Listen to a sample
The Swimmer of Auschwitz
- Author
- Renaud Leblond
- Narrator
- James Meunier
- Publisher
- Octopus
- Publish Date
- 14 August 2025
- Run Time
- 5 hours 51 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
BASED ON THE EXTRAORDINARY TRUE STORY OF ALFRED NAKACHE, SUBJECT OF THE *OSCAR NOMINATED* SHORT FILM PAPILLON
Alfred Nakache, a Jewish child from Constantine, never imagined that he would one day swim for France at the Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936, nor than he would achieve a world record, as he did in 1941. As a child he was petrified of the water and yet, somehow, through sheer willpower and determination, he rose to become one of the very best swimmers in the world. That was until 1943, when he was banned from the pool - and in the same year, deported and sent to Auschwitz.
Not knowing if he would ever see his wife and daughter again, Alfred battled on, through the humiliation and the pain, even defying the guards by swimming in the water reserves of Auschwitz. Somehow - miraculously - he survived, swimming every day until the end of his life.
The Swimmer of Auschwitz is the unique, true story of a forgotten hero, told with remarkable power and simplicity.
Critics Review
-
An essential book
Michael Drucker, 'Vivement Dimanche'
-
An outstanding novel
Télé 7 Jours
-
A very instructive books that revives the tragic and praiseworthy legacy of this French swimming champion
Le Parisien
-
Sports writer Leblond revisits in his propulsive English-language debut the life of Alfred Nakache, an Olympic athlete who was forced to swim for his guards' entertainment at Auschwitz... Readers will be hooked."
Publishers Weekly
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- Renaud Leblond
- Narrator
- James Meunier
- Duration
- 5 hours 51 minutes
- Release Date
- 14 August 2025
- ISBN
- 9781800962996
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Octopus
- Genre
- The Holocaust, Second World War, Biography: historical, political and military
Synopsis
'Propulsive... Readers will be hooked' -Publishers WeeklyBASED ON THE EXTRAORDINARY TRUE STORY OF ALFRED NAKACHE, SUBJECT OF THE *OSCAR NOMINATED* SHORT FILM PAPILLONAlfred Nakache, a Jewish child from Constantine, never imagined that he would one day swim for France at the Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936, nor than he would achieve a world record, as he did in 1941. As a child he was petrified of the water and yet, somehow, through sheer willpower and determination, he rose to become one of the very best swimmers in the world. That was until 1943, when he was banned from the pool - and in the same year, deported and sent to Auschwitz.Not knowing if he would ever see his wife and daughter again, Alfred battled on, through the humiliation and the pain, even defying the guards by swimming in the water reserves of Auschwitz. Somehow - miraculously - he survived, swimming every day until the end of his life.The Swimmer of Auschwitz is the unique, true story of a forgotten hero, told with remarkable power and simplicity.
About xigxag
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.