Antonina, the Zookeeper’s wife, is the central figure of the narrative. At great personal risk to herself and her family, she received more than 300 Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazi occupation of Warsaw from 1939 through 1944. Wrestling with depression, despair, phlebitis, and pregnancy, Antonina provided shelter, food, and care for these Guests without question and with no expectation of reward. While she maintained the outward appearance of serenity throughout the Nazi invasion and occupation and the reoccupation by the Russians, Antonina’s diaries and letters reveal her inner emotional struggles. Despite the atrocities she witnessed and the persecution and degradation she experienced, Antonina found redeeming qualities even in the enemy soldiers who afflicted her.

As described by her husband, Antonina possessed an uncanny ability to connect with both animals and humans. She radiated peace and trust and brought calm to the most tense circumstances. Within the animal kingdom, she served as a trusted midwife, overseeing the delivery of many newborn creatures, including a 245-pound elephant. Her air of tranquility defused potentially deadly confrontations with Nazi soldiers on several occasions. Animals, friends, and Guests bonded with her. Jan’s pet name for Antonina was Punia, which translates as “little wildcat.