pl芒ns la pu葲ine din ele, iar 鈥濸颈补苍颈蝉迟耻濒鈥� este cea de-a treia carte care m-a f膬cut s膬 pl芒ng, chiar fiind 卯n public nu m-am putut ab葲ine, privirea tat膬lui s膬u am v膬zut-o cu ochii mei. Scriu aceste cuvinte, 葯i iar m膬 podidesc lacrimile. Neap膬rat s膬 v膬 face葲i timp pentru ea, merit膬 tot timpul din lume!
Lecturi pline de speran葲膬 v膬 doresc!
April 15, 2011
I've read a lot about World War II, but I'd never fully grasped the complete destruction, the utter devastation of the city of Warsaw. Hitler was like a bratty child with a toy he'd rather destroy than share with anyone else. When he knew he was going to lose the war, he ordered that Warsaw be reduced to rubble. Among the ruins there was a Jewish musician named Wladyslaw Szpilman who had managed to survive for six years, and a German named Wilm Hosenfeld who saved Szpilman's life one last time.
I read this entire book in 24 hours. Szpilman wrote his account immediately after the war ended, so you can sometimes feel that sense of urgency, that need to pour everything out onto the page and purge himself so he could begin to recover and build a new life. He had a long career as a performer and composer, and died in 2000.
The book also includes some excerpts from the diary of Wilm Hosenfeld. He didn't personally kill or brutalize anyone during the war, but he never flinched from the collective responsibility of the German people for what they allowed Hitler to do to the world. It was later discovered that Hosenfeld had also helped other Jews during the war. I hope he did finally get his tree on the Avenue of the Just in Yad Vashem.
I read this entire book in 24 hours. Szpilman wrote his account immediately after the war ended, so you can sometimes feel that sense of urgency, that need to pour everything out onto the page and purge himself so he could begin to recover and build a new life. He had a long career as a performer and composer, and died in 2000.
The book also includes some excerpts from the diary of Wilm Hosenfeld. He didn't personally kill or brutalize anyone during the war, but he never flinched from the collective responsibility of the German people for what they allowed Hitler to do to the world. It was later discovered that Hosenfeld had also helped other Jews during the war. I hope he did finally get his tree on the Avenue of the Just in Yad Vashem.
January 13, 2020
Mult膬 lume 葯tie povestea din filmul lui Polanski din 2002. Ce este interesant este c膬 memoriile lui Szpilman au ap膬rut 卯n 1946 卯n Polonia aflat膬 sub controlul sovieticilor, a fost cenzurat膬 葯i apoi interzis膬 tocmai pentru c膬 era extrem de realist膬 葯i autorul nu a menajat pe nimeni: pe polonezi, lituanieni sau ru葯i, care 卯mpu葯cau evrei; pe evreii colabora葲ioni葯ti; a ar膬tat m膬rinimia multora, inclusiv a neam葲ului care l-a salvat spre final. 脦n plus, Szpilman, chiar dac膬 a scris 鈥漧a cald鈥�, reu葯e葯te s膬 priveasc膬 totul cu deta葯are 葯i sinceritate, nu 卯葯i imagineaz膬 niciun moment c膬 este un erou, ci un om simplu care a fost puternic 葯i a avut mult noroc s膬 supravie葲uiasc膬 ani 卯ntregi 卯ntr-o Var葯ovie aproape distrus膬.
Volumul este un alt document tulbur膬tor care trebuie citit pentru a nu uita ororile nazismului.
Volumul este un alt document tulbur膬tor care trebuie citit pentru a nu uita ororile nazismului.
July 1, 2022
,,Suntem foarte,foarte flamanzi. Nu am mancat de multa vreme. Dati-ne o bucatica de paine, sau, daca nu paine, atunci macar un cartof sau o ceapa, ca sa putem trai si noi macar pana maine.
Dar aproape nimeni nu avea ceapa aceea, si, chiar daca ar fi avut-o,nu putea sa o dea, fiindca nu avea inima. Razboiul o preschimbase in piatra. ''
,,Trebuia sa incep o noua viata. Cum sa incepi o noua viata, cand n-ai in urma decat moarte? Cum sa extragi forta de a trai din moarte?"
Dar aproape nimeni nu avea ceapa aceea, si, chiar daca ar fi avut-o,nu putea sa o dea, fiindca nu avea inima. Razboiul o preschimbase in piatra. ''
,,Trebuia sa incep o noua viata. Cum sa incepi o noua viata, cand n-ai in urma decat moarte? Cum sa extragi forta de a trai din moarte?"
November 11, 2019
鈥漅膬ul 葯i brutalitatea stau la p芒nd膬 卯n sufletul omului. Dac膬 li se 卯ng膬duie s膬 se dezvolte 卯n voie, ele 卯nfloresc, ajung芒nd s膬 dea la iveal膬 ni葯te ml膬di葲e 卯nsp膬im芒nt膬toare ..鈥�
Impresionant膬, o carte care m膬 va b芒ntui....
Impresionant膬, o carte care m膬 va b芒ntui....
March 19, 2021
Monument of the Umschlagplatz in Warsaw today.
I don't know how to write a review for such a horrifying account of what Wladyslaw Szpilman experienced as a Jew in Warsaw during the Holocaust. His writing is very dispassionate and precise, yet he really brought forth the horrors of the war and his daily life struggles; losing his family, hunger, stress, uncertainty and fear. I was also very much inspired by how strong his instincts were in certain situations. It's incredible how during times of stress, our body can communicate with us so strongly in favor of survival. Often times, I had to stop and reflect how humans are able to do these cruel acts to each other. How could the soldiers follow and carry out those cold-hearted orders without any emotions or rationale? What makes the Holocaust especially gruesome is the systematic "war-machine" approach to exterminate certain peoples. Even though I've read my share of Holocaust-accounts, I still get shivers thinking that everything described in the book actually took place in real life. Very thought-provoking and important. Thank you Mr. Wladyslaw Szpilman for recording this down.
June 20, 2023
Unul din rarele cazuri 卯n care mi-a pl膬cut mai mult filmul dec芒t cartea. Presupun c膬 a contribuit la acest lucru 葯i faptul c膬 am v膬zut prima dat膬 filmul 葯i apoi am citit cartea.
August 9, 2021
"Pianistul", o carte cutremur膬toare, este m膬rturia zguduitoare a dramei personale a compozitorului evreu W艂adys艂aw Szpilman 葯i a ororilor prin care acesta trece 卯n timpul Holocaustului 卯n Var葯ovia ocupat膬 de nem葲i.
Cartea debuteaz膬 sub semnul optimismului, al speran葲ei 葯i 卯ncrederii 卯n interven葲ia for葲elor aliate pentru salvarea 葲膬rii de sub ocupa葲ie. Treptat 卯ns膬, se ajunge la dezn膬dejde, protagonistul sim葲indu-se tot mai dezumanizat, mai dezbr膬cat de orice demnitate uman膬, nemaia葯tept芒nd altceva dec芒t propriul sf芒r葯it.
Este o perioad膬 crunt膬, c芒nd omul ajunge s膬 fie pus 卯n situa葲ii inimaginabile, s膬 fac膬 orice pentru a putea supravie葲ui, c芒nd 卯ns膬葯i condi葲ia de om se pierde, iar el devine fiar膬.
Important de men葲ionat este tonul c膬r葲ii, acesta fiind unul echilibrat, moderat. Autorul poveste葯te f膬r膬 patim膬 experien葲ele tr膬ite, total lipsit de ur膬 葯i f膬r膬 s膬 acuze pe nimeni, lucru greu de imaginat 葲in芒nd cont de ororile petrecute.
M膬rturiile au fost a葯ternute pe h芒rtie la cald, 卯n 1946, imediat dup膬 terminarea r膬zboiului. Dar din cauza cenzurii, cartea nu s-a mai numit "Pianistul", ci 鈥淢oartea unui ora葯鈥�, tocmai pentru a muta drama 葯i greutatea de pe umerii unui om pe cei ai unui ora葯.
Este genul de lectur膬 obligatorie, pe care ar trebui s膬 o citim cu to葲ii, care ne face s膬 fim recunoscatori c膬 avem asemenea m膬rturii, de o a葯a inestimabil膬 valoare documentar膬. 脦ntreaga relatare este o recuperare important膬 pentru istorie.
Cu at芒t mai valoros este volumul de fa葲膬 ce con葲ine fotografii de familie 葯i fragmente din jurnalul c膬pitanului Hosenfeld, cel care l-a ajutat pe Szpilman 卯n final s膬 scape.
O carte-martor pentru cei supu葯i atrocit膬葲ilor r膬zboiului 葯i o carte-imbold pentru cei ce vor s膬 cunoasc膬 葯i s膬 卯n葲eleag膬 trecutul 葯i istoria.
Cartea debuteaz膬 sub semnul optimismului, al speran葲ei 葯i 卯ncrederii 卯n interven葲ia for葲elor aliate pentru salvarea 葲膬rii de sub ocupa葲ie. Treptat 卯ns膬, se ajunge la dezn膬dejde, protagonistul sim葲indu-se tot mai dezumanizat, mai dezbr膬cat de orice demnitate uman膬, nemaia葯tept芒nd altceva dec芒t propriul sf芒r葯it.
Este o perioad膬 crunt膬, c芒nd omul ajunge s膬 fie pus 卯n situa葲ii inimaginabile, s膬 fac膬 orice pentru a putea supravie葲ui, c芒nd 卯ns膬葯i condi葲ia de om se pierde, iar el devine fiar膬.
Important de men葲ionat este tonul c膬r葲ii, acesta fiind unul echilibrat, moderat. Autorul poveste葯te f膬r膬 patim膬 experien葲ele tr膬ite, total lipsit de ur膬 葯i f膬r膬 s膬 acuze pe nimeni, lucru greu de imaginat 葲in芒nd cont de ororile petrecute.
M膬rturiile au fost a葯ternute pe h芒rtie la cald, 卯n 1946, imediat dup膬 terminarea r膬zboiului. Dar din cauza cenzurii, cartea nu s-a mai numit "Pianistul", ci 鈥淢oartea unui ora葯鈥�, tocmai pentru a muta drama 葯i greutatea de pe umerii unui om pe cei ai unui ora葯.
Este genul de lectur膬 obligatorie, pe care ar trebui s膬 o citim cu to葲ii, care ne face s膬 fim recunoscatori c膬 avem asemenea m膬rturii, de o a葯a inestimabil膬 valoare documentar膬. 脦ntreaga relatare este o recuperare important膬 pentru istorie.
Cu at芒t mai valoros este volumul de fa葲膬 ce con葲ine fotografii de familie 葯i fragmente din jurnalul c膬pitanului Hosenfeld, cel care l-a ajutat pe Szpilman 卯n final s膬 scape.
O carte-martor pentru cei supu葯i atrocit膬葲ilor r膬zboiului 葯i o carte-imbold pentru cei ce vor s膬 cunoasc膬 葯i s膬 卯n葲eleag膬 trecutul 葯i istoria.
July 13, 2016
Este 茅 o testemunho de Vladyslaw Szpilman: cidad茫o polaco, m煤sico de profiss茫o e judeu. Era tamb茅m filho, irm茫o e amigo. Quando acabou a guerra j谩 n茫o tinha irm茫os nem pais, e a maioria dos amigos tinha morrido 脿s m茫os dos nazis. Sofreu na pele desde os primeiros dias da invas茫o, foi perseguido e resistiu at茅 aos 煤ltimos dias de aniquila莽茫o total. Assistiu 脿 destrui莽茫o da sua cidade, 痴补谤蝉贸惫颈补, viu os judeus confinados a um gueto imundo, sujeitos a uma imensa carnificina, desapossados dos seus bens e da sua dignidade.
Escapou aos campos de concentra莽茫o e refugiou-se nas ruinas da cidade. Foi um oficial nazi que o encontrou no meio dos escombros, morto de fome e frio. Surpreendentemente, alimentou-o e vestiu-o na clandestinidade.
Foi esta m茫o amiga que o salvou, permitiu-lhe sobreviver, continuar a sua carreira de m煤sico no p贸s guerra e tornar-se um compositor de renome.
Perante a dimens茫o do exterm铆nio, custa a crer que nem todos fossem coniventes com os ideais do nacional- socialismo. Talvez tenham sido poucos, ou, quem sabe, muitos mais do que se possa pensar. Quem tinha coragem para iniciar uma rebeli茫o? O povo alem茫o estava t茫o subjugado quanto os povos invadidos.
Ap贸s o final da guerra, ambas as fam铆lias mantiveram contacto e foi assim que foi poss铆vel o acesso aos di谩rios de ambos e a confirma莽茫o de que o capit茫o Hosenfeld era um ser humano justo que ajudou a salvar muitos outros judeus. Infelizmente, foi feito prisioneiro pelo ex茅rcito sovi茅tico e morreu no cativeiro.
O povo alem茫o carregar谩 para sempre o estigma do nazismo; aqueles que n茫o professaram a doutrina de Hitler n茫o foram suficientes para mudar o rumo da hist贸ria.
鈥淎 na莽茫o inteira ter谩 de pagar por todas estas iniquidades e por esta infelicidade, por todos os crimes que cometemos.鈥�
鈥� Atra铆mos sobre n贸s uma vergonha que nada limpar谩; 茅 uma maldi莽茫o que n茫o pode ser anulada.鈥�
Escapou aos campos de concentra莽茫o e refugiou-se nas ruinas da cidade. Foi um oficial nazi que o encontrou no meio dos escombros, morto de fome e frio. Surpreendentemente, alimentou-o e vestiu-o na clandestinidade.
Foi esta m茫o amiga que o salvou, permitiu-lhe sobreviver, continuar a sua carreira de m煤sico no p贸s guerra e tornar-se um compositor de renome.
Perante a dimens茫o do exterm铆nio, custa a crer que nem todos fossem coniventes com os ideais do nacional- socialismo. Talvez tenham sido poucos, ou, quem sabe, muitos mais do que se possa pensar. Quem tinha coragem para iniciar uma rebeli茫o? O povo alem茫o estava t茫o subjugado quanto os povos invadidos.
Ap贸s o final da guerra, ambas as fam铆lias mantiveram contacto e foi assim que foi poss铆vel o acesso aos di谩rios de ambos e a confirma莽茫o de que o capit茫o Hosenfeld era um ser humano justo que ajudou a salvar muitos outros judeus. Infelizmente, foi feito prisioneiro pelo ex茅rcito sovi茅tico e morreu no cativeiro.
O povo alem茫o carregar谩 para sempre o estigma do nazismo; aqueles que n茫o professaram a doutrina de Hitler n茫o foram suficientes para mudar o rumo da hist贸ria.
鈥淎 na莽茫o inteira ter谩 de pagar por todas estas iniquidades e por esta infelicidade, por todos os crimes que cometemos.鈥�
鈥� Atra铆mos sobre n贸s uma vergonha que nada limpar谩; 茅 uma maldi莽茫o que n茫o pode ser anulada.鈥�
November 4, 2020
Please read the GR book description. There are different versions. Read this one: . What is said is accurate.Rewriting what already exists and says what should be said is a waste of time.
It is stated in the first paragraph that the author writes 鈥渨ith a dispassionate restraint鈥�. This is correct too. I believe this explains why my rating is three stars. The information provided is clear and well presented, but not written with any special flair.
How Wladyslaw Szpilmanhe gets saved is pretty darn amazing. You should read this book even if you have read many other Holocaust books about the Warsaw ghetto. Each survivor鈥檚 story is different. Reading this story will not be a repeat of that which you have read before. There are portions that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat鈥攖he suspense is gripping.
Wilm Hosenfeld鈥檚 criticism of the Nazis is blatant. That he dares to express such negative views in writing, albeit in a personal diary, does surprise me. Did these diary entries actually exist? In any case, we are told so.
Laurence Dobiesz narrates the audiobook very well, and so the narration I am giving four stars. It is clear and easy to follow. It is read at a good pace. The words are distinct.
When I give a book three stars, it means I like it, it is worth reading and I recommend it, but it fails to truly pull me in.
It is stated in the first paragraph that the author writes 鈥渨ith a dispassionate restraint鈥�. This is correct too. I believe this explains why my rating is three stars. The information provided is clear and well presented, but not written with any special flair.
How Wladyslaw Szpilmanhe gets saved is pretty darn amazing. You should read this book even if you have read many other Holocaust books about the Warsaw ghetto. Each survivor鈥檚 story is different. Reading this story will not be a repeat of that which you have read before. There are portions that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat鈥攖he suspense is gripping.
Wilm Hosenfeld鈥檚 criticism of the Nazis is blatant. That he dares to express such negative views in writing, albeit in a personal diary, does surprise me. Did these diary entries actually exist? In any case, we are told so.
Laurence Dobiesz narrates the audiobook very well, and so the narration I am giving four stars. It is clear and easy to follow. It is read at a good pace. The words are distinct.
When I give a book three stars, it means I like it, it is worth reading and I recommend it, but it fails to truly pull me in.
January 28, 2019
Ogni volta che si legge una testimonianza dalla seconda guerra mondiale e ci giunge una voce in diretta dal massacro, ogni volta si scopre che realt脿 agghiaccianti sono l矛, appena pochi passi dietro le nostre spalle (che cosa sono sessanta o settant'anni? una bazzecola), eppure per me 猫 sempre un po' come la prima volta e non so mai bene con quali parole esporre il mio sgomento, perch茅 sull'argomento sono gi脿 stati spesi fiumi di parole, e al tempo stesso sento che non si pu貌 spiegare a parole una tragedia incommensurabile. Quando sono stata ad Auschwitz con la scuola, il preside mi tampinava perch茅 ansioso di sapere "鈥on quali parole esprimeresti questa esperienza?" ed io ripensandoci sento ancora dentro di me la rabbia che non potevo comunicargli per la stupidit脿 della sua domanda, l'unica risposta possibile era soltanto "ecchecca$$o, non ti accorgi che si sente ancora l'odore dei morti? Hai bisogno anche delle parole?", ma questo ovviamente non gliel'ho detto.
L'esperienza vissuta dal pianista e compositore Szpilman dal '39 al '45 猫 molto toccante; non altrettanto prevedibile era di trovarla raccontata in modo cos矛 notevolmente pacato ed equilibrato, ancor pi霉 se si considera che questo racconto autobiografico 猫 stato scritto a caldo nel '45.
Tema scottante, quello dell'umanit脿 dei tedeschi, gi脿 introdotto dalla N茅mirovsky nella Suite francese: e cos矛 come Il generale Della Rovere di Montanelli suscit貌 polemiche in quanto il personaggio (in parte immaginato) di una spia rivela di aver un suo lato eroico, allo stesso modo questo libro di Szpilman per tanti anni 猫 stato osteggiato in patria in quanto vi compare la figura di un tedesco "buono" (questo assolutamente veritiero), che pur militando da quella parte ha compiuto alcune buone azioni, tra le quali salvare la vita allo stesso Szpilman. E colpisce anche leggere gli appunti-diario di questo ufficiale tedesco, che aveva compreso l'abisso, e forse chiss脿 quanti alti come lui, ma sono rimasti isolati e silenziosi鈥�
Un altro tema difficile che vi si trova 猫 quello della ribellione e della Resistenza da parte degli ebrei: se da una parte c'猫 la passivit脿 delle vittime ebraiche, costruita ad arte da parte dei tedeschi, come spiega brillantemente Primo Levi ne I sommersi e i salvati, dall'altra parte qui Szpilman testimonia che in tanti, a suo tempo, nel ghetto, hanno pensato di ribellarsi e farsi forti della superiorit脿 numerica. Testimonia che una Resistenza 猫 stata comunque messa in atto e dice a chiare lettere che da un certo momento in poi nessun ebreo era pi霉 disposto a farsi prendere vivo. Sono tutte argomentazioni non secondarie, e tuttavia lasciano il tempo che trovano perch茅 con i 'se' e con i 'ma' la storia non si fa.
Le quattro stelle esprimono la mia valutazione per la prova letteraria; l'esperienza umana di certo ne merita a migliaia. Mi ripropongo di provare ad ascoltare qualche sua composizione, credo possa essere un omaggio migliore di tanti paroloni accorati.
Degno di nota anche il film di Polanski, che rispetta il libro in tutto e per tutto senza aggiunta di inutili fronzoli o sensazionalismi o fantasiose sovrastrutture - beh, a voler essere precisi aggiunge solo un piccolo, perdonabilissimo ricamino.
L'esperienza vissuta dal pianista e compositore Szpilman dal '39 al '45 猫 molto toccante; non altrettanto prevedibile era di trovarla raccontata in modo cos矛 notevolmente pacato ed equilibrato, ancor pi霉 se si considera che questo racconto autobiografico 猫 stato scritto a caldo nel '45.
Tema scottante, quello dell'umanit脿 dei tedeschi, gi脿 introdotto dalla N茅mirovsky nella Suite francese: e cos矛 come Il generale Della Rovere di Montanelli suscit貌 polemiche in quanto il personaggio (in parte immaginato) di una spia rivela di aver un suo lato eroico, allo stesso modo questo libro di Szpilman per tanti anni 猫 stato osteggiato in patria in quanto vi compare la figura di un tedesco "buono" (questo assolutamente veritiero), che pur militando da quella parte ha compiuto alcune buone azioni, tra le quali salvare la vita allo stesso Szpilman. E colpisce anche leggere gli appunti-diario di questo ufficiale tedesco, che aveva compreso l'abisso, e forse chiss脿 quanti alti come lui, ma sono rimasti isolati e silenziosi鈥�
Un altro tema difficile che vi si trova 猫 quello della ribellione e della Resistenza da parte degli ebrei: se da una parte c'猫 la passivit脿 delle vittime ebraiche, costruita ad arte da parte dei tedeschi, come spiega brillantemente Primo Levi ne I sommersi e i salvati, dall'altra parte qui Szpilman testimonia che in tanti, a suo tempo, nel ghetto, hanno pensato di ribellarsi e farsi forti della superiorit脿 numerica. Testimonia che una Resistenza 猫 stata comunque messa in atto e dice a chiare lettere che da un certo momento in poi nessun ebreo era pi霉 disposto a farsi prendere vivo. Sono tutte argomentazioni non secondarie, e tuttavia lasciano il tempo che trovano perch茅 con i 'se' e con i 'ma' la storia non si fa.
Le quattro stelle esprimono la mia valutazione per la prova letteraria; l'esperienza umana di certo ne merita a migliaia. Mi ripropongo di provare ad ascoltare qualche sua composizione, credo possa essere un omaggio migliore di tanti paroloni accorati.
Degno di nota anche il film di Polanski, che rispetta il libro in tutto e per tutto senza aggiunta di inutili fronzoli o sensazionalismi o fantasiose sovrastrutture - beh, a voler essere precisi aggiunge solo un piccolo, perdonabilissimo ricamino.
February 23, 2008
I became interested in reading "The Pianist" after seeing the excellent movie, directed by Roman Polanski, that was based on the book. After thoroughly enjoying the movie, I had very high hopes for this tome, and I was not disappointed. This book is a stunner, bringing to life the horrific conditions and brutality that Wladyslaw Szpilman endured to survive six years of Nazi brutality in Warsaw, Poland.
What's truly amazing about this book is how Szpilman tells the story with a sense of detachment - the barbaric killing that he sees up close; his final moments with his family, when he realizes shortly after they are gone that will never see them again; his bearing witness to the piles and piles of corpses; and mindless executions for some minor infraction, etc. Szpilman writes it all in stunning, unforgettable prose. It baffles the mind how he was able to keep his wits about him and survive after suffering and witnessing such unspeakable horrors at the hands of such barbarians, and in the end his survival may well have hinged on the kindness of a Nazi Captain, Wilm Hosenfeld.
The fact that a Nazi helped him live is too unbelievable to be fiction after all that Szpilman had witnessed and endured - it must be true, and this story is. The Pianist is a remarkable story that will be every bit as powerful hundreds of years from now. The Washington Post calls this book "historically indispensable," and that is right on the mark. The book sits along side Anne Frank's tome as required Holocaust reading.
Adding excerpts of Hosenfeld's diary at the end of the book makes this read all the more powerful. Hosenfeld's story is an amazing one, which reminded me of Oskar Schindler, since he, like Schindler, did much to save many Jews. Hosenfeld's diary entries in the back of the book add much to the story and torpedoes the assumption that every single Nazi had no heart and enjoyed the killings (although an overwhelming majority did, in this reviewer's opinion).
This book is invaluable to Holocaust scholars and World War II students alike. And since I watched the movie before I read the book, I can attest that the movie was right on the mark in terms of accuracy. Very highly recommended reading. (Orig. Review - Dec. '04)
What's truly amazing about this book is how Szpilman tells the story with a sense of detachment - the barbaric killing that he sees up close; his final moments with his family, when he realizes shortly after they are gone that will never see them again; his bearing witness to the piles and piles of corpses; and mindless executions for some minor infraction, etc. Szpilman writes it all in stunning, unforgettable prose. It baffles the mind how he was able to keep his wits about him and survive after suffering and witnessing such unspeakable horrors at the hands of such barbarians, and in the end his survival may well have hinged on the kindness of a Nazi Captain, Wilm Hosenfeld.
The fact that a Nazi helped him live is too unbelievable to be fiction after all that Szpilman had witnessed and endured - it must be true, and this story is. The Pianist is a remarkable story that will be every bit as powerful hundreds of years from now. The Washington Post calls this book "historically indispensable," and that is right on the mark. The book sits along side Anne Frank's tome as required Holocaust reading.
Adding excerpts of Hosenfeld's diary at the end of the book makes this read all the more powerful. Hosenfeld's story is an amazing one, which reminded me of Oskar Schindler, since he, like Schindler, did much to save many Jews. Hosenfeld's diary entries in the back of the book add much to the story and torpedoes the assumption that every single Nazi had no heart and enjoyed the killings (although an overwhelming majority did, in this reviewer's opinion).
This book is invaluable to Holocaust scholars and World War II students alike. And since I watched the movie before I read the book, I can attest that the movie was right on the mark in terms of accuracy. Very highly recommended reading. (Orig. Review - Dec. '04)
February 13, 2022
The subtitle is all the synopsis anyone needs: The Extraordinary True Story of One man鈥檚 Survival in Warsaw, 1939-1945.
Szpilman was a pianist who performed on Polish radio. He was, in fact, playing Chopin鈥檚 Nocturne in C-sharp Minor, live on the radio on Sept 23, 1939, when shells exploded outside the station. It was the last live music broadcast from Warsaw that day; a German bomb hit the station, and Polish radio went off the air. Ultimately, the Nazi鈥檚 plan for extermination of the Jews would take all of his family, but Szpilman would manage 鈥� by luck, courage, tenacity, and the kindness of others 鈥� to stay hidden and survive. The most unlikely person to help him was a German officer who came across him in the ruins of a building scrounging for food.
He wrote his story shortly after the war was over, but it was suppressed for decades, finally being published in 1999, and even then, not in Poland. The edition I had included entries from the diary of Captain Wilm Hosenfeld, the German officer who saved Szpilman towards the end of the war.
Szpilman鈥檚 story is told in a very straightforward manner. He recounts the ever-increasing restrictions imposed by the government on Jews, the forbearance and belief that 鈥渢his is bound to pass鈥� among his family and others in the community, the terror and horror of witnessing (or being subject to) random acts of violence and death. And yet, there is a certain cool detachment. Almost as if he were witnessing someone else鈥檚 story rather than reliving those experiences himself. In the forward, his son Andrzej supposes that his father wrote the memoir 鈥溾€� for himself rather than humanity in general. It enabled him to work through his shattering wartime experiences and free his mind and emotions to continue with his life.鈥�
I found it engaging and gripping. Even though I knew he survived, I simply could not stop reading.
The extraordinary memoir was adapted to film in 2002, starring Adrien Brody (who won the Oscar for his performance) and directed by Roman Polanski (Oscar for Best Director).
Szpilman was a pianist who performed on Polish radio. He was, in fact, playing Chopin鈥檚 Nocturne in C-sharp Minor, live on the radio on Sept 23, 1939, when shells exploded outside the station. It was the last live music broadcast from Warsaw that day; a German bomb hit the station, and Polish radio went off the air. Ultimately, the Nazi鈥檚 plan for extermination of the Jews would take all of his family, but Szpilman would manage 鈥� by luck, courage, tenacity, and the kindness of others 鈥� to stay hidden and survive. The most unlikely person to help him was a German officer who came across him in the ruins of a building scrounging for food.
He wrote his story shortly after the war was over, but it was suppressed for decades, finally being published in 1999, and even then, not in Poland. The edition I had included entries from the diary of Captain Wilm Hosenfeld, the German officer who saved Szpilman towards the end of the war.
Szpilman鈥檚 story is told in a very straightforward manner. He recounts the ever-increasing restrictions imposed by the government on Jews, the forbearance and belief that 鈥渢his is bound to pass鈥� among his family and others in the community, the terror and horror of witnessing (or being subject to) random acts of violence and death. And yet, there is a certain cool detachment. Almost as if he were witnessing someone else鈥檚 story rather than reliving those experiences himself. In the forward, his son Andrzej supposes that his father wrote the memoir 鈥溾€� for himself rather than humanity in general. It enabled him to work through his shattering wartime experiences and free his mind and emotions to continue with his life.鈥�
I found it engaging and gripping. Even though I knew he survived, I simply could not stop reading.
The extraordinary memoir was adapted to film in 2002, starring Adrien Brody (who won the Oscar for his performance) and directed by Roman Polanski (Oscar for Best Director).
June 22, 2020
Re-read
Buvau tokia tikra, kad 拧i膮 knyg膮 mes turime lietuvi拧kai i拧verst膮, tai kai pama膷iau prie naujien懦 labai nustebau. Negi pirmenyb臈 teikiama visokiems Cilkos keliams nei 拧iai?
Planavau j膮 skaityti angl懦 kalba antr膮 kart膮, bet labai buvo smalsu palyginti vertimus. O ir kita kalba skaitant vis tiek yra kitokia patirtis. Vertime niekas nekliuvo, i拧skyr奴s labai stipriai rekomenduoju praleisti 漠啪angos skyri懦 ir perskaityti j寞 tik pabaigus knyg膮, nes ten 寞 kelis lapus sud臈ta visa knyga vos ne 啪odis 寞 啪od寞, tai nesigadinkite skaitymo proceso.
Da啪niausiai knygose holokausto tema vaizduojama per i拧gyvenimus koncentracijos stovyklose. O , "Pianistas" nu拧vie膷ia gyvenim膮 Var拧uvoje nuo pat pirm懦j懦 dien懦, kai prad臈jo sklisti naujienos apie art臈jant寞 kar膮, geto k奴rimo, iki visi拧ko miesto sunaikinimo. Knygoje galima pajausti kaip keit臈s atmosfera Var拧uvoje diena po dienos, kokios nuotaikos tvyrojo, kaip 啪mon臈s prisitaik臈 prie vis sunk臈jan膷i懦 s膮lyg懦. Pasakojimo tone n臈ra jokio dramatizmo, juk tai buvo kasdienis 啪moni懦 gyvenimas. Tas ramus pasakojimas tik sustiprina t膮 nejauki膮 ir ko拧mari拧k膮 atmosfer膮. Skaitant knyg膮 reik臈t懦 atid臈ti visus prozos gra啪umo vertinimus.
Kitaip nei daugelis kit懦, 拧ie memuarai buvo para拧yti i拧 karto po karo, tod臈l yra pakankamai detal奴s, nors slapstantis W艂adys艂aw'ui Szpilman'ui dauguma dien懦 ir net m臈nesi懦 susiliejo 寞 vien膮. Ko tekste nerasite, tai pyk膷io, ker拧to tro拧kimo, jis nesiekia, kad skaitytojas prad臈t懦 jausti neapykant膮 vokie膷iams. Manoma, kad jam pa膷iam visas siaubas dar nebuvo susigul臈j臋s ra拧ant knyg膮 ir dar gerai nesuvok臈, kokio masto tai buvo tragedija.
Jei reik臈t懦 pasi奴lyti paskaityti vien膮 knyg膮 拧ia tema, tai turi b奴ti Pianistas.
Buvau tokia tikra, kad 拧i膮 knyg膮 mes turime lietuvi拧kai i拧verst膮, tai kai pama膷iau prie naujien懦 labai nustebau. Negi pirmenyb臈 teikiama visokiems Cilkos keliams nei 拧iai?
Planavau j膮 skaityti angl懦 kalba antr膮 kart膮, bet labai buvo smalsu palyginti vertimus. O ir kita kalba skaitant vis tiek yra kitokia patirtis. Vertime niekas nekliuvo, i拧skyr奴s labai stipriai rekomenduoju praleisti 漠啪angos skyri懦 ir perskaityti j寞 tik pabaigus knyg膮, nes ten 寞 kelis lapus sud臈ta visa knyga vos ne 啪odis 寞 啪od寞, tai nesigadinkite skaitymo proceso.
Da啪niausiai knygose holokausto tema vaizduojama per i拧gyvenimus koncentracijos stovyklose. O , "Pianistas" nu拧vie膷ia gyvenim膮 Var拧uvoje nuo pat pirm懦j懦 dien懦, kai prad臈jo sklisti naujienos apie art臈jant寞 kar膮, geto k奴rimo, iki visi拧ko miesto sunaikinimo. Knygoje galima pajausti kaip keit臈s atmosfera Var拧uvoje diena po dienos, kokios nuotaikos tvyrojo, kaip 啪mon臈s prisitaik臈 prie vis sunk臈jan膷i懦 s膮lyg懦. Pasakojimo tone n臈ra jokio dramatizmo, juk tai buvo kasdienis 啪moni懦 gyvenimas. Tas ramus pasakojimas tik sustiprina t膮 nejauki膮 ir ko拧mari拧k膮 atmosfer膮. Skaitant knyg膮 reik臈t懦 atid臈ti visus prozos gra啪umo vertinimus.
Kitaip nei daugelis kit懦, 拧ie memuarai buvo para拧yti i拧 karto po karo, tod臈l yra pakankamai detal奴s, nors slapstantis W艂adys艂aw'ui Szpilman'ui dauguma dien懦 ir net m臈nesi懦 susiliejo 寞 vien膮. Ko tekste nerasite, tai pyk膷io, ker拧to tro拧kimo, jis nesiekia, kad skaitytojas prad臈t懦 jausti neapykant膮 vokie膷iams. Manoma, kad jam pa膷iam visas siaubas dar nebuvo susigul臈j臋s ra拧ant knyg膮 ir dar gerai nesuvok臈, kokio masto tai buvo tragedija.
Jei reik臈t懦 pasi奴lyti paskaityti vien膮 knyg膮 拧ia tema, tai turi b奴ti Pianistas.
October 30, 2015
This book is an amazing memoir of a Jew鈥檚 survival in Nazi-occupied Warsaw. Szpilman does not sound at all bitter or angry. His writing is in fact rather detached and dispassionate. The reason may be is that he wrote it shortly after the war and was still suffering all the terrible after-effects and shock.
The German officer鈥檚 diary was fascinating. What an incredible angel of a man. That鈥檚 all I have to say. The kindness of strangers so often brings me to tears. In fact, retelling his part of the story to my husband over coffee, had me sobbing. He's one of those special souls that I simply don't want to forget.
I saw the movie ten years ago and I think that the movie version may be more powerful than the book, except that I don鈥檛 recall the German officer part being included. For me, that part of the book was extremely moving. I鈥檇 really like to see the movie again.
The German officer鈥檚 diary was fascinating. What an incredible angel of a man. That鈥檚 all I have to say. The kindness of strangers so often brings me to tears. In fact, retelling his part of the story to my husband over coffee, had me sobbing. He's one of those special souls that I simply don't want to forget.
I saw the movie ten years ago and I think that the movie version may be more powerful than the book, except that I don鈥檛 recall the German officer part being included. For me, that part of the book was extremely moving. I鈥檇 really like to see the movie again.
October 31, 2023
Istorij膮 tik truput寞 buvau ma膷iusi ekrane, esu i拧 t懦 啪i奴rovi懦, kuri da啪nai u啪miega prie ekrano, o 拧寞syk pagaliau perskai膷iau. Pa膷iai buvo kaip tikras siaubo romanas: daug 啪udyni懦, daug beprasmi懦 mir膷i懦, griaunamas miestas, o kur dar tur臈jimas i拧gyventi - tiek b奴tina susirasti maisto, tiek gali tapti naci懦 taikiniu. Tai tikra ir joki懦 i拧galvojim懦, o kai pagalvoji apie tai, kraujas tik stingsta gyslose, pa膷iai taip kraupu. Tokia jau ta istorija ir fakt懦 nepakeisi.
Nor臈jau vertinti knyg膮 tik 4 balais, bet pabaigoje buvo 寞d臈ta vokie膷i懦 kapitono Wilmo Hosenfeldo dienora拧膷io i拧traukos, tad ra拧au 5 balus. Ne visi vokie膷iai buvo velnio ne拧ti, buvo ir ger懦.
Nor臈jau vertinti knyg膮 tik 4 balais, bet pabaigoje buvo 寞d臈ta vokie膷i懦 kapitono Wilmo Hosenfeldo dienora拧膷io i拧traukos, tad ra拧au 5 balus. Ne visi vokie膷iai buvo velnio ne拧ti, buvo ir ger懦.
November 16, 2020
Viktor E. Frankl spunea 卯n Omul 卯n c膬utarea sensului vie葲ii c膬 mul葲i prizonieri din timpul Holocaustului ar fi supravie葲uit, dac膬 nu 葯i-ar fi pierdut speran葲a 葯i optimismul. M-a indignat foarte tare ideea asta pentru c膬 suna mai degrab膬 a un soi de acuza葲ie 葯i nu am v膬zut cum o g芒ndire pozitiv膬 ar fi putut sus葲ine trupul 卯n fa葲a torturilor, foametei, muncii extenuante 葯i frigului. Pe aceea葯i idee se bazeaz膬 葯i aceast膬 carte: triumful spiritului 卯n fa葲a ororilor 卯nf膬ptuite de nazi葯ti. Sunt de acord c膬 autorul a avut un spirit puternic 葯i o dorin葲膬 de a tr膬i extraordinar膬, dar spiritul lui nu l-ar fi ajutat la nimic, dac膬 nu ar fi avut norocul de a da peste fani care 卯葯i aminteau zilele lui de glorie 葯i 卯i apreciau munca, astfel c膬 葯i-au riscat via葲a pentru el. Asta m-a dus cumva cu g芒ndul la oamenii care pl膬tesc taxe ilegale la biserici doar ca s膬 simt膬 c膬 fac 葯i ei ceva pentru idolul lor. M膬 rog, aici e alt subiect, dar a葯a am v膬zut eu lucrurile. 脦n plus, Szpilman a avut numeroase rela葲ii care i-au facilitat supravie葲uirea, coroborate cu o serie de ,,卯mprejur膬ri fericite 葯i de situa葲ii absolut incredibile". De exemplu, c芒nd a fost pus s膬 卯葯i foloseasc膬 m芒inile la munc膬 grea, a reu葯it s膬 se transfere ca nu cumva s膬 卯葯i strice m膬nu葲ele de pianist...
Din p膬cate, povestea lui nu a ajuns la sufletul meu dec芒t raport芒nd-o la tragedia general膬 reprezentat膬 de Holocaust, nu 葯i analiz芒nd-o individual. Nu 葯tiu dac膬 de vin膬 a fost tonul rece (pentru care i se g膬se葯te o scuz膬 卯n postfa葲膬: era 卯nc膬 卯n stare de 葯oc) sau faptul c膬 l-am considerat un oportunist (de 卯n葲eles 卯n condi葲iile date, 卯ns膬 nu po葲i pretinde at芒ta ajutor f膬r膬 s膬 oferi nimic 葯i s膬 nu fii considerat cel pu葲in egoist), dar istoria lui nu a fost at芒t de r膬v膬葯itoare cum m膬 a葯teptam. Este o lectur膬 potrivit膬 mai degrab膬 celor care v膬d prima dat膬 binele 卯n oameni 葯i sunt 卯nclina葲i spre empatie, nu spre judecat膬, 葯i nu firilor sceptice 葯i poate cinice, cum sunt eu. Ve葯nica mea recomandare 卯n materie de memorii ale supravie葲uitorilor r膬m芒ne Cu pre葲ul vie葲ii, la care mi-a venit s膬 pl芒ng de c芒teva ori/minut. Recenzia aici: .
,,Printre cadavrele b膬rba葲ilor z膬ceau 葯i trupurile unei tinere femei 葯i a dou膬 feti葲e cu craniile complet sf膬r芒mate. Oamenii 卯葯i ar膬tau unul altuia zidurile l芒ng膬 care z膬ceau trupurile, care avea urme vizibile de s芒nge 葯i buc膬葲i de creier. Copilele fuseser膬 ucise prin metoda preferat膬 a nem葲ilor: fuseser膬 prinse de picioare 葯i capetele lor izbite cu av芒nt de zid. Pe cadavre 葯i printre b膬l葲ile de s芒nge 卯nchegat se plimbau mu葯te mari, negre, 葯i se vedea clar cum corpurile intrate 卯n descompunere se umflau de c膬ldur膬.''
Din p膬cate, povestea lui nu a ajuns la sufletul meu dec芒t raport芒nd-o la tragedia general膬 reprezentat膬 de Holocaust, nu 葯i analiz芒nd-o individual. Nu 葯tiu dac膬 de vin膬 a fost tonul rece (pentru care i se g膬se葯te o scuz膬 卯n postfa葲膬: era 卯nc膬 卯n stare de 葯oc) sau faptul c膬 l-am considerat un oportunist (de 卯n葲eles 卯n condi葲iile date, 卯ns膬 nu po葲i pretinde at芒ta ajutor f膬r膬 s膬 oferi nimic 葯i s膬 nu fii considerat cel pu葲in egoist), dar istoria lui nu a fost at芒t de r膬v膬葯itoare cum m膬 a葯teptam. Este o lectur膬 potrivit膬 mai degrab膬 celor care v膬d prima dat膬 binele 卯n oameni 葯i sunt 卯nclina葲i spre empatie, nu spre judecat膬, 葯i nu firilor sceptice 葯i poate cinice, cum sunt eu. Ve葯nica mea recomandare 卯n materie de memorii ale supravie葲uitorilor r膬m芒ne Cu pre葲ul vie葲ii, la care mi-a venit s膬 pl芒ng de c芒teva ori/minut. Recenzia aici: .
,,Printre cadavrele b膬rba葲ilor z膬ceau 葯i trupurile unei tinere femei 葯i a dou膬 feti葲e cu craniile complet sf膬r芒mate. Oamenii 卯葯i ar膬tau unul altuia zidurile l芒ng膬 care z膬ceau trupurile, care avea urme vizibile de s芒nge 葯i buc膬葲i de creier. Copilele fuseser膬 ucise prin metoda preferat膬 a nem葲ilor: fuseser膬 prinse de picioare 葯i capetele lor izbite cu av芒nt de zid. Pe cadavre 葯i printre b膬l葲ile de s芒nge 卯nchegat se plimbau mu葯te mari, negre, 葯i se vedea clar cum corpurile intrate 卯n descompunere se umflau de c膬ldur膬.''
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