Spark of Life

Spark of Life by Erich Maria Remarque is a very powerful novel about survival, human dignity and suffering in the Nazi concentration camps.

About the book:

The story takes place in a concentration camp during the Second World War and focuses on prisoners almost forgotten by the world. At its centre is a nameless prisoner (often called "No. 509"), who represents the person who still keeps a "spark of life" alive even in inhuman conditions.

He and the others try to preserve:

• a minimal hope of survival
• human dignity
• memories and identity
• psychological resistance to terror