The zookeeper's wife

Resource Information

The work The zookeeper's wife represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in Austin Public Library. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Language Material, Books.

This resource has been enriched with EBSCO NoveList data.

Label

The zookeeper's wife

Statement of responsibility

Diane Ackerman

Title variation

zookeepers wife

Title variation remainder

a war story

Creator

• trueAckerman, Diane, 1948-

Author

• trueAckerman, Diane, 1948-

Subject

• trueHolocaust (1933-1945) -- Warsaw, Poland
• trueJewish people
• trueJews, Polish
• truePoland
• truePoland -- History -- 20th century
• Poland -- Warsaw
• truePolish people
• trueRescues
• Righteous Gentiles in the Holocaust
• trueRighteous Gentiles in the Holocaust
• Righteous Gentiles in the Holocaust -- Poland | Warsaw -- Case studies
• Warsaw (Poland) -- Ethnic relations
• trueWarsaw, Poland -- Interethnic relations
• trueWorld War II
• trueWorld War II -- Jewish people | Rescue
• trueWorld War II -- Jews | Rescue
• trueZoo keepers
• Zoo keepers
• Zoo keepers -- Biography
• Zoo keepers -- Poland | Warsaw -- Case studies
• Żabińska, Antonina
• Żabińska, Antonina
• Biographies
• Biographies
• Case studies
• Ethnic relations
• trueHolocaust (1933-1945)
• Żabiński, Jan, 1897-1974
• Żabiński, Jan, 1897-1974

Genre

• Biographies
• trueCase studies
• trueBiography

Language

eng

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

Tone

• trueStrong sense of place
• trueBittersweet
• trueDramatic

Writing style

• trueRichly detailed
• trueStylistically complex
• trueCompelling
• trueDescriptive

Award

• ALA Notable Book, 2008.
• Booklist Editors' Choice, 2007.
• Library Journal Best Books, 2007.

Biography type

contains biographical information

Cataloging source

DLC

Dewey number

940.53/18350943841

Illustrations

illustrations

Index

index present

Interest level

UG

Literary form

non fiction

Nature of contents

bibliography

Reading level

9.3

Study program name

Accelerated Reader AR