In this masterful novel, Tisma tells the story of a Hungarian Jewish man who becomes a concentration camp kapo, or prisoner overseer, during the Holocaust. The novel is a searing exploration of the moral complexities of survival in a world marked by violence and oppression.

The story follows the character of Kovály who becomes a kapo in a Nazi concentration camp. As a kapo, Kovály is given certain privileges and a modicum of power over other prisoners, but he must also navigate the moral and ethical challenges of being complicit in the oppression and murder of his fellow prisoners.

Through Kovály’s story, Tisma explores the themes of survival, complicity, and moral ambiguity. The novel raises important questions about the nature of power, responsibility, and complicity in the face of unspeakable evil.

Overall, “Kapo” is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that offers a poignant and haunting portrait of life in a Nazi concentration camp. Through its exploration of the complexities of survival in a world marked by violence and oppression, the novel offers a profound meditation on the human experience in the face of unimaginable horror and tragedy.