Elie Wiesel is a rare master storyteller with the ability to use storytelling as a form of activism. From his landmark memoir "Night" to his numerous retellings of Hasidic legends, Wiesel's literature emphasizes storytelling, and he frequently referred to himself as storyteller rather than an author or historian. In this work, essays examine Wiesel's roots in Jewish storytelling traditions; influence from religious, folk and secular sources; education; Yiddish background; Holocaust experience; and writing style. Emphasizes throughout is Wiesel's use of multiple sources in an effort to reach diverse audiences.