De Boekendief is what you call a historical novel. The story describes the worst pages in our history. Books have already been written about the Second World War, but Markus Zusak’s work is innovative in its own way. Certain chapters are told from the I person and I represent ‘Death’. After all, this character is celebrating its heyday in the mid-twentieth century. Entire population groups are transported to concentration camps while numerous German and other European cities are bombed.
Death
At first the book seems a bit strange, but that is mainly due to the unusual I figure. In certain parts the book is seen through the eyes of ‘De Dood’. He is out to collect as many victims of the Second World War as possible, but he also sees certain people escaping him. After all, there are now people who look ‘Death’ in the eye a few times before they actually die. In World War II you do not have your own fate in your own hands.
Situation sketch
We are in the early 1940s of the twentieth century. Europe is torn apart by a horrible battle in which Hitler holds sway. People who go against the thoughts of the German ruler are being prosecuted. That is why it is no longer safe for Liesel Meminger with her mother. The little girl is therefore put on the train together with her brother to be delivered to foster parents. However, the little boy dies on the way, leaving Liesel alone with her new parents.
The Book Thief
Liesel sees a book at her brother’s grave. It’s about the profession of gravediggers. However, the little girl cannot read, so she is saving the work for later. A while later Hans – her foster father – teaches her to read, after which she devours the book and becomes hungry for other material. However, a lot of stories are burned during that time and there is no money at all to buy new books. That’s why Liesel steals them wherever she can. She saves books from the stake and takes them from the library of Ilsa, the mayor’s wife.
Characters
- Liesel Meminger: Loses her brother at a young age, is left with her foster parents, and is left scarred after a fatal bombing
- Hans Hubermann: Liesel’s foster father, comforts her in nightmares, plays the accordion, stands up for the Jews, has to go to the front
- Rosa Hubermann: Liesel’s foster mother, a brutal woman, uses profanity very often, yet has a small heart
- Hans Junior and Trudy: the children of Hans and Rosa, Hans Junior does not always agree with his parents and therefore stays away, he fights at the front
- Rudy: Liesel’s best friend, they play football and steal books together, he has been in love with Liesel for a long time while she does not want to give in to this love. He dreams of being kissed by her, but that only happens when Rudy no longer realizes it
- Max: a Jew who lives in hiding with Hans, Rosa and Liesel for a long time. A unique friendship develops between the man and the girl. One day he has to leave because it is getting too dangerous. However, they still see each other again
- Alex Steiner: Rudy’s daddy and, together with Liesel, one of the only survivors of Himmelstraat
- Frau Holtzapfel: the neighbor where Liesel often reads, she loses her two sons in the war
- Ilsa Hermann: the mayor’s wife, Liesel goes there for Rosa’s work, the two build a bond, Ilsa is very sad about the death of her son, she often sits in her own library and also lets Liesel read books
data
- Publisher: The House of Books
- Published in: 2005
- Published in Dutch: 2007
- Translation: Annemarie Lodewijk
- Cover design: Studio Jan de Boer BNO, Amsterdam
- Cover Photo: Jeff Cottenden
- ISBN: 978 90 443 1965 1
The author
Markus Zusak is an Australian who was born in Sydney. He is the son of an Austrian father and a German mother. Markus is the youngest of four children. Of course, World War II is something that occupies the family and Markus turns those thoughts into a book. Zusak is a well-known youth writer, but his books are also enjoyed by adults. ‘De Boekendief’ has been published in more than twenty countries.