Helpful Score: 1
A different take than other WW2 memoirs/bios-- Even if you've read about Poland during the German occupation, this one will be quite eye-opening! The Polish zoo operators in Warsaw, though bombed out and the animals dead, escaped, or borrowed for German zoos, manage to find creative ways to stay open-- hosting family gardens, raising pigs to feed the German soldiers, and finally becoming a 'fur" farm to add fur to German uniforms during the cold winters!
Ackerman makes good use of the diaries of the zookeeper's wife, Antonia. The numerous diaries provide first hand memories of how their rag-tag extended 'family' managed thru years of occupation. And to my surprise they had meat, milk, electricity etc through most of it!
The Zabinski family, through their excellent reputation as animal scientists, manage not only to temporarily hide up to 300 Jews on the zoo grounds, but Jan takes a top position in the Underground Army while still having unusual access to the Warsaw Ghetto where he invents ways to sneak Jews out to safety.
Interspersed with stories of the many family pets and the artists in residence at the villa on the zoo grounds, there is little of the usual downheartedness one experiences in reading most books from the Holocaust era.
Ackerman makes good use of the diaries of the zookeeper's wife, Antonia. The numerous diaries provide first hand memories of how their rag-tag extended 'family' managed thru years of occupation. And to my surprise they had meat, milk, electricity etc through most of it!
The Zabinski family, through their excellent reputation as animal scientists, manage not only to temporarily hide up to 300 Jews on the zoo grounds, but Jan takes a top position in the Underground Army while still having unusual access to the Warsaw Ghetto where he invents ways to sneak Jews out to safety.
Interspersed with stories of the many family pets and the artists in residence at the villa on the zoo grounds, there is little of the usual downheartedness one experiences in reading most books from the Holocaust era.
Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details
