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Book Cover
Lang Matl
Author Ackerman, Diane, 1948-

Title The Zookeeper's wife : a war story / Diane Ackerman

Imprint New York : W.W. Norton, c2008

Copies

Location Call No. Status
 CCQ - Lusail Male Library  DS134.64.A25 2008    Available
 CCQ - Lusail Male Library  DS134.64.A25 2008 c.2  Available
Edition 1st paperback ed
Description 368 p., [8] p. of plates : ill. ; 21cm
Note Book includes reading book guide [5 p.]
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (p. [343]-349) and index
Contents Author's note -- Zookeeper's wife -- Details -- Bibliography -- Index
Summary The true story of how the keepers of the Warsaw Zoo saved hundreds of people from Nazi hands. 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 Żabiński began smuggling Jews into empty cages. Another dozen "guests" hid inside the Żabińskis' 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--and keeping alive an atmosphere of play and innocence even as Europe crumbled around her.--From publisher description
Subject Żabiński, Jan, 1897-1974
Żabińska, Antonina
Jews -- Poland -- Warsaw
Righteous Gentiles in the Holocaust -- Poland -- Warsaw -- Case studies
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) -- Poland -- Warsaw
World War, 1939-1945 -- Jews -- Rescue -- Poland -- Warsaw
Zoo keepers -- Poland -- Warsaw -- Case studies
Warsaw (Poland) -- Ethnic relations
ISBN 9780393333060 (pbk.)