Summary of Schindler's List

Schindler’s List is a novel by Australian novelist Thomas Keneally which tells the story of Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist who saves the lives of over a thousand mostly Polish-Jewish refugees during the Holocaust by employing them in his factories. Schindler’s efforts are led by his increasing moral responsibility, financial gain, and a desire to help those persecuted by the Nazis. With the help of his wife, Emilie, and a Jewish accountant, Itzhak Stern, Schindler amasses a fortune, but his motivation is to protect his workers from the brutal conditions imposed by the Nazis. The novel follows Schindler’s journey as he risks his life and his fortune to save lives and ultimately survives the war. It also explores the moral ambiguities of a man who was a profiteer and a hero at the same time.