Remember This: The Lesson of Jan Karski

by Clark Young, Derek Goldman

A powerful remembrance of the lessons and legacy of Jan Karski, who risked his life to share the truth with the world—and a cautionary tale for our times.

Richly illustrated with stills from the black-and-white film adaptation of the acclaimed stage play, Remember The Lesson of Jan Karski tells the story of World War II hero, Holocaust witness, and Georgetown University professor Jan Karski. A messenger of truth, Karski risked his life to carry his harrowing reports of the Holocaust from war-torn Poland to the Allied nations and, ultimately, the Oval Office, only to be ignored and disbelieved. Despite the West's unwillingness to act, Karski continued to tell others about the atrocities he saw, and, after a period of silence, would do so for the remainder of his life. This play carries forward his legacy of bearing witness so that future generations might be inspired to follow his example and "shake the conscience of the world."

Accompanying the text of the stage play in this volume are essays and conversations from leading diplomats, thinkers, artists, and writers who reckon with Karski's legacy, including Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat, award-winning author Aminatta Forna, best-selling author Azar Nafisi, President Emeritus of Georgetown Leo J. O'Donovan, SJ, Ambassador Samantha Power, Ambassador Cynthia P. Schneider, historian Timothy Snyder, Academy Award nominated actor David Strathairn, and best-selling author Deborah Tannen.

Genres: Plays, Nonfiction

185 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2021

Reviews

[Bob Nedderman]

Recently I was privileged to attend a performance of Remember This performed at Georgetown by David Strathairn. The play tells the story, through his own eyes, of Jan Karski’s journey through the 20th century and particularly of his experience as a witness to the Holocaust. Remember This is a well-written, well-constructed play that lets us feel the grief, the fear, the pain, the near-despair of one heroic person trying to beat down the doors of indifference and willful ignorance.

[Summer Lukasiewicz]

This text certainly stirs my desire to see the film, and if ever possible, the live play.

On its own, the book leaves me longing to SEE, to be in the room.

Some of the supporting essays are thought-provoking and valuable.

[inga nina]

Rozmowa z Davidem Strathairnem i napisane przez niego słowo „POWODZENIA” na pierwszej stronie mojej kopii odnoszące się do mojej teatralnej przygody to coś wypalonego w mojej duszy na zawsze razem z tym półtorej godzinnym monodramem, który był tak piękny i prosty, że nadal nie mogę się pozbierać.

I ta książka przy tym doświadczeniu była niczym. To tylko zlepek słów napisanych przez reżyserów, które bez głosu Davida i jego całej osoby nie są już tak piękne. Bardzo ważna sztuka, którą w miarę możliwości trzeba choć raz w swoim życiu zobaczyć. Bo te zbrodnie popełnione w czasie II wojny światowej nigdy nie będą wybaczone ani zapomniane, a Karski powinien być pamiętany na zawsze. On jako reprezentacja narodu dobrych ludzi, którzy znaleźli się przypadkowo w samym środku rzezi.

[Irina Goldberg]

This play was too disturbing for me to finish.

[Patricia Klaus]

remarkable valuable story

Karski and his story are moving, terribly troubling but also inspirational but the Kindle app is not. Can’t get past first pages.