Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist, risks his life and fortune to protect Jewish workers from the horrors of the Holocaust in Nazi-occupied Poland. Keneally presents a narrative centered on Schindler's transformation from a profit-driven opportunist into a protector of those marked for extermination. The story follows his efforts to navigate the brutal bureaucracy of the Nazi regime while maintaining his enamelware factory as a sanctuary. The narrative framework utilizes a documentary-style approach, blending historical record with novelistic character study to examine the moral evolution of a complex man. Schindler faces constant opposition from SS officers and the systemic machinery of the Final Solution, forcing him to employ bribery, charm, and strategic deception to keep his workers alive.

Readers and critics frequently note the clinical, objective tone Keneally employs to document the harrowing events of the Holocaust. Discussion often centers on the tension between Schindler's initial self-serving motivations and his eventual commitment to saving lives. Many highlight the effectiveness of the author's research, which provides a grounded, realistic atmosphere that avoids excessive sentimentality. The book is often praised for its ability to humanize the immense scale of the tragedy through the lens of a single, morally complex individual. Readers appreciate the balance between the historical gravity of the setting and the character-driven narrative that anchors the story.