Elie Wiesel, Night - Book Review

Elie Wiesel, Night (Les Editions de Minuit 1958). Book Review

Elie Wiesel was born September 30, 1928, in Signet, Transylvania, known now as Romania, he grew up with three sisters. Wiesel pursued Jewish religious studies, which was strongly influenced by the traditional spiritual beliefs of his grandfather, as well as his parent's liberal expressions of Judaism. Wiesel studied at the Sorbonne in France from 1948 - 1951 he majored in journalism, writing for French and Israeli publications. Wiesel later published in Yiddish the memoir And the World Would Remain Silent in 1956. The book was shortened and published in France as La Nuit, and as Night for English readers in 1960. The memoir became an acclaimed bestseller, translated into many languages, and considered a seminal work on the terrors of the Holocaust. Night was followed by two novels, Dawn (1961) and Day (1962), to form a trio that looked closely at humankind’s harsh treatment of one another. He has also penned many other books and become an activist, orator and teacher, speaking out against oppression and inequality across the world. Wiesel had a passion for journalism but teaching was another passion of Wiesel's, he was appointed in the mid-1970s as Boston University's Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities. He has also taught Judaic studies at the City University of New York, and served as a visiting professor at Yale. Wiesel was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986, numerous other awards, including the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom and the French Legion of Honor's Grand Croix. Wiesel later founded the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity with his wife Marion (Erster Rose) Wiesel.

Night, is the story told from the a first person perspective, an account which chronicles the events that took place in 1944, when Elie Wiesel and his family were forced into the Nazi German concentration at the height of the Holocaust toward the end of the Second World War. In the days prior, Jews were given an opportunity to flee from their home in the small town of Transylvanian of Sighet known today as Romania. However, in spite of the warning many had nowhere to go, and refused to evacuate. As a result, the entire Jewish population was taken into captivity concentration camps. Once in the camp, the men were sent one way, while the women were sent another way. Wiesel was separated from his mother and sisters, but remains with his father. The people were forced into cargo cars with standing room only; there was no level of comfort, people were suffering from diseases and malnutrition literally starving. Wiesel begins to develop an increasing hatred of humanity, and even pondered the death of God. People were packed into cramped quarters and were literally falling dead, to survive you simply stepped over or even trampled. Wiesel tried very hard not to separate from his father, the parent–child relationship as his father declines to a helpless state and Wiesel becomes his resentful teenage caregiver. "If only I could get rid of this dead weight ... Immediately I felt ashamed of myself, ashamed forever." In Night everything is inverted, every value destroyed. "Here there are no fathers, no brothers, no friends," a Kapo tells him. "Everyone lives and dies for himself alone." Wiesel because of these struggles, Wiesel also wrestled with his wavering faith in God’s justice and while battling with the darker side. Forced into a desperate situation, Eliezer feels a conflict between supporting his ever weakening father and giving himself the best chance of survival. Wiesel was 16 years old when Buchenwald was freed by the United States Army in April 1945, too late for his father, who died after a beating while Wiesel lay silently on the bunk above for fear of being beaten too. Having lost his faith in God and mankind, he vowed not to speak of his experience for ten years. Night is the first book in a trilogy – Night, Dawn and Day – reflecting Wiesel's state of mind during and after the Holocaust. The titles mark his transition from darkness to light, according to the Jewish tradition of beginning a new day at nightfall. "In Night," he said, "I wanted to show the end, the finality of the event. Everything came to an end – man, history, literature, religion, God. There was nothing left. And yet we begin again with night." Night is an eye witness account written by a fifteen year old, Elsie Wiesel at least 10 years after the event of the Holocaust during the World War II. Wiesel, doing one of the hardest things an author can ever experience, reliving a life changing event which resulted in the death of both parents. The 2006 Hill and Wang paperback edition was translated in English by the author’s wife Marion Wiesel and includes Elie Wiesel’s Nobel Peace Prize speech. This work is applauded a masterpiece transformed an angry historical account into a work of art and used to educate the world regarding the cruel events of the Holocaust. The author of Night intended audience was the general public. Everyone can benefit from this story and the message of mistreatment of others. The book was moving it captivated the reader. It caused me to examine my life and the tribulations that I face; would my faith waiver from belief in God? I have been asked in the past, “If some threatens to take your life for believing in God. How would you respond?” Are you willing to die for what you believe? I would recommend this book to read because it has a strong message regarding our prejudices towards others because of race, religion, color and creed.