"The Zookeeper's Wife" is a non-fiction book by American author Diane Ackerman, first published in 2007. The book tells the true story of Antonina and Jan Żabiński, the owners of the Warsaw Zoo in Poland during World War II, who used their zoo to save the lives of hundreds of Jews from the Holocaust.
As the Germans occupied Poland, the Żabińskis used their zoo as a hiding place for Jews, providing them with shelter, food, and clothing. The couple risked their lives to shelter Jews from the Nazis, even as the war raged on around them. Antonina Żabińska also played a crucial role in helping to smuggle Jewish children out of the Warsaw Ghetto and into safety.
Ackerman's book has been praised for its vivid and moving portrayal of the courage and compassion shown by the Żabiński family in the face of extreme danger. The book has been praised for its attention to detail and its ability to convey the complexity and ambiguity of life in wartime Poland.
"The Zookeeper's Wife" has been adapted into a feature film of the same name, starring Jessica Chastain as Antonina Żabińska. The book and the film have both been widely acclaimed for their portrayal of the bravery and humanity shown by the Żabiński family in the face of unimaginable horror. The book is considered an important addition to the literature of the Holocaust, and a testament to the power of human kindness in the face of adversity.
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