The Righteous

“Important. . . . The very fact that there were so many tales of courage is reason to take heed of this heartening aspect of one of history’s darkest moments.” —Publishers Weekly

Drawing from twenty-five years of original research, eminent historian Sir Martin Gilbert re-creates the remarkable stories of non-Jews who risked their lives to help Jews during the Holocaust.

According to Jewish tradition, “Whoever saves one life, it is as if he saved the entire world.” Non-Jews who helped save Jewish lives during World War II are designated Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem, the Holocaust archive in Jerusalem. In The Righteous, distinguished historian Sir Martin Gilbert, through extensive interviews, explores the courage of those who-throughout Germany and in every occupied country from Norway to Greece, from the Atlantic to the Baltic-took incredible risks to help Jews whose fate would have been sealed without them. Indeed, many lost their lives for their efforts.

Those who hid Jews included priests, nurses, teachers, neighbors and friends, employees and colleagues, soldiers and diplomats, and, above all, ordinary citizens. From Greek Orthodox Princess Alice of Greece, who hid Jews in her home in Athens, to the Ukrainian Uniate Archbishop of Lvov, who hid hundreds of Jews in his churches and monasteries, to Muslims in Bosnia and Albania, many risked, and lost, everything to help their fellow man.

“One of the book’s virtues is Gilbert’s ability to set the local context briefly before recounting the personal stories, thus keeping the human dimension paramount.” —Library Journal

“This emotionally stirring book is an essential addition to Holocaust collections.” —Booklist