Over and above these, the Holocaust for many writers and thinkers made reticence not a matter of choice but a moral and psychological obligation. For many who survived incarceration and torture, Appelfeld’s silence became a way of being, without consolation or salve. It has even spawned a popular subgenre – the Auschwitz novel. Auschwitz Lullaby, The Child of Auschwitz, The Librarian of Auschwitz, The Druggist of Auschwitz, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Chiropodist of Auschwitz. A feelgood Holocaust – whether it takes the form of pseudo-historicity or redemption romance – not only exploits the dead, it demeans the living.

Source: The Guardian January 23, 2020 06:00 UTC