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The zookeeper's wife : a war story  Cover Image Book Book

The zookeeper's wife : a war story / Diane Ackerman.

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.

Record details

  • ISBN: 9780393354256 (paperback)
  • Physical Description: 368 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 21 cm
  • Edition: First paperback edition.
  • Publisher: New York : W.W. Norton, 2017.

Content descriptions

General Note:
Book includes Reading Group guide [5 pages] following the text.
Bibliography, etc. Note:
Includes bibliographical references (pages 343-349) and index.
Formatted Contents Note:
Author's note -- Zookeeper's wife -- Details -- Bibliography -- Index.
Subject: Żabińska, Antonina.
Żabiński, Jan, 1897-1974.
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945) > Poland > Warsaw.
Jews > Poland > Warsaw.
Righteous Gentiles in the Holocaust > Poland > Warsaw > Case studies.
World War, 1939-1945 > Jews > Rescue > Poland > Warsaw.
Zoo keepers > Poland > Warsaw > Case studies.
Righteous Gentiles in the Holocaust > Poland > Warsaw > Case studies.
Zoo keepers > Poland > Warsaw > Case studies.
Warsaw (Poland) > Ethnic relations.
Genre: Biographies.

Available copies

  • 0 of 1 copy available at Tsuga Consortium.

Holds

  • 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show Only Available Copies
Location Call Number / Copy Notes Barcode Shelving Location Status Due Date
Cookstown Branch 940.5318350943841 Ack 31681001852391 NONFIC In process -


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