The Disappearance of Josef Mengele

Last updated
The Disappearance of Joseph Mengele
The Disappearance of Josef Mengele.jpg
Author Olivier Guez
Original titleLa disparition de Josef Mengele
TranslatorGeorgia de Chamberet
LanguageFrench
Genrehistorical novel
Publisher Grasset
Publication placeFrance
Awards Prix Renaudot
ISBN 9782246855873 French original

The Disappearance of Josef Mengele (French : La disparition de Josef Mengele) is a 2017 French non-fiction novel by Olivier Guez. It details the post-WWII life of Josef Mengele, the "Angel of Death" of Auschwitz, who was infamous for his experiments conducted on Auschwitz prisoners. Released in 2017, it won the Prix Renaudot and became a bestseller: As of 2022, at least 300,000 copies have been sold, [1] and the book has been translated into at least 25 languages. [2]

Contents

Summary

Josef Mengele arrives under the pseudonym of Helmut Gregor in 1949 in Argentina. He was on the run for 4 years, abandoned by his wife and son, but believes now he can find refuge under Perón, who was friendly to Nazis, as he believed Nazis would help in the war against communist atheism. Mengele does not regret his actions. In fact, he has carried a suitcase of Auschwitz specimens with him, so that he may continue his experiments.

Perón loses power in 1955, and those who fled to Argentina lose protection as they are pursued by Nazi hunters. Adolf Eichmann is caught, brought to Israel, and executed. Mengele goes on the run again, moving to Paraguay, and eventually to Brazil, where he drowns after having a stroke in 1979.

The novel also details the mock trial of Mengele in 1985, where survivors gave their testimony of Mengele.

Reception

The book won the Prix Renaudot in 2017, [3] [4] and was a nominee for the Prix Goncourt. [5] The Spectator wrote a positive review, describing the novel as "compelling reading...This surprising historical novel, highly successful in its shocking impact, should be read as a timely warning of atrocities that barbaric, deranged fanatics commit in war." [6] Publishers Weekly gave a negative review, writing "Journalist Guez makes his English-language debut with a staid portrait of a monstrous man...the narrative is remarkably humdrum and slack." [7]

Film adaptation

In October 2022, it was announced that Russian director Kirill Serebrennikov was planning to make a film based on the book, with German actor August Diehl performing the role of Mengele. [8] [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prix Goncourt</span> French literary award

The Prix Goncourt is a prize in French literature, given by the académie Goncourt to the author of "the best and most imaginative prose work of the year". The prize carries a symbolic reward of only 10 euros, but results in considerable recognition and book sales for the winning author. Four other prizes are also awarded: prix Goncourt du Premier Roman, prix Goncourt de la Nouvelle, prix Goncourt de la Poésie (poetry) and prix Goncourt de la Biographie (biography). Of the "big six" French literary awards, the Prix Goncourt is the best known and most prestigious. The other major literary prizes include the Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française, the Prix Femina, the Prix Renaudot, the Prix Interallié and the Prix Médicis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">August Diehl</span> German actor (born 1976)

August Diehl is a German actor, primarily known to international audiences for playing Gestapo major Dieter Hellstrom in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds (2009) and Michael "Mike" Krause, Evelyn Salt's husband, in the movie Salt. He is also known for his leading roles in the films The Counterfeiters (2007), The Young Karl Marx (2017), and Terrence Malick's A Hidden Life (2019).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prix Renaudot</span> French literary award

The Prix Théophraste-Renaudot or Prix Renaudot is a French literary award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippe Hériat</span> French actor and writer (1898–1971)

Raymond Gérard Payelle, better known by his pseudonym Philippe Hériat, was a French novelist, playwright and actor. His most famous novels included Les Enfantes gâtés, awarded the Prix Goncourt in 1939, and La Famille Boussardel, which won the Académie Goncourt in 1949.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irène Némirovsky</span> French novelist

Irène Némirovsky was a novelist of Ukrainian Jewish origin who was born in Kiev, then in the Russian Empire. She lived more than half her life in France and wrote in French, but was denied French nationality. Arrested as a Jew under the racial laws – which did not take into account her conversion to Roman Catholicism – she was murdered in Auschwitz at the age of 39. Némirovsky is best known for the posthumously published Suite française.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">André Schwarz-Bart</span> French writer

André Schwarz-Bart was a French novelist of Polish-Jewish ancestry. He was awarded the Prix Goncourt for his debut novel in 1959, and the 1967 Jerusalem Prize.

Éditions Grasset is a French publishing house founded in 1907 by Bernard Grasset (1881–1955). Grasset publishes French and foreign literature, essays, novels and children's books, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alice Zeniter</span> French writer

Alice Zeniter is a French novelist, translator, scriptwriter, dramatist and director.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delphine de Vigan</span> French novelist

Delphine de Vigan is an internationally known French novelist who has won several awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joël Dicker</span> Swiss novelist

Joël Dicker is a Swiss novelist.

<i>Limonov</i> (novel) 2011 biographical novel by Emmanuel Carrère

Limonov is a 2011 biographical novel by the French writer and journalist Emmanuel Carrère. The book is based on the life of Eduard Limonov, a Russian politician and opposition figure, as well as a poet and novelist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirill Serebrennikov</span> Russian director and theatre designer

Kirill Semyonovich Serebrennikov is a Russian stage and film director and theatre designer. Since 2012, he has been the artistic director of the Gogol Center in Moscow. He is one of Russia's leading theatre and cinema directors and winner of numerous international awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon Liberati</span> French writer and journalist

Simon Liberati is a French writer and journalist. For his novels, he has received the Prix de Flore (2009), Prix Femina (2011) and Prix Renaudot (2022).

Simone Gallimard was a French editor, leader of the Mercure de France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georges-Olivier Châteaureynaud</span> French writer

Georges-Olivier Châteaureynaud is a French novelist and short story writer. He was awarded the Prix Renaudot in 1982 for the novel La Faculté des songes and the Prix Goncourt de la nouvelle in 2005 for Singe savant tabassé par deux clowns. He has been general secretary of the Prix Renaudot since 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marie-Hélène Lafon</span> French educator and award-winning writer (born 1962)

Marie-Hélène Lafon is a French educator and award-winning writer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olivier Guez</span> French writer and journalist (born 1974)

Olivier Guez is a French journalist, essayist and writer. He won the 2017 Prix Renaudot for his novel The Disappearance of Josef Mengele.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anne Berest</span> French writer and actress

Anne Berest is a French writer and actress.

Abel Quentin is a French lawyer and writer. His partner is fellow writer, Claire Berest.

<i>The Most Secret Memory of Men</i> 2021 novel by Mohamed Mbougar Sarr

The Most Secret Memory of Men is a 2021 novel by Senegalese writer Mohamed Mbougar Sarr. It was co-published on 19 August 2021 by the French independent publisher Éditions Philippe Rey (Paris) with the Senegalese publishing house Éditions Jimsaan (Dakar).

References

  1. ↑ Herman, David (September 1, 2022). "Book review: The Disappearance of Josef Mengele - The monster who hid from justice". The Jewish Chronicle . Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  2. ↑ Cole, Diane. "Review | A French bestseller considers Josef Mengele's years on the run". Washington Post . Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  3. ↑ Vertaldi, Aurélia (10 October 2022). "La Disparition de Josef Mengele, un monstre tapi dans l'ombre" ["The disappearance of Josef Mengele, a monster hidden in the shadows"]. Le Figaro (in French). Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  4. ↑ Georgesco, Florent (6 November 2017). "Le prix Renaudot pour " La Disparition de Josef Mengele ", d'Olivier Guez" ["The Prix Renaudot [awarded] to 'The Disappearance of Josef Mengele' by Olivier Guez']. Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  5. ↑ "Prix Goncourt. Huit titres retenus dans la deuxième sélection" ["Prix Goncourt. 8 titles retained from the second selection]. Ouest-France (in French). Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  6. ↑ Martin, Brian. "Nazi on the run: The Disappearance of Josef Mengele, by Olivier Guez, reviewed | The Spectator". The Spectator . Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  7. ↑ "The Disappearance of Josef Mengele by Olivier Guez". Publishers Weekly . May 5, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
  8. ↑ Keslassy, Elsa (18 October 2022). "Fugitive Nazi Doctor Josef Mengele to Be Played by German Star August Diehl in Kirill Serebrennikov's 'The Disappearance' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety . Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  9. ↑ "Le Russe Serebrennikov va adapter cet été La Disparition de Josef Mengele" ["The Russian Serebrennikov is going to adapt 'The Disappearance of Josef Mengele' this season]. Le Soleil (in French). 19 October 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.