ABSTRACT
Set in Germany in World War II, Marcus Zusak's The Book Thief is a thought-provoking novel which focuses upon the importance of books and reading as being central to humanity. Zusak notes: The second story Zusak's mother told him was about the treatment of Jews being marched to Dachau: Through his writing of The Book Thief Zusak's intention was to portray 'another side to Nazi Germany' which was to demonstrate that humans are actually worthwhile. What Zusak wanted to In The Book Thief Zusak does not attempt to explain the acts of history but rather explores how people survived emotionally as well as physically helped by experiences associated with books and reading. The Book Thief vividly takes the reader back to the pre-World War II period in Germany and situates Liesel, the protagonist, in the confusion of the growing tension.
