The Painted Bird cover art

The Painted Bird

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The Painted Bird

By: Jerzy Kosinski
Narrated by: Fred Berman, Michael Aronov
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About this listen

Originally published in 1965, The Painted Bird established Jerzy Kosinski as a major literary figure. Called by the Los Angeles Times "one of the most imposing novels of the decade" it was eventually translated into more than 30 languages.

A harrowing story that follows the wanderings of a boy abandoned by his parents during World War II, The Painted Bird is a dark masterpiece that examines the proximity of terror and savagery to innocence and love. It is the first, and the most famous, novel by one of the most important and original writers of this century.

©1965 Jerzy N. Kosinski (P)2010 HighBridge Company Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Fiction Emotionally Gripping

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Critic reviews

"One of the best. . . . Written with deep sincerity and sensitivity." (Elie Wiesel, The New York Times Book Review)
"Extraordinary... literally staggering...one of the most powerful books I have ever read." ( Harper’s magazine)
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The book is a detailed account of a boys very hard life during the war. Good book although some of the content was very detailed and difficult to listen to.

Great book / difficult content

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powerful history of my country, some said in past that it was not the truth story. If you reach for this book you already familiar with holocaust and you will have to make your own mind

powerful

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An intense illustration of suffering and loss of innocence. You will feel it and quickly become addicted to the shocking story. I will try to learn more about what I should habe learned from this book. For now I'm just left with a strong sense of aftershock. Great writing, brilliant recording, rattling story.

Overwhelming

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This is not a tale but an adventure—a gruesome adventure of a boy who endured all kinds of life's adversities thrown at him. The performance was epic; I wouldn't stop or pause once I started. I traveled with the boy through villages, breathtaking landscapes, swamps, churches, and back to the city. You will too. Just pick up the book.

Kosinski shows, he doesn't tell

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This was a dark story which was hard to get through at times, but gave a realistic feeling of the horrors that war brings. The weak and vulnerable are the ones who suffer most, and the author doesn't hold back in showing this.

Enthralling and hard hitting tale

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I was hooked on every page.. this book will stay with me forever with its vivid imagery, journey structure and parable feel.

superb.. harrowing and poignant

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hard to believe this story i couldn't believe people could carry any of this out. unfortunately history of the human race says different. genuinely this book scared the shit out of me

the painted bird

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true story is , he was saved by Polish family , ungrateful 😒, shambolic and sad as Western Bank occupation

shocking, what a crap

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