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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
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People File • Name

Elie Wiesel

Elie Wiesel was a Romanian-born Jewish writer, Holocaust survivor, human rights advocate, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Elie Wiesel was a Romanian-born Jewish writer, Holocaust survivor, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. He is best known for his memoir *Night* and his lifelong advocacy for human rights and Holocaust remembrance.

Who he was

Born in 1928 in Sighet, Transylvania (now Romania), Wiesel grew up in an Orthodox Jewish family. As a teenager, he was deported to Auschwitz and later Buchenwald. His survival and the loss of family members shaped his life's work.

What he did

Wiesel wrote more than 50 books, most famously *Night*, a memoir of his Holocaust experiences. He also taught, spoke widely, and became a prominent voice against intolerance and injustice.

Awards and legacy

He received the 1986 Nobel Peace Prize for his human rights work. Wiesel died on 2 July 2016 at age 87, but his testimony continues to shape how the world remembers the Holocaust.

In short

  • Holocaust survivor and author of *Night*
  • Won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986
  • Wrote more than 50 books
  • Died in 2016 at age 87

Quick questions

What is Elie Wiesel famous for?
He is famous for surviving the Holocaust, writing *Night*, and becoming a major advocate for human rights and Holocaust remembrance.
When did Elie Wiesel win the Nobel Peace Prize?
He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986.
Where was Elie Wiesel born?
He was born in Sighet, Transylvania, in present-day Romania.

Sources

  1. NobelPrize.org — https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1986/wiesel/biographical/
    Supports: Biographical details, birth place, death date, and Nobel Prize context.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elie-Wiesel
    Supports: Birth and death dates, nationality, occupation, and Nobel Prize.
  3. PBS — https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/elie-wiesel-biography-and-career-timeline/36968/
    Supports: Biography, writing career, and number of books.
  4. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum — https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/elie-wiesel
    Supports: Holocaust survivor status, *Night*, birth place, and Nobel Prize.
  5. Biography.com — https://www.biography.com/authors-writers/elie-wiesel
    Supports: Age at death, birth details, major works, and public role.
  6. United Nations — https://www.un.org/en/messengers-peace/elie-wiesel
    Supports: Human rights advocacy, Nobel Prize, and death date.