The bestselling author of “The Book Thief” is to visit Milwaukee on March 11, part of a tour celebrating the tenth anniversary of the novel set in 1939 Nazi Germany.
Author Markus Zusak is not Jewish but has been enamored since he wrote the book with how “welcoming” the Jewish community has been.
His German and Austrian parents told him stories about the aftermath of World War II, which helped inspire the novel.
“It’s ridiculous to me that I’m sitting here ten years later and I’m talking to you about it,” he said in a phone interview from Australia. “I had no idea that the book would be this successful.”
The award-winning novel has been made into a movie.
The resident of Sydney, Australia said Milwaukee is one of the favorite places he’s gone to while touring previously, noting that he feels at home in smaller American cities. He grew up outside of Sydney, a big city.
Zusak will speak at the Milwaukee Public Library, Centennial Hall, 733 N. Eighth St., Milwaukee, at 6:30 p.m. With the tenth anniversary edition of the book coming out, he will speak to readers of all ages about the book, his writing, what the publication of this book has meant to him, and more.
He may even give advice on writing. Here’s a tidbit of what his message to young writers would be: “You’ve got to be prepared to search for a while and fail.”
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