Review: StolenWords: The Nazi Plunder of Jewish Books

Title: StolenWords: The Nazi Plunder of Jewish Books
Author: Mark Glickman
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
Publication Date: February 1, 2016

Stolen Words: The Nazi Plunder of Jewish Books by Mark Glickman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


StolenWords: The Nazi Plunder of Jewish Books by Mark Glickman was a fascinating and informative read. The unfathomable and tragic loss of life was not all the evil the Holocaust wrought on humanity. Hitler not only attempted to obliterate the Jewish people but their historical writings and books, also. And if it were not for the actions of many brave souls, he may very well have succeeded.

This book follows the writings of the Jewish people from biblical times and explains how these writings lovingly cared for and made available in public libraries and those in private homes across Europe were plundered and, in many cases, destroyed, prior to and during WWII. Rabbi Glickman describes book burnings and the outright destruction of these treasures in vivid detail that awakened such a sense of loss in me--a loss of the written word in terms I had not thought of before. And just when I began to think all was truly lost, he goes on to explain how thousands upon thousands of these books and manuscripts were returned to the Jewish people and, when possible, their rightful owners, following the war.

I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in Jewish history, WWII, or to anyone who wants to learn more about either.

I received an advance reader copy (ARC) from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.



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