Downton director taken by Thief's tale BRIAN Percival knew he had to take people's breaths away with his adaptation of The Book Thief. After all, the novel by Sydney writer Markus Zusak has remained on bestseller lists since its release in 2006 and continues to enthral readers. The tale of a young orphan living with a foster family in World War II Germany, as narrated by Death (voiced by British actor Roger Allam), is a modern classic of broad appeal despite being set within a period that has spawned many classics.