A selection of stories from two collections published in 1948. Translated by Barbara Vedder, with an introduction by Jan Kott.

These stories chronicles of the way that concentration camp prisoners grasp at any wisp of power over one another, the power of possession of a slice of bread, of being placed as foreman of a work gang, and struggle to best one another (but constantly reminded that their very existence is threatened by the real people of power, the S.S.) I was scandalized at myself during the reading of "A Day at Harmenz" to find myself taking sides in this; how could I feel Schadenfreude at the "Kapo" getting beaten by the soldiers, even though he beats the other prisoners? They're all victims, the narrator is no saint, how is it possible to take sides. That sure messes with the woman in "The People Who Walked On" who wanted evil to be punished "in human, normal terms" -- the narrator expressed doubts about that possibility. That woman is about the "nicest" person in the book. The author seems to have some idea that women are often better than men. In that case he'd be the third man with that opinion I've run into in the last few months: both John Steinbeck and Wolfgang Borchert hoped that mothers would save the world, and Borchert and Borowski (or at least the narrator of "Auschwitz, Our Home") think of love with a young woman as being personally saving, potentially.

Then there are the afterward stories, the last three in the book, the author slowly trying to come to terms with his experiences. Seems to me the book needs to be digested slowly by the reader too.

Found at the Friends of the Library book sale for the 1001 Library.

Thanks so much for your donation Vasha!

This book is now part of the 1001-library. If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the 1001-library bookshelf.

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In transit.

Received today. Thanks Vasha! I will try to read this soon but I have a few other rings and rays I need to read first.

This is No. 446 on the 2008 edition of 1001 books you must read before you die list.

This was really a horrific account of daily life in a concentration camp during the Holocaust. Borowski's "This Way for the Gas" is actually a collection of stories which detail the brutality and gruesomeness of the Holocaust. Borowski was from Poland but he was not Jewish so he received better treatment in the camps and he tells the stories in a very matter-of-fact language. Some of the details portrayed by Borowski will leave you haunted. Ironically, Borowski committed suicide several years after his experiences by putting his head in a gas oven probably over guilt and remorse related to his experiences. I would highly recommend this book - it is a remarkable read, very profound and overwhelming.

Thanks for sharing this book. I will be sending it on to another library member in Australia.

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Sending to davemurray101 in Australia.

Just recieved 'This way to the gas..' today. One of those hard-to-find books from the 1001 list. Thanks Perryfran and I look forward to reading it soon.
30/05 - read this one last night and this morning. A whole lot of very bleak but at the same time human stories from what can only be described as the most evil place in history - Auschwitz.

This book is now back on the 1001 library bookshelf and can be borrowed by PMing davemurray101:)

If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the library bookshelf.