The Escape Artist by Jonathan Freedland ✖️

First published October 18, 2022 

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Literary awards: Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for History & Biography 2022, The Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction Nominee for Longlist 2022, Writers' Prize Nomination for Nonfiction 2023, National Jewish Book Awards for Biography 2022

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In April 1944, Rudolf Vrba became the first Jew to break out of Auschwitz—one of only four 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 at the end of the railway line. Against all odds, he 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 would eventually reach Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and the Pope.

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First, there is debate over Vrba being "the first Jew to break out of Auschwitz" and this "fact" would have been easily overlooked had it not been repeated several times throughout. I personally don't know enough to refute or support such claims, though it is a frequent point of disagreement about this book. 

Second, this was so very boring. I made it almost 100 pages before I just couldn't go on. While important, this is more a fact book/textbook about the overwhelming atrocities against Jews and others during this time period. Overwhelming. There are entire chapters in this book describing details of these things, and a paragraph or two about Vrba to help us remember this is a story about him, too. 

Third, Vrba's story is really quite amazing and I found much more interest in reading articles online, including wikipedia, than I did reading this book.