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The Volunteer

The True Story of the Resistance Hero who Infiltrated Auschwitz – Costa Book of the Year 2019
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( 8,486 ratings, 846 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Volunteer by Jack Fairweather is a gripping biography recounting the true story of Witold Pilecki, a courageous Polish resistance fighter during World War II. Pilecki voluntarily infiltrated Auschwitz to gather intelligence and organise a resistance from within. This compelling narrative highlights his bravery and the harrowing conditions faced while shedding light on a lesser-known hero of history.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you're fascinated by World War II histories, particularly untold stories of heroism and resistance. It provides an intriguing exploration of courage, detailing the extraordinary efforts of an individual who infiltrates Auschwitz to gather intelligence and organise a resistance movement from within. A gripping memoir blending sacrifice and resilience, it is perfect for those who appreciate deeply researched historical narratives.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The first account of one of the greatest heroes of WWII, and a gripping story of defiance, rebellion, sabotage and escape from a Nazi death camp.

One of the Sunday Times paperbacks of the Year 2020.
One of the Financial Times best books of 2020.

'Totally gripping' -- Simon Sebag Montefiore

'Pilecki is perhaps one of the greatest unsung heroes of the second world war ... this insightful book is likely to be the definitive version of this extraordinary life' -- Economist

Would you sacrifice yourself to save thousands of others?

In the Summer of 1940, after the Nazi occupation of Poland, an underground operative called Witold Pilecki accepted a mission to uncover the fate of thousands of people being interned at a new concentration camp on the border of the Reich.

His mission was to report on Nazi crimes and raise a secret army to stage an uprising. The name of the detention centre -- Auschwitz.

It was only after arriving at the camp that he started to discover the Nazis' terrifying plans. Over the next two and a half years, Witold forged an underground army that smuggled evidence of Nazi atrocities out of Auschwitz. His reports from the camp were to shape the Allies' response to the Holocaust - yet his story was all but forgotten for decades.

This is the first major account to draw on unpublished family papers, newly released archival documents and exclusive interviews with surviving resistance fighters to show how he brought the fight to the Nazis at the heart of their evil designs.

The result is an enthralling story of resistance and heroism against the most horrific circumstances, and one man's attempt to change the course of history.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Jack Fairweather's The Volunteer has been lauded for its gripping narrative, revealing the incredible courage and horror experienced by a Polish resistance fighter in Auschwitz. Critics praise its meticulous research and compelling prose, with many noting it as a definitive and important account of this historical period. The book is both a haunting portrayal of the Holocaust and a fitting tribute to an unsung war hero.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780753545188

Publisher: Ebury Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 09 January 2020

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: W H Allen

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 32.0mm

Width: 127.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 358g

Pages: 528

About the Author

Jack Fairweather is an award-winning and bestselling British writer and journalist. His last book The Volunteer won the Costa Book Prize and was a #1 Sunday Times bestseller, hailed as a modern classic and compared to Schindler's List. He splits his time between the UK and Vermont.

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