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Eddie Jaku Eddie Jaku i(19672381 works by)
Born: Established: 14 Apr 1920 Leipzig,
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Germany,
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Western Europe, Europe,
; Died: Ceased: Oct 2021
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Australia,
c

Gender: Male
Arrived in Australia: 1950
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BiographyHistory

Eddie Jaku was a survivor of the Holocaust. having been held first in Buchanwald and then in Auschwitz. His experience formed the basis for his memoir, published in 2020.

He gave a TedX talk about his life in 2019, and published his memoir in 2020. He died, aged 101, in 2021.

Most Referenced Works

Awards for Works

y separately published work icon The Happiest Boy on Earth Sydney : Macmillan Australia , 2022 25374059 2022 single work picture book children's

'Life can be beautiful if you make it beautiful. It is up to you.

'Eddie lived with his family and adorable dachshund, Lulu, in the beautiful city of Leipzig in Germany. But one day, into the sunshine of his childhood crept a dark, heavy cloud. Not a rain cloud. Much worse than that. Adolf Hitler came to power.

'When Eddie was 18, he was sent to a concentration camp.

'A picture book adaptation for older readers (8+ years) based on the extraordinary, the bestselling adult title THE HAPPIEST MAN ON EARTH.

'The story is framed as a conversation between 101-year-old Eddie and his great grandchildren - who are bursting with questions about the life of their Pépé.

'The story of Eddie's life unfolds beautifully, sensitively, heartbreakingly through his words, and exquisite illustrations by Nathaniel Eckstrom.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

2023 CBCA Book of the Year Awards Notable Book Eve Pownall Award
2022 shortlisted Dymocks Book of the Year Younger Readers
y separately published work icon The Happiest Man on Earth Sydney : Pan Macmillan Australia , 2020 19672420 2020 single work autobiography

'Life can be beautiful if you make it beautiful. It is up to you. Eddie Jaku always considered himself a German first, a Jew second. He was proud of his country. But all of that changed on 9 November 1938, when he was beaten, arrested and taken to a concentration camp. Over the next seven years, Eddie faced unimaginable horrors every day, first in Buchenwald, then in Auschwitz, then on the Nazi death march. He lost family, friends, his country. Because he survived, Eddie made the vow to smile every day. He pays tribute to those who were lost by telling his story, sharing his wisdom and living his best possible life. He now believes he is the 'happiest man on earth'. Published as Eddie turns 100, this is a powerful, heartbreaking and ultimately hopeful memoir of how happiness can be found even in the darkest of times.' (Publication summary)

2021 shortlisted Booksellers Choice Award BookPeople Book of the Year Adult Nonfiction Book of the Year
2021 shortlisted Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA) Audiobook of the Year
2021 longlisted Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA) The Matt Richell Award for New Writer
2021 winner Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA) Australian Biography of the Year
2021 shortlisted Indie Awards Nonfiction
2020 shortlisted Dymocks Book of the Year
Last amended 12 Oct 2021 12:05:22
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