Twentieth Century’s Most Painful Issues: Nazism, Equality and Human Rights in John Boyne’s Novel “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas”

Abstract

John Boyne is an Irish author who has won numerous literary awards. He is the author of ten adult books, five children’s novels, and two collections of short stories. His writings have been translated into over 50 different languages. His novel “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas,” which was written in 60 hours, touches the subject of the Holocaust. War is always horrible, especially when children are suffering. The novel “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” by John Boyne is one of the most heartbreaking portrayals of the Second World War. There are many pieces of literature which deal with the life of soldiers, convicts, and ordinary citizens, but the majority of them tell the story on behalf of an adult. This piece is unique in the way it illustrates the conflict through the perspective of children. In 2008, the novel “The Boy in Striped Pajamas” was adapted into a film. Several significant cinema awards were given to this film. It is shot extremely close to the text, expressing the entire atmosphere in grey tones, but it is still weaker compared to the book, since the psychology of the boy and his parents is eloquently revealed, their actions are explained, and attention is drawn to extremely touching details in the book that are not depicted in the film. The novel won two Irish Book Honors, the Bisto Book of the Year Award, and other international awards. The 80-week novel also won the Irish Bestseller List and the New York Times Bestseller List, along with becoming a best-seller in Spain in 2007 and 2008. The book has sold more than 9 million copies worldwide.