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A list of all the characters in The Book Thief. The Book Thief characters include: Liesel Meminger, Max Vandenburg, Hans Hubermann, Rosa Hubermann, Rudy Steiner, Death, Ilsa Hermann.
- Death
- Liesel Meminger
- Hans Hubermann
- Rosa Hubermann
- Max Vandenburg
- Alex Steiner
- Rudy Steiner
- Ilsa Hermann
- Frau Holtzapfel
- Frau Diller
The narrator of The Book Thief, Death is at first sarcastic, with a darkly wry sense of humor. Death expresses tiredness and remorse as the novel progresses. This is because he had to collect so many souls as the war increased. Death is the collector of souls, and when it comes it is arrayed in any or all the world’s colors. Death insists that it d...
Liesel is the protagonist of The Book Thief, who changes to a lovely person from the initial angry, distrusting character. With brown eyes and blonde hair, Liesel is an adopted girl on the edge of adolescence who became emboldened by the books she was reading. Much later she has got a strong personal moral code and is not afraid to enforce it even ...
Hans is Liesel’s foster father, papa and husband of Rosa Hubermann. He is gentle and calm with Liesel, and is the first person to win her trust. He is always motivated to help others, always kind and gentle with people. He has good strong moral and ethical principles and he doesn’t like deviating from them. He always put others first sometimes to h...
Rosa is Liesel’s foster mother, mama. Unlike her husband, Rosa’s first appearance is that of a cold, sharp-tongued, and impatient woman. The Book Thief storyreveals her kindness when she took in Max and her treatment of Liesel in spite of her tough exterior.
This is the Hubermann’s secret roommate. When Max comes to hide in the Hubermanns’ house, he is weak, cautious, and withdrawn. As he grows stronger, he reveals his intense hatred towards Hitler, and this became his motivation to stay alive no matter the odds. He understands Liesel and her experiences most of all, and it’s no wonder the two become n...
Alex is Rudy’s father. Alex’s inability to sacrifice his son to the Nazi training camp results in his being drafted into the army. At the end of The Book Thief, he is filled with remorse for having survived the war while his family died.
Rudy is Liesel’s best friend. Rudy is quite the physical embodiment of the perfect Aryan specimen with his blond hair, blue eyes, and athletic and intellectual talents. However, he has surprising sensitivity and compassion as shown by his love for Liesel and being always there for her.
Ilsa is the mayor’s wife. She was so shattered by the Death of her son at the start of the book, that she can barely function as a person. As soon as she begins interacting with Liesel, she opens up and shows sensitivity and concern.
The Hubermanns’ neighbor is Frau. Initially, she was mean and uncharitable, as she had an ongoing feud with Rosa Hubermann. She was also rude to Liesel, but she turns out to be extremely vulnerable after the Death of her son.
The owner of the candy store is Frau Diller. She is one of the most patriotic figures in The Book Thief, follows the rules, and has a mean, ungenerous character. She signifies the Hitler idea of the “good” German who blindly follows orders.
Adolf Hitler. The Führer (leader) of Nazi Germany and antagonist of the novel. Hitler never physically appears in the story, but he stands as a symbol for all the evil caused by the Nazis and the War… read analysis of Adolf Hitler.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak tells the story of a young girl named Liesel Meminger living in Nazi Germany during World War II. The novel touches on themes of love and loss, and is narrated by Death, giving it a unique and haunting perspective.
The Book Thief is a historical fiction novel by the Australian author Markus Zusak, set in Nazi Germany during World War II. Published in 2005, The Book Thief became an international bestseller and was translated into 63 languages and sold 17 million copies.
From a general summary to chapter summaries to explanations of famous quotes, the SparkNotes The Book Thief Study Guide has everything you need to ace quizzes, tests, and essays.
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The Book Thief is set in Germany during World War II and the Holocaust, where six million Jews were killed by the Nazis. Adolf Hitler, the leader of the Nazi party, rose to national power in 1934 and began enforcing his policies of anti-Semitism and German aggression, which led to World War II.
