The Teacher of Warsaw: A WWII Novel

by Mario Escobar

For fans of The Warsaw Orphan and The Tattooist of Auschwitz: the start of WWII changed everything in Poland irrevocably—except for one man’s capacity to love.

“I want everyone I know to read this book.” —Kelly Rimmer, New York Times bestselling author of The Warsaw Orphan

September 1, 1939. Sixty-year-old Janusz Korczak and the students and teachers at his Dom Sierot Jewish orphanage are outside enjoying a beautiful day in Warsaw. Hours later, their lives are altered forever when the Nazis invade. Suddenly treated as an outcast in his own city, Janusz—a respected leader known for his heroism and teaching—is determined to do whatever it takes to protect the children from the horrors to come.

When over four hundred thousand Jewish people are rounded up and forced to live in the 1.3-square-mile walled compound of the Warsaw ghetto, Janusz and his friends take drastic measures to shield the children from disease and starvation. With dignity and courage, the teachers and students of Dom Sierot create their own tiny army of love and bravely prepare to march toward the future—whatever it may hold.

Unforgettable, devastating, and inspired by a real-life hero of the Holocaust, The Teacher of Warsaw reminds the world that one single person can incite meaning, hope, and love.

Praise for The Teacher of Warsaw:

“Through meticulous research and with wisdom and care, Mario Escobar brings to life a heartbreaking story of love and extraordinary courage. I want everyone I know to read this book.” —Kelly Rimmer, New York Times bestselling author of The Warsaw Orphan

“A beautifully written, deeply emotional story of hope, love, and courage in the face of unspeakable horrors. That such self-sacrifice, dedication and goodness existed restores faith in humankind. Escobar's heart-rending yet uplifting tale is made all the more poignant by its authenticity. Bravo!” —Tea Cooper, award-winning and bestselling author of The Cartographer’s Secret


World War II historical fiction inspired by true events
Includes discussion questions for book clubs, a historical timeline, and notes from the author
Book length: 83,000 words
Also by author: Auschwitz Lullaby, Children of the Stars, Remember Me, The Librarian of Saint-Malo

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, World War II, Historical, Holocaust, War, Adult

368 pages, Hardcover

First published June 7, 2022

About the author

Mario Escobar Golderos has a degree in History, with an advanced studies diploma in Modern History. He has written numerous books and articles about the Inquisition, the Protestant Reformation, and religious sects. He is the executive director of an NGO and directs the magazine Nueva historia para el debate, in addition to being a contributing columnist in various publications. Passionate about history and its mysteries, Escobar has delved into the depths of church history, the different sectarian groups that have struggled therein, and the discovery and colonization of the Americas. He specializes in the lives of unorthodox Spaniards and Americans. Books

Autor Betseller con miles de libros vendidos en todo el mundo. Sus obras han sido traducidas al chino, japonés, inglés, ruso, portugués, danés, francés, italiano, checo, polaco, serbio, entre otros idiomas. Novelista, ensayista y conferenciante. Licenciado en Historia y Diplomado en Estudios Avanzados en la especialidad de Historia Moderna, ha escrito numerosos artículos y libros sobre la Inquisición, la Reforma Protestante y las sectas religiosas.

Publica asiduamente en las revistas Más Allá y National Geographic Historia

Apasionado por la historia y sus enigmas ha estudiado en produndidad la Historia de la Iglesia, los distintos grupos sectarios que han luchado en su seno, el descubrimiento y colonizacíón de América; especializándose en la vida de personajes heterodoxos españoles y americanos.

Su primera obra, Conspiración Maine 2006, fue un éxito. Le siguieron El mesías Ario (2007), El secreto de los Assassini (2008) y la Profecía de Aztlán (2009). Todas ellas parte de la saga protagonizada por Hércules Guzmán Fox, George Lincoln y Alicia Mantorella.

Su libro Francisco. El primer papa latinoamericano ha sido traducido a 12 idiomas, entre ellos el chino, inglés, francés, italiano, portugues, japonés, danés, etc.

Sol rojo sobre Hiroshima (2009) y El País de las lágrimas (2010) son sus obras más intimistas. También ha publicado ensayos como Martín Luther King (2006) e Historia de la Masonería en Estados Unidos (2009). Los doce legados de Steve Jobs (2012). La biografía del papa Francisco. El primer papa latinoamericano (2013). La Saga Ione (2013) o la Serie Apocalipsis (2012).Saga Misión Verne (2013)

www.marioescobar.es
http://www.amazon.com/Mario-Escobar/e...
http://www.sagamisionverne.es/

Reviews

[Angela M · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
A true hero Janusz Korczak is portrayed in this fictional journal telling the story of his courageous attempt to save 200 Jewish orphans. As Warsaw fell and the the Nazis occupied Poland and began rounding up Jews to the Ghetto, Korczak does everything in his power to keep these children safe and fed. The extraordinarily horrific and heartbreaking Holocaust is depicted and it’s a moving story. At times there was optimism, heartbreaking optimism because of course, we already know the outcome as he tries desperately to get food for them, tries desperately to get some of them out. A selfless and caring man, not leaving them when he was offered papers so he could leave as his awful fate becomes tied to theirs. Irena Sendler, another true hero who saved children works with Dr. Korczak. I was introduced to her in a wonderful book Irena's Children: The Extraordinary Story of the Woman Who Saved 2,500 Children from the Warsaw Ghetto and I highly recommend it as well.

What didn’t work for me were the many philosophical musings which made it a little too wordy and at times felt rambling. I frequently find fictional biographical novels in first person difficult to read as I’m always wondering how real the thoughts are. Escobar in a note at the end tells which characters are real and which are not and that the conversations are imagined. What is important, though, is that this courageous man did what he could during events that actually happened. While I liked his Auschwitz Lullaby more than this one, it’s still a worthy read reminding us of the horrors of the Holocaust, the bravery of this man and others and how important it is to never forget.

Here is some information on the man :
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/conten...

I received a copy of this from Harper Muse through NetGalley and Edelweiss

[Debbie W. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why I chose to listen to this audiobook:
1. I've listened to author Mario Escobar's audiobook Auschwitz Lullaby, and being a teacher myself, I thought I would give this one a try;
2. it's a free loan via Hoopla; and,
3. November 2023 is my "Wars of the 20th-Century Historical Fiction" Month.

Praise:
I learned who Dr. Janusz Korczak was and his dedication towards protecting hundreds of children at his Dom Sierot Jewish Orphanage in Warsaw, Poland during WWII. His beliefs were instrumental in developing the Convention on the Rights of the Child!
I was also surprised to learn of his working relationship with Irena Sendler, a social worker who smuggled out over 2000 children from the Warsaw ghetto. I have a book on my WTR list about her titled Irena's Children: The Extraordinary Story of the Woman Who Saved 2,500 Children from the Warsaw Ghetto by Tilar J. Mazzeo.

Niggles:
1. the writing style, as one reviewer succinctly put it "lacks an audience awareness". It seems like the author took bits and pieces of Korczak's journal and passed them off as philosophical musings in his dialogue, making him sound longwinded and preachy. So many times I found my mind wandering! and,
2. although many reviewers complained about the above-mentioned niggle, this audiobook's narrator just made it worse! Although he sounded authentic using Polish and German accents with secondary characters, he comes off as sounding like an automaton for Korczak! Absolutely no expressiveness whatsoever for his role!

Overall Thoughts:
For every person involved in WWII and the Holocaust, there is a story to tell. A story about Dr. Janusz Korczak is definitely one such story. Unfortunately, this particular book doesn't do him justice.
Also, I will try to avoid listening to other audiobooks read by this narrator.

[Marilyn (not getting notifications) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 strong stars! The Teacher of Warsaw by Mario Escobar was a powerful yet extremely sad story that was based on a true story. I have read many books about World War II and the Holocaust but few have compared to this story. The Teacher of Warsaw portrayed the day to day life and atrocities that occurred in The Warsaw Ghetto through the eyes of orphaned children and their protector and teacher, Janusz Korczak. This well written and meticulously researched book was based on the journal Janusz Korczak left behind and from many interviews with people that knew him well. Janusz Korczak was the director of the Dom Sierot orphanage where he cared for, nourished and loved hundreds of orphaned children over many years. He had gone to medical school and became a pediatrician. He preferred to teach and guide the children though. Janusz was a great storyteller and he often distracted and calmed the orphans with his stories. He used his stories to teach lessons to the children. Janusz saw each child as an individual and he believed in the power of love above all else.

In the early 1940’s, after the Nazis invaded Poland, the Nazis made Janusz move himself and all his orphaned children of the Dom Sierot orphanage into the 1.3 square mile radius of what became known as the Warsaw Ghetto. Hundreds of thousands of Jewish men, women and children were crammed into the ghetto. Disease, starvation, begging, constant hunger, fear, merciless beatings and death ran rampant. Food was always scarce as was medicine and clothing. Janusz appealed to anyone he could to help him secure what he needed to keep the children fed and alive. Irena Sendler, the heroic social worker, who saved countless children from death, was someone Janusz relied on to help him. There was also a Catholic priest named Marceli Godlewski who helped Janusz get children to escape through a network of monasteries. When things got more and more dire, Janusz was determined to get people to help him smuggle as many children out of the ghetto as possible. Janusz was never worried about his own life. He saw himself as an old man even though he was only sixty years old. Many people wanted to help Janusz escape but he refused to leave his children. Janusz always put the welfare of the children above his own. When the Nazis started to liquidate the ghetto, the orphanages were one of the first to be transported to the Treblinka extermination camp. Janusz walked side by side with his children from the Dom Sierot orphanage to the Umschlagplatz, head held high, holding the hands of some of the youngest children and leading them in song. He was strong and stoic for them. Even then, as people tried to save him, he remained with the children. He would not let them face death alone.

Janusz Korczak was born Henryk Goldszmit. He was courageous, resilient, strong, determined and dedicated. His work with the children in the Dom Sierot Orphanage led the United Nations to adapt the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. Janusz was respected and a born leader. He hosted a radio show prior to World War II that promoted children’s rights. The Teacher of Warsaw was about hope, love, courage and dedication. It was difficult to read parts of this inspiring novel. Janusz Korczak always tried to see the good in all but even he recognized the monsters the Nazis truly were. Mario Escobar was able to capture the horrific day to day atrocities that the Jewish people of Poland were made to endure and witness. This is a book that I feel should be read. No one should ever forget what the Jews of Poland had to endure, especially the innocent orphaned children. It should also be read to learn about the heroic accomplishments of men like Janusz Korczak. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Harper Muse Publishing for allowing me to read the digital version of The Teacher of Warsaw by Mario Escobar through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

[Marquise · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many years later, I still have a vivid memory of the first time I read about Janusz Korczak, the brilliant paedagogue who revolutionised children's education and, tragically, perished in the Holocaust. It was in a book about the Warsaw Ghetto that compiled eyewitness accounts, one of which (I think it was Marek Edelman, who also appears in this novel) describes the episode: a group of hundreds of orphans from the Ghetto's most famous orphanage march through the streets, orderly and without panicking or breaking the pace, to the Umschlagplatz, the train station from where they'd be shipped to the Treblinka gas chambers. At the head of this troop is their teacher, the Old Doctor, two of the smallest children with him, and a boy violinist that plays and plays throughout their march to the station. It's tragic, heartwrenching, and infuriating, and also fills you with awe at the level of courage and dignity of such small souls.

The man that fostered such courage and dignity deserves statues and all the honours in the world. Janusz Korczak was a Jew from Poland, assimilated and non-observant, not that the Germans gave a fig anyhow, whose original profession was medicine and whose grand passion in life were children. Big-hearted and warm as he was, he worried about the least favoured amongst children the most: orphans, and so he created a model orphanage in Warsaw he called Dom Sierot, the first and most known of the orphanages he led, where he had the help and unconditional support of another big-hearted lover of children, Stefania Wilczyńska, also a key character in this novel, until the bitter end. Besides managing orphanages and having educational programmes on the radio that made him famous locally, Doctor Korczak was an earnest advocate for the rights of children, on which he worked so tirelessly and passionately he's the reason there's a Declaration of the Rights of Children and Adolescents formally enshrined by the United Nations. He laid out not only the groundwork but the philosophy as well, a legacy that's enormous on its own and lasts to this day. The man did so much for children he should be far more known and lauded than he is.

Mario Escóbar's novel brings this extraordinary human being to life through a fictionalised rendition of Korczak's diaries, that survived the razing of the Warsaw Ghetto, and he paints the image of a man so lovable and full of life your heart breaks at the knowledge of how it'll all end. The Old Doctor is witty, wise, patient, meek. But also a rebel that doesn't accept indignities that are too much for his sense of self to tolerate, so he refuses to wear the infamous armband with a Star of David that's mandatory for all Jews. Miraculously, the Germans prefer to play blind chicken at this, for the most part, and thus the Old Doctor is able to make a stand in his own way.

And make a stand he does. Part of his larger-scale rebellion is preserving the lives of "his children," the useless mouths to feed that Nazis want eliminated first because they can't exploit as slave labour or rob of their property. Unmarried and childless himself, Korczak sees them as the children he never had, and always finds ways to get food for his children, begging, cajoling, arguing, and downright buttering up wealthy donors. Nothing is too much of a sacrifice if it feeds his little ones. And he doesn't look the other way when he sees children outside of his orphanage that he's unable to help; he bleeds for every child in the street he finds. And to save the children he did have with him, he conspired to work with the secret rescue missions of Jewish children undertaken by Gentiles like Irena Sendler and the Father Boduen network, that managed to save thousands of Jewish children by smuggling them out of the Warsaw Ghetto before and when the liquidations started.

Korczak wanted all his children safe, but he didn't want safety for himself if it meant leaving them. He was offered many times by the underground resistance to be smuggled out of the Ghetto with forged papers, and he refused each time. He refused for the last time on the very Umschlagplatz, where a last-ditch attempt to rescue him was made. He didn't want to abandon his children, he didn't want them to go alone and feel unloved, and together with Stefania, chose to share their fate in the extermination camp.

The march of the children I mentioned before is included in this novel, accurately and touchingly, and it's the last scene we see Korczak in, for the epilogue is added by the fictional character the author chose to wrap up the story. Personally, I would've liked for the last scene to be at Treblinka, with Korczak's thoughts as the mental ending to his diaries instead. But perhaps it'd have been too unbearably painful for readers if it had ended like that. I remember an Auschwitz survivor once described a group of children in the "changing room" area that marched towards the gas chamber in an orderly line like trained Boy Scouts, and singing. Singing! I would like to think the end at Treblinka for Korczak's children was like that, unafraid because their beloved Teacher was with them.

It's just so painful to think about. But it's worth learning about this lesser known fact of WWII, as Korczak and his children don't tend to be the focus of history books as much. It's not a perfect novel, it has some flaws, but for once the portrayal of this great man and the story told here make me award it the highest rating without hesitation.

Thank you to the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Janusz Korczak and his friend Ms. Stefania Wilczynska run a Jewish orphanage called Dom Sierot in Warsaw. On the 1st of September 1943 the Germans invade Poland and thirty days later the Polish army are defeated.

The Germans create a ghetto, Dr. Korczak has to move two hundred children into a smaller building and they live behind the high wall. He and the tutors try to maintain the children’s routine, they display the orphanages flag, Dr. Korczak tells stories and the children preform plays. As time goes on the conditions in the ghetto become worse, it’s overcrowded and due to poor sanitation diseases run rampant, food and firewood become scarce and everyone is suffering from the effects of malnutrition.

Dr. Korczak did everything he could to protect, shield and feed the children. He’s a beloved father figure to them and united they wrap their arms around each other in a giant loved filled hug. What happens to Jewish people in the Warsaw ghetto during the holocaust is horrific, graphic and nothing is left out.

I received a copy of The Teacher of Warsaw from Edelweiss and HarperCollins Focus in exchange for an honest review. Mario Escobar has written a novel inspired by a real person, Dr Korczak was the founder of pedagogical education and his work lead to the Declaration of the Rights of the Child used by the United Nations. Dr. Korczak was “the richest man in Warsaw” and he made sure the children were happy during time they had left in this world and loved. I was sobbing at the end of the book, it’s heartbreaking, just like his previous book Auschwitz Lullaby and five stars from me.
https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
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[Marialyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Certainly any book written about this horrendous time of Nazism and the inhumane treatment of the Jews and others deserves our respect. It is true in the case of Mario Escobar's book The Teacher of Warsaw.

The teacher in this case was a man named Dr Janusz Korczak, who ran the Dom Sierot Jewish orphanage. The lives in this orphanage are about to be upended as the Nazis sweep through Poland and brought with them their plan for the elimination of all Jews putting it into motion. Janusz and his staff realize the nightmare is approaching, but they endeavor to give the two hundred children in their care hope. It is a hope beset by tragedy, by sickness, by loss of parents. It is loss beyond belief without their parents in a time of unending nightmares.

Janusz tries to alleviate the suffering as best he can. He begs for supplies often putting his life in danger as he traverses the horrible world the Nazis have created. As the war progresses and more victories seem to mount up for the Nazis, more and more restrictions are put upon the heads of the Jews. Finally, the day comes when Dr Janusz is forced to move his staff and the children to the Warsaw Ghetto, where life takes another turn for the worse. Death, typhus, starvation, pestilence follow them, but in the midst of all this, Dr Janusz gives them hope and a look toward a better tomorrow.

When they are ordered to vacate the ghetto, the children march out with the good doctor and board the train to Treblinka where their young lives will be snuffed out. It is ever so sad. It's been over seventy years, and yet the horror of what theses madmen did, can never be erased from rational minds.

It was an eye opening story and I so wish it had been true to its intent. Hover, the author placed many musings and platitudes that supposedly Janusz uttered which did bog down the story and tended to make it overly wordy.

However, this story will reverberate within me for a long time as I once again revisit the horrible things that man can do to others.

Thank you to Mario Escobar, Harper Muse, and NetGalley for a copy of this book which published in June of 2022.

[Taury · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Teacher of Warsaw by Mario Escobar. I usually love this author. This book read like many others. WW2 in the ghetto saving children Nothing different.

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have just read The Teacher of Warsaw by Mario Escobar.

This is the second book that I have read by the Author.

This Historical Fiction is about Janusz Korczak, who is attempting to save 200 Jewish orphans, during The Holocaust. A very sad and horrific time in the history of the world.

A well told and important story, that is well written by this author and also very devastating.

This was a little difficult to read for me at times, with the theme, but also was a bit wordy.

The Author does make note at the end that some of the characters are based on real people.

A brave main character, who gives so much of himself to save so many children.

Thank You to NetGalley Author Mario Escobarand and Harper Muse for my advanced copy to read and review

#TheTeacherofWarsaw #NetGalley

[Sizarifalina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always cried and feel down whenever I see how children are affected during wars. But now I get to read a book about the horific experiences the children had to face during the holocaust.The fears , the uncertainties , overwhelming mixed emotions , desperations and false hopes took me awhile to fully understand and digest what had happened. Knowing that these are based on true events, my heartaches even more as I read more. This books shows how desperate everyone was. Even the children. A lot of children lost their family and was left alone to die on the sidewalks. They were left helpless.

Told from Janusz Korczak’s (Doctor/Teacher) point of view , this book gave me new perpectives and views about how children were badly treated and tormented. As an ex military doctor and then the Director of an orphanage, Korczak stories can sometime be relateable. Love can make a person do anything for anyone. For Korczak, it was his love for the orphans. I knew how much he loved them when he said “More will die tonight. At least we can hold them as they go” It broke my heart. He had so much love but that is all he could give to the orphans. Not forgetting shelter and food.

When one is in despair and have lost hope, one would start thinking of “I should have…” That is the nature of a human. Regretting after things don’t go their way. Or even worst, when they are desperate. This book portrays a lot of these scenarios. It is sad to see people and children in these conditions. War is for no one. Not for aging adults and especially children no matter what their faith is.

Some excerpts :-

They were taking away the only noble, beautiful thing each of us has; our compassion and mercy. When anything goes, nothing is worth it anymore. (Page 117)

Fear is what makes hatred, and fear comes from not knowing people . (Page 161)

We can respond to life in two ways. We can complain as if the universe owed us something, and doubtless we have the right to; or we can be grateful. (Page 231)

The important thing isn’t the world around us but what we do with it (Page 244)

The way we see ourselves is the way everyone else will end up seeing us (Page 271)

I just reviewed The Teacher of Warsaw by Mario Escobar.

[Cyndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mario Escobar is a master at creating heartfelt and poignant historical fiction. This tells the story of Janusz Korczak, who ran an orphanage in Poland during the holocaust. When Jews, including Korczak and his wards, were banished to the Warsaw ghetto, he did everything in his power to survive and help as many children as possible. Like many holocaust stories, Korczak's is inspirational and proves that humanity exists even in the worst of times. Escobar's words successfully portray the wide array of feelings, from utter despair to uplifting moments, experienced by Korczak and those around him. Fans of Escobar's other books will enjoy this this fine addition to his repertoire.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Harper Muse and Mario Escobar for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Olga Kowalska (WielkiBuk) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bez zbędnej egzaltacji, bez ubarwiania rzeczywistości, z szacunkiem dla historii – historyk i bestsellerowy autor powieści historycznych snuje fabularyzowaną opowieść o ostatnich latach życia wybitnego polskiego pedagoga, nauczyciela, opiekuna, który za swoimi podopiecznymi poszedł w samą ciemność, na śmierć. Poznajcie ostatnie lata życia Janusza Korczaka.

„Nauczyciel z getta” pełen jest korczakowskich przemyśleń i bon motów, pełen jest słów ciepłych i znaczących, przemyśleń, które rezonują i zapisują się w sercu. Wszystko to jednak bez zbędnej egzaltacji, bez sztucznych wzruszeń, czy ubarwiania rzeczywistości. Mario Escobar trzyma się faktów i faktami operuje, najlepiej jak umie oddając charakter i postać człowieka, który stał się częścią tej wielkiej historii. Janusz Korczak pod piórem Escobara to świadomy swoich słabości, niezwykle empatyczny opiekun i nauczyciel, który na barkach niósł ciężar swojej odpowiedzialności. Nie rozczula się nad sobą, ale wytrwale dąży do wyznaczonego celu, a celem jest utrzymanie przy życiu bezbronnych dzieci tak długo, jak będzie to możliwe.

Sięgając po „Nauczyciela z getta” jesteśmy świadomi jak zakończy się ta historia. Dobrze wiemy, że w obliczu bezlitosnej rzeczywistości nie można liczyć na cud, na ratunek. Mario Escobar spójnie łączy prawdę z fikcją literacką, dodaje od siebie tylko tyle ile trzeba, by wypełnić luki, których nie znamy i nigdy nie będziemy mieli szansy już poznać. Snuje opowieść pełną emocji, nie odbierając żadnej z postaci należnej im godności. Z łatwością możemy wyobrazić sobie każdą z nich, zrozumieć ich motywacje, na moment stanąć tuż obok i posłuchać. To hołd złożony Januszowi Korczakowi, jego towarzyszom i towarzyszkom, opowieść, dzięki której będziemy pamiętać. A zapamiętać musimy na zawsze.

[Cynthia Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Expect your heart to be ripped out.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fabulous account of Dr. Janusz Korczak, who devoted his life for the betterment of children. Through his orphanage, he sought to instill in his children a sense of love, independence and to recognize that "Happiness is not about things, we look for it outside of ourselves, but it's something that's in our own minds. The work of our hearts is to give pure love. Our stomachs hurt if we don't give them food. The heart is the same way: if it isn't full of love, that emptiness makes us unhappy, and makes us long for better times." He gave this pure love to all he cared for, even in the most desperate times in the Polish Ghetto. His hope for the future was to demonstrate "evil is not from the outside; it nests deep in our hearts. The sooner we learn that truth, the easier it will be to put an end to it. Each of us has to be transformed into something better so the world can become a place worth living in." Dr. Janusz definitely made the world a better place for so many.

[Sharon Metcalf · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Teacher of Warsaw by Mario Escobar tells a fictionalised version of the real events in the Warsaw Ghetto during WWII.     The man for whom this book is titled was Janusz Korczak and much of this novel was based on extracts from his Ghetto era diary plus the "direct or indirect testimony of Korczak himself and people who knew him".   This book provides yet another glimpse into the treatment of the Jewish people at the hands of the Nazis.        More than that though, it shone a light on a good man who not only made educational contributions but also had a popular radio program, and founded an orphanage in which he adopted a set of laws acknowledging the rights of children.   After his death Korczak’s work inspired the United Nations to adopt similar rights for children.

On  more than one ocassion Janusz Korczak was given the opportunity to be saved from the Nazi's, the chance to flee Warsaw until it was safe to return.   After all, he was considered one of the great minds of Poland.   He was held in high esteem and had a public profile which made him reasonably well known and well connected.   Instead he chose to remain in Poland in the ghetto, where he raised his orphans, taught them gratitude, resilience and forgiveness.  He helped them to feel loved and went to great extremes to provide food to keep them alive.   The following passage demonstrates exactly the kind of caring man he was, and indeed he did sacrifice his own life by remaining with his two hundred or more orphans.

“If I saved myself, I wouldn’t be Janusz Korczak. The Nazis can steal our freedom, health, dignity, and even our future, but I have to be the watchman for the children’s happiness. They’ll be happy ’til the last breath. There’s something that can’t be replaced by bread, a glass of milk, a present, or even the prettiest clothes: love. That’s what we’ll keep giving them, and we’ll teach them to smile in the midst of the horror and not let their joy be taken away.”

Whilst this book alluded to the concentration camps and included some examples of the kind of unsolicited violence inflicted on the Jewish people, it spoke more to the dire conditions prior to the deportations, and the lengths good men and women were prepared to go to to protect the children of their nation.   As always, I think it's important for us remember the events of WWII.   Reading fiction based on historical events helps us to learn but also to ensure we never allow anything like this to happen again. 

My thanks to the author, to Harper Muse publishers, and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review which it was my pleasure to provide.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Janusz Korczak, a Jew from Poland who set up Dom Sierot, an orphanage in Warsaw, has always made children a priority. When the Nazis invade, his priorities are put to the test. Author Mario Escobar pulls back the curtain on the Warsaw Ghetto and allows us to see the overcrowding, disease, starvation, and political tension that prompted the Warsaw uprising. Writing in first person, Escobar ensures that his readers are part of the setting and, as a result, instantly affected by the events. As adults, we the readers and those in the ghetto, know what’s going on, but Korczak refuses to allow it to predominate the children’s thoughts. Putting their needs first and at the risk of his own life, he courageously becomes “the richest man in Warsaw.”

Escobar doesn’t whitewash the brutality of the Holocaust. Be forewarned. His focus is on the good that existed in the midst of the atrocity and the delicate and precarious balance that needed to be achieved in keeping evil at bay. I loved the thought that Korczak was forming his own tiny army of love and bravely preparing them to march towards the future. What a beautiful image to hold on to after reading about such horrors. Anxiously captivated for the entirety, I closed this book, thankful for those in my profession who continue to put the needs of children first and in awe of those who displayed optimism and resiliency during one of history’s darkest times.

Never stop loving. It’s a liferaft in difficult times.

I was gifted this advance copy by Mario Escobar, Harper Muse, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

When it comes to the known facts of Janusz Korczak's life, The Teacher of Warsaw accurately portrays the man who was truly devoted to the children under his care. What I found annoying were the frequent lengthy, long-winded, and disjointed reflections that the author has attributed to his eponymous character. These ruminations often did not seem to ring true to Korczak's character. In my opinion, this fictional accounting was disappointing as it did not do justice to this amazing man.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Daniel Sepúlveda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Puntaje: 3.4 Estrellas.

The Teacher of Warsaw es lo que yo llamo una “No-ficción novelada”, es decir, nos cuenta una historia real, basada en hechos, personajes y locaciones reales, la cual está complementada con toques de ficción (especialmente en dialogos y conversaciones entre personajes), lo cual permite unificar y darle más estructura a la trama.

Este es un libro desgarrador, pues nos cuenta acerca de la horrible situación que vivieron los judíos en la ocupación Nazi en Polonia, en especial los niños huerfanos que cada semana se iban multiplicando en los orfanatos de Varsovia.

El personaje principal se llama Janus Korczak, un profesor que dedicó su vida a cuidar y enseñar a los niños más vulnerables. Él dirigía un orfanato judío en Varsovia y nos cuenta de primera mano acerca de las precarias condiciones en las que él, los demás profesores y los pequeños estudiantes vivían durante los oscuros acontecimientos de la Segunda Guerra Mundial.

El objetivo de Mario Escobar con esta novela es claro: Que los lectores conozcan sobre Janus y todas las personas que dedicaron su vida a ayudar a los niños huerfanos, muchos de los cuales sobrevivieron gracias a las acciones de estos personajes. Casi el 90% de los personajes adultos de esta novela fueron personas reales cuyos actos salvaron más de mil vidas. Por esa razón es importante recordarlos y mantener en nuestra memoria el aporte que dieron con sus vidas.

Ahora bien, teniendo en cuenta todo lo previamente mencionado, este no es mi tipo de libros. Considero altamente importante leer sobre estos temas y reflexionar sobre nuestro pasado, sin embargo, me esperaba una novela que incluyera una intriga o misterio en su trama, algo que me motivara a avanzar en sus páginas. The Teacher of Warsaw es un libro que puede leerse como un tipo de diario, en el que el profesor Janus nos relata varios momentos de la ocupación nazi desde la perspectiva del orfanato.

Es por esta razón que le doy 3.4 estrellas. Reconozco la labor investigativa de Mario Escobar y el gran trabajo que realizó al escribir este libro, sin embargo, no es el tipo de historias que busco en mis próximas lecturas. Mi imaginación me jugó una mala pasada al momento de leer la sinopsis del libro.

Recomiendo este libro a quienes disfrutan de historias basadas en los tiempos de la II Guerra Mundial. Eso sí, les recomiendo tener unos pañuelos a la mano porque seguramente rodarán lagrimas mientras lo leen.

[Chrissy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked the premise of this book and the overall story. However, the writing was so incredibly hard to get through that I had to stop around page 170. There are entire pages of philosophical ramblings and the book overall tries far to hard to be insightful. It also felt very elementary to me, with very short chapters that seemed to go nowhere beyond the teacher's views on humanity. I wasn't immersed in the scenes at all; in fact, I still have a haze over the different settings of the story because the book was entirely focused on the inner dialogue of the teacher.

Overall a fine book for someone who enjoys philosophical musings, but not for someone wanting to be captivated by the history and events of the story.

[Jeanne Alfveby Crea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent historical fiction based on a true story. My first story by Mario Escobar and I can't wait to get started on his backlist of stories. The Teacher of Warsaw is based on the life of Janusz Korczak and his incredible love for children. He was a great defender of children, a pediatrician and teacher, excellent writer, story teller, and radio host, but his greatest contribution was running a Jewish orphanage in Warsaw.

"For twenty-seven years we had been in that building that stood tall and proud in a Christian neighborhood. We were there on purpose so that Jewish and Christian children could live together. Long ago I had learned that the only way to knock down the walls of prejudice and hatred toward difference was coexisting and building friendships that allowed the children to fight and then be reconciled again."

I found this to be such a thoughtful and thought-provoking story about life and death, good and evil, and remembering those who had died. "The gravestones are the calling cards of those who've gone before us. Doctors, lawyers, artists, housewives, prostitutes, rabbis, and teachers all lie down to rest together." "Death is when forgetting wins. As long as we remember the ones who lived, they are still among us." "We did not realize that our long walk had been the last we would take in freedom. In a few days, we would no longer be masters of our own destinies."

Soon, he, the staff, and the ophans were forced to move a short distance away into the Jewish Ghetto. He begged for food and kept up the spirits of the staff and children every day, no matter what. "Every day we open our eyes and find ourselves here is a gift. Don't lose sight of that." "Yet we continued to suffer increasing humiliation and mistreatment."

"How are we going to feed, clothe, and keep these children warm? How are we going to protect them from these beasts?"

"I'm asking you to resist while loving life; to resist without letting poisonous Nazi ideas seep into our brains and our schools when the oppressors want to turn us into accomplices to their abominations; resist, and you will overcome." "If I thought of myself as anything, it was a tutor walking alongside his students for a short stretch of their journey." "What I was most proud of were my boys and girls."

He truly brought dignity and light, hope and love to his Jewish orphans in the hellish Warsaw ghetto, and refused to leave them when he had multiple chances. His life reminds us that one person can make a difference. I highly recommend this unforgettable story for all readers.

Thank you to the publisher and net galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you decide to read this book I do not suggest the audio version. I paused the book to check if the narrator was AI because the voice was so lifeless. A humorous line would be read without any mirth. A heartbreaking scene without any humanity. I wonder how that affected my rating of this book.
Narration aside, I still would not have loved this one. The author added too many philosophical thoughts throughout the text. How would Escobar know the complex ponderings going through everyone's mind during those times? By chapter 14 it was already full of more musings and contemplations then (what should have been) the setup for the story.
Half way through the book I decided life is too short and my to-read list is too long to continue with this awful book. So I did my own online research about Janusz Korczak's online instead and I feel like I understood his story better from that than the fictionalized never ending internal monologues the author indulged in so much.
This is a powerful story badly told.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was inspired by a real-life hero of the Holocaust, and based directly and indirectly on a diary this man. He went above and beyond to ensure children in a Jewish orphanage are cared for as best he can provide when they are forced into the Warsaw Ghetto after Germany invaded Poland. He stayed with the children until the end, providing them comfort. The last line of the summary of the story states it best: "The Teacher of Warsaw reminds the world that one single person can incite meaning, hope, and love." 7 out of 10.

[MikeLikesBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This definitely wasn’t a happy read. The thought of what the Nazis did makes me ill. But the individuals that defied and resisted the Nazis are heroes in my eyes. I just can’t understand the evil that occurred. The last visions of the children matching to the train with Janusz and Stefania, singing, carrying their green flag and serenaded by one orphans violin will be burned into my mind forever. They were loved by their teacher who took the final journey with them. I was in tears.

Mario Escobar is a favorite of mine for historical fiction. I like how he mentioned Spain a few times at the beginning as he is a Spaniard. It just made me smile. I look forward to more novels by Escobar.

If there is a heaven and hell may the Nazis eternally burn and the innocents murdered at their hands live in heavenly peace.

[Katharine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, my review might be strongly influenced by the fact that I listened to the audiobook… while the narrator had a nice voice, it did nothing for this book!! It came off as monotone, and I found I was often losing the story. It also did not fit, to me, the character. Much was lost, I’m afraid, in this audio version. I would not be opposed to revisiting this book and actually reading it. The history and story here are very interesting, and I’ve previously loved this author, so there may be a good book here.

[Burke Berry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly wish I could rate this a 6 out of 5, which is really saying something because historical fiction is probably my favorite genre. The book is based on the diary of Janusz Korczak, who serves as the protagonist. The actual diary only spans a few months of 1942, but Mario Escobar used personal testimonies of those who knew Korczak as well as survivors of the Warsaw ghetto. Janusz Korczak served many roles in his life, but most important to him was leading the orphanage he founded in Warsaw, Poland. Dom Sierot, as it was called, was forced to move into the ghetto in 1940, and the number of children grew sometime later after Korczak agreed to bring in a second orphanage. The Teacher of Warsaw truly enlightens the reader on some of the worst atrocities that have ever been committed in human history. Imagery is gruesome, but real, and it is extremely emotional.

Korczak, although Jewish by birth, never practiced the religion until the later years of his life, but mostly to provide hope for the children. He claimed that he most aligned as a deist. Behind the scenes, Korczak is drained of all hope, yet he makes it his mission to inspire the children day in and day out. He makes countless sacrifices to provide for everyone under his care. The survival of his diary has been extremely influential, providing inspiration for the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child. Please read The Teacher of Warsaw (I'll loan you my copy)

[Veronique Pauwels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ik lees heel graag boeken over de wereldoorlogen. De ervaringen die men deelt vanuit verschillende landen vind ik heel fascinerend. Het zijn feiten en verhalen die moeten gedeeld worden, zodat we ons kunnen behoeden dat deze ijzingwekkende geschiedenis zich niet meer zou kunnen herhalen.
Het mooie in deze historische roman is de realiteit die overheerst, aangevuld met naar waarheidsgetrouwe fictie. Ik heb deze roman gelezen en beluisterd. Ik betrap me erop dat ik tijdens een autorit , strijksessie, douche, meer en meer kan genieten van een voorgelezen boek. Luister jij soms naar voorgelezen verhalen?

Deze roman speelt zich af in het Joodse getto in Warschau. Dokter Janusz Korczak is de bezieler , pedagoog en directeur van het Joodse weeshuis : Don Sierot. Een naam die zeker in mijn geheugen zal gegrift zijn. Samen met Stefania hebben zij hun ganse leven geweid aan het verzorgen en beschermen van de vele Joodse weeskinderen. Toen de nazi’s op 1 september 1939 Polen binnenvielen werden de Joden opgepakt en gedwongen om in het Getto te gaan wonen. Ziekte, ongedierte, honger, terreur en dood waren de demonen waar ze in het Getto moesten tegenin gaan. De dokter en zijn leerkrachten stonden voor de zware opdracht om de steeds groeiende groep weeskinderen te voorzien van heel wat liefde, eten en verzorging. Met de daaropvolgende jaren werd dit er zeker niet gemakkelijker op.

“ De meester van Warschau” is een prachtige historische roman die in Polen afspeelt.
Als je de namen van de doden uitspreekt, breng je hen weer tot leven, heb ik gehoord. Met deze wijze woorden wordt je onmiddellijk meegenomen tijdens de proloog van de roman. Het zijn woorden die blijven hangen en waar je onmiddellijk het belang van aanvoelt. Door het vinden van het dagboek van dokter Korczak, krijgen deze woorden nog een grotere betekenis.
Zo is dit boek met nog meer wijze woorden en zinnen bezaaid die de lezer doet nadenken en stilstaan dat er voor veel onnodige zaken, gezaagd en geklaagd wordt.
Meerdere malen kreeg ik een krop in mijn keel en vloeide er een traan over mijn wangen. Dit boek raakt me zo diep. Het heeft misschien ook te maken omdat ik zelf ook met kinderen werk. Kinderen die uit verschillende culturen en met verschillende achtergronden op onze school gekomen zijn. De manier waarop de meester pedagogisch aan de slag gaat ondanks de beperkte middelen en gruwelijke omstandigheden laten je afwegen en reflecteren over die akelige periode.
Ik kan je meerdere passages doorgeven waar ik kippenvel van kreeg. Daarom ga ik gewoon aanraden om het boek te gaan lezen, zodat je deze wijsheid zelf kan beleven.

Of misschien nog eentje. Eentje die ikzelf heel belangrijk vond.
Op een dag riep Dokter Korzack alle kinderen, verzorgers en leerkrachten bij elkaar. Het is het moment dat ze hun bakermat : het weeshuis : Don Sierot zullen moeten verlaten om naar het Getto te verhuizen. De meester wil dit op een zo sereen mogelijke manier doen. Hij vraagt aan hen :” Wat betekent het om gelukkig te zijn? “ Kan iemand mij uitleggen wat geluk is? We willen allemaal gelukkig zijn of dat zeggen we tenminste. Maar weet iemand wat een mens gelukkig maakt? “ Een breed scala aan meningen en ideeën kwam aan bod. Toen de kinderen uitgepraat waren, ging ik weer staan en bood hen mijn perspectief….

J

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A moving insight into the lives of the Jewish in Poland during the German occupation in 1940.

Told from the perspective of Dr Janusz Korczak who was a former field doctor in the army and spent last thirty years dedicating his time to children especially Warsaw’s Jewish in particular.

Janusz runs an orphanage called Dom Sierot with a long time friend, Stefa.

Eventually they’d have to move from the orphanage to the ghetto where other Jews have been assigned to live. With dwindling food and medicine supplies— not to mention orphans dying on the street—Dr Janusz is constantly vacillating between staying back to help the orphans and moving to some other place like Sweden.

A thought-provoking read based on a true story. Highly recommend to lovers of historical fiction.

Thank you to Mario Escobar, NetGalley and Harper Muse for the arc of this book.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly beautiful book that asks many questions about our fundamental beliefs and what most of us think of as rights. It's not entirely linear, and not entirely about the history of the Warsaw ghetto, if you already know the history , you can fill in the gaps. It's a great deal more about the society that formed behind the walls of the ghetto, which was frankly amazing in it's complexity to me. The biggest question was "What is freedom?" It makes you think what freedom is to yourself, what you imagine it might have been to an oppressed Jew in the Nazi regime, and then perhaps to other oppressed peoples. This book showed a lot more of the good in people as opposed to the evil, though both were represented, and the ease of becoming one or the other

[Martyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Utkana ze wzruszeń, bolesnych przeżyć i ogromnej miłości do drugiego człowieka. Serce mi pękło, uświadamiając, że nigdy nie zrobimy tyle, co zwykli ludzie podczas wojny...

Fikcyjna powieść, o prawdziwej postaci Janusza Korczaka, niesamowitego człowieka, którego jedyną skazą była płynąca żydowska krew.

[Marisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting and important topic, but not very well written in my humble opinion (or perhaps a subpar translation?).

[Lori Sinsel Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

For some reason lately I have been reading numerous books about the Warsaw ghetto, several of which referenced Janusz Korczak and his orphans. I have read Maerio Escobar's last novel "The Librarian of Saint-Malo", which is also based on true events and cried m es out. This story was no exception.
Janusz Korczak's story is a tragic yet beautiful one. It is the story of a man,m a trained medical doctor who devoted his life, his entire being to taking care of the neglected, the unwanted, unloved children of Warsaw Poland. Long before there was a Nazi invasion and occupation, Korczak started his infamous orphanage Dom Sierot, teaching his children, love, caring and a dignity which would uphold them until the very end. Korczak never gave up, always fighting for his children, finding ways to feed and care for them even in the most horrific of circumstances.
Though he was offered escape from the ghetto, from Poland, where he and his children were imprisoned along with the thousands of other Polish Jews, Dr. Korczak refused escape, he would not, could not abandon the children, he would not leave them alone, to be scared and unloved when they faced their fate. Instead Korczak along with his partner, Stefania, who was beside him and the children every step of the way, took that final walk through the ghetto with his beloved orphans, heads held high, all bearing a quiet dignity that no amount of evil could ever take from them.
What a tragic story, what a wonderful, caring, selfless man Janusz Korczak was. A revolutionary for children's rights, he is the reason for modern laws and rights for children. His courageous story is told here with beautiful, quiet dignity, his teachings shared and live on as they should.
Once again Mario Escobar's writing has made me cry, if you possess a heart, have tissues at the ready, this book needs to be read and felt by everyone!
Thank you to Harper Muse and to Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review in return.