The Escape Artist

The Man Who Broke Out of Auschwitz to Warn the World

By: Jonathan Freedland

Narrated by: Jonathan Freedland

Winner of the National Jewish Book Award · New York Times Bestseller

""A brilliant and heart-wrenching book, with universal and timely lessons about the power of information—and misinformation. Is it possible to stop mass murder by telling the truth?"" — Yuval Noah Harari, bestselling author of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind and Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow

A complex hero. A forgotten story. The first witness to reveal the full truth of the Holocaust . . .

Award-winning journalist and bestselling novelist Jonathan Freedland tells the astonishing true story of Rudolf Vrba, the man who broke out of Auschwitz to warn the world of a truth too few were willing to hear.

In April 1944, Rudolf Vrba became one of the very first Jews to escape from Auschwitz and make his way to freedom—among only a tiny handful who ever pulled off that near-impossible feat. He did it to reveal the truth of the death camp to the world—and to warn the last Jews of Europe what fate awaited them. Against all odds, Vrba and his fellow escapee, Fred Wetzler, climbed mountains, crossed rivers, and narrowly missed German bullets until they had smuggled out the first full account of Auschwitz the world had ever seen—a forensically detailed report that eventually reached Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and the Pope.

And yet too few heeded the warning that Vrba had risked everything to deliver. Though Vrba helped save two hundred thousand Jewish lives, he never stopped believing it could have been so many more.

This is the story of a brilliant yet troubled man—a gifted “escape artist” who, even as a teenager, understood that the difference between truth and lies can be the difference between life and death. Rudolf Vrba deserves to take his place alongside Anne Frank, Oskar Schindler, and Primo Levi as one of the handful of individuals whose stories define our understanding of the Holocaust.

Incredible story

The Escape Artist describes in great detail the life of Rudolf Vrba. What he experienced - and later became known to the world - is beyond comprehension. For me, as someone who has read and viewed many accounts of the Holocaust, the most impactful moment of this story took place during a conversation Vrba had later in life with a man who had heeded his warning. That man explained - from his own experience - why so many Jews did not resist even when they had the information that Vrba had brought to the world. His teaching about the responsibilities and investments of adults resonates deeply with me. It not only helps me to relate all the more with the victims - which include my own family members - but also serves as a warning and motivation in the unpredictable times in which I live.

Heroic survivor that always spoke the truth

Wow. I’m sad that it has taken so long for Piechowski’s account to come to my attention. His heroism is unquestionable but it’s how the world receives him and his unpolished account and opinions that is most profound. Don’t listen to the naysayers- it’s a story of despair and rage at people who don’t like things perfectly neat and tidy. In other words, most human beings.

Amazing

In my opinion, of the great stories of all time.
Very well represented. Flows very well.

Well researched and engaging work

Absolutely recommend, but I think that the political and personal travails after the war might have been better off as a more abbreviated afterward.

An incredible life

I have seen so many documentaries on Auschwitz and all of the other death camps and labor camps. The courage he had to escape, and then tell his story is incredible. Whatever problems or challenges he had in his later life I would forgive him for those to have done such an incredible thing.

Thank you for sharing the story