The Night Trilogy #1-3

Night / Dawn / Day

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NIGHT
Night is a work by Elie Wiesel about his experience with his father in the Nazi German concentration camps at Auschwitz and Buchenwald in 1944–1945, at the height of the Holocaust and toward the end of the Second World War. In just over 100 pages of sparse and fragmented narrative, Wiesel writes about the death of God and his own increasing disgust with humanity, reflected in the inversion of the father–child relationship as his father declines to a helpless state and Wiesel becomes his resentful teenage caregiver.

Penetrating and powerful, as personal as The Diary Of Anne Frank, Night awakens the shocking memory of evil at its absolute and carries with it the unforgettable message that this horror must never be allowed to happen again.

DAWN
Elisha is a young Jewish man, a Holocaust survivor, and an Israeli freedom fighter in British-controlled Palestine; John Dawson is the captured English officer he will murder at dawn in retribution for the British execution of a fellow freedom fighter. The night-long wait for morning and death provides Dawn, Elie Wiesel's ever more timely novel, with its harrowingly taut, hour-by-hour narrative. Caught between the manifold horrors of the past and the troubling dilemmas of the present, Elisha wrestles with guilt, ghosts, and ultimately God as he waits for the appointed hour and his act of assassination. Dawn is an eloquent meditation on the compromises, justifications, and sacrifices that human beings make when they murder other human beings.
DAY
In its opening paragraphs, a successful journalist and Holocaust survivor steps off a New York City curb and into the path of an oncoming taxi. Consequently, most of Wiesel's masterful portrayal of one man's exploration of the historical tragedy that befell him, his family, and his people transpires in the thoughts, daydreams, and memories of the novel's narrator. Torn between choosing life or death, Day again and again returns to the guiding questions that inform Wiesel's trilogy: the meaning and worth of surviving the annihilation of a race, the effects of the Holocaust upon the modern character of the Jewish people, and the loss of one's religious faith in the face of mass murder and human extermination.

318 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1,1961

About the author

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Eliezer "Elie" Wiesel was a Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor. He authored 57 books, written mostly in French and English, including Night, a work based on his experiences as a Jewish prisoner in the Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps.
In his political activities Wiesel became a regular speaker on the subject of the Holocaust and remained a strong defender of human rights during his lifetime. He also advocated for many other causes like the state of Israel and against Hamas and victims of oppression including Soviet and Ethiopian Jews, the apartheid in South Africa, the Bosnian genocide, Sudan, the Kurds and the Armenian genocide, Argentina's Desaparecidos or Nicaragua's Miskito people.
He was a professor of the humanities at Boston University, which created the Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies in his honor. He was involved with Jewish causes and human rights causes and helped establish the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.
Wiesel was awarded various prestigious awards including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986. He was a founding board member of the New York Human Rights Foundation and remained active in it throughout his life.

Community Reviews

Rating(4 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
34(34%)
4 stars
35(35%)
3 stars
31(31%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
0(0%)
100 reviews All reviews
July 15,2025
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I had known of Elie Wiesel before, most likely from interviews on TV networks describing the holocaust and all the horror stories that accompanied it.

I rated "Night" with 5 stars, just as many others have done in their reviews. I lived in West Germany for 4 years from 1973 to 1977 and went on field trips to two concentration camps: Struthof in France and Dachau in Germany. The photos of the prisoners in bunks stacked three or four high, and the items stolen from them, such as clothes, glasses, and suitcases, were extremely shocking. My Grade 10 trip took me through the Battlefield of France (Vimy Ridge, Arromanches, Caen, Compiègne, the beaches of Juno, Gold, etc., and a few cemeteries as well). The countless crosses there showed the human sacrifice of fighting the Nazi regime.

"Dawn" and "Day" are fictional stories based on his life after surviving the various concentration camps Elie was in. To me, they depict how his mind was tormented after the war.
July 15,2025
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At first, I really didn't understand why an autobiographical story would be included along with two fiction stories. It seemed rather strange to me.

However, after reading all three stories, I finally understand the reason. The stories of "Dawn" and "Day" almost seem to be potential lives that could unfold after the events described in "Night".

The writing in all three stories is of a high quality. The author has managed to create vivid characters and engaging plots that draw the reader in and keep them hooked until the very end.

Overall, I am very impressed with this collection of stories and would highly recommend it to others. It is a great example of how different types of stories can be combined to create a unique and powerful reading experience.
July 15,2025
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This was a bit challenging to rate. I truly relished Night. It was an autobiographical literary tale that vividly depicted the experiences of a young Jewish boy and his father in Auschwitz. Their arduous fight for survival and the daily cruelty the boy endured, along with his internal struggle against the thoughts and horrors he witnessed, made it a captivating read.

Dawn, on the other hand, was an interesting and thought-provoking short novel. It centered around a man who survived World War II, joined the Jewish underground, and was given the command to kill a British officer.

However, Day left me with a somewhat lackluster impression. Although the concept and the question it posed - whether a Holocaust survivor could create a new life despite their haunting memories - were intriguing, I felt that the story was more forced. It didn't have the same seamless flow and emotional impact as Night and Dawn.

Overall, while Night and Dawn were both engaging in their own ways, Day failed to fully capture my attention and left me with a sense of dissatisfaction.
July 15,2025
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I first read Elie Wiesel's "Night" during my high school days. After his passing, I decided to give it a reread. To my surprise, I discovered that there was a trilogy. So, I picked up this book which also includes the fictional works "Dawn" and "Day".

While the latter two are indeed沉重 with the absolute turmoil resulting from surviving the Holocaust, I didn't quite like the combination of both fiction and nonfiction in one large work.

"Night", of course, tells the story of some of Wiesel's actual experiences in Auschwitz and Buchenwald. It was likely the first book about the Holocaust that I ever read. And even upon rereading, it is heart-wrenching, painful, and moving to hear about the horrors from those who lived through them.

"Dawn" explores what might have happened if a survivor with Wiesel's Holocaust experiences had moved to Palestine and become involved in the effort to drive Great Britain out of the country. What does it take to turn a victim into a killer himself? What role does God play in the life of someone who witnessed what Wiesel witnessed? It's an interesting meditation, although I felt it wasn't as powerful as the other stories.

"Day" was another fictional piece, (though it had an autobiographical feel to it). In this, a Holocaust survivor struggles with an indifference towards the concept of death and a survivor's tactic of keeping his thoughts and feelings closed off as a form of protection. While this short novel started a bit slowly, it gained momentum as it unfolded, and I found it made me quite thoughtful about its themes.
July 15,2025
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Night: The language employed here is truly haunting and exquisitely beautiful. It has such a profound impact that I frequently found myself on the verge of tears. There is little else one can say except to emphasize how chilling and vitally important EW's memoir is for all generations.

Dawn: I truly discovered this piece to be quite interesting, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It almost gave the impression of an episode from The Twilight Zone, owing to the combination of mystical and spiritual conflicts with real-life actions.

Day (The Accident): I wasn't as enthusiastic about this story. However, perhaps it requires several readings and a more in-depth analysis to fully appreciate some of its layers. I did appreciate the way the story was presented in a non-chronological manner. It truly suits the character and the narrative. The writing itself remained excellent, but I think I had a bit of difficulty engaging with the character. Admittedly, I believe that might be the very point.

Overall, this is an outstanding and significant collection that offers a unique and thought-provoking reading experience.
July 15,2025
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Is Wiesel serious?

To truly understand Wiesel's seriousness, one must delve deeper into his works and the messages he conveys. Reading reviews such as the one found at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... can provide valuable insights.

Wiesel's writing is often a powerful exploration of the human condition, especially in the face of great苦难 and injustice. His works are not just stories but a call to action, urging readers to confront the harsh realities of the world and to take a stand against evil.

By examining his writing and the responses it elicits, we can begin to appreciate the depth of Wiesel's seriousness and the importance of his contributions to literature and society.

Whether or not one agrees with his views, there is no denying the impact that Wiesel has had on the way we think about the past, present, and future.
July 15,2025
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Elie Wiesel's classic Holocaust trilogy focuses on the horrors of Auschwitz. It also delves into a Jewish resistance movement around the time of Israel's establishment and the acquaintances of a New Yorker Jew. There is a great deal of perspective given to Primo Levi and Simon Wiesenthal's Holocaust experiences. Additionally, there are some philosophical considerations from the reflections of a relatively secular Jew on the existence of God.

Wiesel's works offer a profound and multi-faceted exploration of the Holocaust and its aftermath. His vivid descriptions of the atrocities committed at Auschwitz bring to life the unimaginable suffering endured by the prisoners. The inclusion of the Jewish resistance movement provides a glimmer of hope in the midst of darkness, showing that even in the most desperate of circumstances, people can find the strength to fight back.

The references to Primo Levi and Simon Wiesenthal add another layer of depth to the narrative, as their own Holocaust experiences offer different perspectives and insights. Finally, the philosophical musings on the existence of God in the face of such evil raise important questions about faith, morality, and the meaning of life. Overall, Wiesel's trilogy is a powerful and thought-provoking work that continues to resonate with readers today.
July 15,2025
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Classic for a reason.

Many kids have read Night in school, and it's truly a remarkable piece of literature. Somehow, I managed to miss that opportunity during my school days.

Dawn and Day, on the other hand, were even more depressing. The stories they tell are heart-wrenching and difficult to read. However, despite the horror and sadness, they are so important.

These books offer a glimpse into the atrocities of the past, allowing us to understand the consequences of war, hatred, and prejudice. They serve as a reminder of the importance of peace, tolerance, and human kindness.

Although the content may be disturbing, it is essential that we face the truth and learn from history. By reading these classics, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the value of life and the need to protect the rights and dignity of all people.

So, even though they may be hard to read, I encourage everyone to pick up Night, Dawn, and Day and experience the power of these important works of literature.
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