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Ackerman, Diane, 1948-

The zookeeper's wife : a war story / Diane Ackerman. - First paperback edition - London Headline 2007. - 368 pages, [8] pages of plates : illustrations ; 21 cm

Book includes Reading Group guide [5 p.] following the text.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 343-349) and index.

Author's note -- Zookeeper's wife -- Details -- Bibliography -- Index.

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.



ISBN:

Source: BRO-copy20080225-091

LCCN: 2007012635

Subjects--Personal Names:
Żabiński, Jan, 1897-1974.
Żabińska, Antonina.
Żabińska, Antonina.

Subjects--Meeting Names:
Jews rescue (1939-1945 : World War)
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)

Subjects--Chronological Terms:
1939-1945

Subjects--Topical Terms:
Jews--Poland--Warsaw.
Righteous Gentiles in the Holocaust--Poland--Warsaw--Case studies.
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Poland--Warsaw.
World War, 1939-1945--Jews--Rescue--Poland--Warsaw.
Zoo keepers--Poland--Warsaw--Case studies.
Ethnic relations.

Subjects--Geographic Terms:
Warsaw (Poland)--Ethnic relations.
Poland--Warsaw.
Warsaw (Poland)--Ethnic relations.

LC Class. No.: D804.66.Z33 / A25 2008 DS134.64 / .A25 2008

Dewey Class. No.: 920 ZAB