The Holocaust Kingdom

by Alexander Donat

Relates the actual experiences of a Polish Jewish family which managed to survive through the years of Nazi terrorism in the Warsaw Ghetto and the death camps

Genres: Holocaust, History, Memoir, Nonfiction

362 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1978

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sadly neglected Holocaust memoir that deserves a much larger readership. Alexander Donat is an intelligent, loving and, most importantly, eloquent man. He describes his experiences in the Warsaw Ghetto, the efforts to get his young son out of the ghetto, his role in the uprising when the Jews fought back, his deportation to the Lublin labour camp where he is separated from his wife. He subsequently survives stints at no less than nine Nazi death camps including Auschwitz, Dachau and Ravensbruck. It's a remarkable, deeply moving story, made all the more poignant by his attention to detail and his literary skills.

[Jordan Ciesielski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite book of all time

[Jeff Rosendahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read this recently, but have recommended it to lots of people over the last 20-odd years. If you thought "Night" by Elie Wiesel was moving, check this out. Jewish mother, father, and kid living in Warsaw at the beginning of World War II. They survive the initial fall of Poland and Warsaw in 1939, survive the Nazi's elimination of the Jews in the Ghetto in 1942, manage to get their kid out into the countryside, both mother and father get shipped off to different concentration camps, both manage to survive the war, manage to find each other after the war is over, AND manage to find their son. While it seems that WWII survivor books are published every other day now, this one, while dated, is definitely a must-read!

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read a lot of books about the Holocaust, so my perspective is likely different than someone who has not read as many.

It starts out a little slow - I hate to say I have become jaded, but it seemed like a story I had read many times before. But starting with the end of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, I found my self shocked and horrified anew. These stories cannot be told enough about the depth of human cruelty and also the will to survive. Very powerful, particularly the ending. And, while I am not sure I would call it a happy ending, it was moving and not as horrible as many others experienced.

[Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the first Holocaust books I ever read.

And a powerful one of the Warsaw Ghetto and its aftermath.
A true story of one family's survival balanced by a history of the ghetto, its victims and its defenders.
One can never cease to be amazed that such things occurred
and that some people survived the Utter Maddness.
This is well told, matter of fact and gripping.
Thankyou Alexander Donat!!!

[Inknscroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended by author Gwen Edelman in her article, "The Jews and the Second World War: A Reading List", on the Jewishbookcouncil.org. This author recommends a list of books: "the most powerful & the most meaningful" on "the fate on the Jews during the Second World War." Here is the link: (http://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/_blo...).

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was a very good and detailed book. Less emotional than some other Holocaust books I've read, but it made up for that with the fact that it showed a different side of the Jews then we usually see in Holocaust depictions. He actually describes how the Jews fought back and such.