Markus Zusak

About the Author

Markus Zusak was born in Sydney in 1975 to German and Austrian immigrant parents. He studied English and History at the University of New South Wales and worked as a high school teacher before gaining international success for his novels. He began writing as a teenager, and his first novel, The Underdog, was published in 1999. He wrote two sequels to his first novel before garnering greater mainstream success for his Young Adult novel I Am the Messenger in 2002. In 2006, he published his most successful book, The Book Thief, which received international acclaim and was later adapted into the film by the same name. Zusak currently lives and writes in Sydney, Australia.

LitCharts guides for works by Markus Zusak

Explore LitCharts literature guides for works by Markus Zusak. Each guide includes a full summary, detailed analysis, and helpful resources for studying Markus Zusak's writing.

I Am the Messenger

Ed Kennedy, a 19-year-old cab driver convinced of his own mediocrity, is caught in a bank robbery. For reasons he does not understand, he grabs the bank robber’s gun and prevents the robber’s esca... view guide

The Book Thief

Death introduces himself as the narrator and describes the three times he saw "the book thief." The story begins with Liesel, her mother, and her brother Werner riding on a train. Werner dies and ... view guide