A selection of books to mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2024
To mark Holocaust Memorial Day on the 27th January, the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust has curated two memoirs for followers of The Queen’s Reading Room.
Chicken Soup Under the Tree
by Ivor Perl BEM
Ivor was just 12 years old when he was taken to Auschwitz. He survived with the help of his older brother, but the rest of his family – his mother, father and five siblings – were murdered in the Holocaust.
For more information about Ivor:
Holocaust Memorial Day Trust | Ivor Perl BEM
Night
by Elie Wiesel
As a boy, Elie Wiesel survived Auschwitz and Buchenwald camps. As an adult, he dedicated himself to commemorating the Holocaust and to ensuring its lessons were learnt. He was an acclaimed author and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He died on 2 July 2016, aged 87. Night is the account of Elie Wiesel and his father’s experiences in Auschwitz and Buchenwald concentration camps.
For more information about Elie Wiesel: Holocaust Memorial Day Trust | Elie Wiesel
Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) takes place each year on 27 January, marking the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp.
Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT) encourages remembrance in a world scarred by genocide. They promote remembrance of the 6 million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of people murdered under Nazi persecution of other groups and during more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.
‘The Holocaust threatened the fabric of civilisation, and genocide must still be resisted every day. Our world often feels fragile and vulnerable and we cannot be complacent. Even in the UK, prejudice and the language of hatred must be challenged by us all.
Each year across the UK, thousands of people come together to learn more about the past and take action to create a safer future. Together they bear witness for those who endured genocide, and honour the survivors and all those whose lives were changed beyond recognition.
To mark Holocaust Memorial Day 2024, the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust has chosen two Holocaust memoirs so followers of The Queen’s Reading Room can learn more about the Holocaust through literature.’
The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust
The 2015 Memory Makers project paired Holocaust and genocide survivors with nine British artists, who responded to their stories with works of art. Filmmaker and animator Gemma Green-Hope met Holocaust survivor Ivor Perl at his family home. Gemma and Ivor discussed family, memory and hope – and how the lessons of the past can shape our future.
HMDT has produced a resource specifically for book clubs who would like to mark HMD. This activity provides a list of suggested books for activity organisers to choose from, guidelines on how to run your book club meeting and questions for discussion. It can be used by any HMD activity organiser including schools, colleges, universities, youth groups and workplaces.