The #1 International Bestseller & New York Times Bestseller
This beautiful, illuminating tale of hope and courage is based on interviews that were conducted with Holocaust survivor and Auschwitz-Birkenau tattooist Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov—an unforgettable love story in the midst of atrocity.
“The Tattooist of Auschwitz is an extraordinary document, a story about the extremes of human behavior … Auschwitz is an extraordinary document, a story about the extremes of human behavior existing side by side: calculated brutality alongside impulsive and selfless acts of love. I find it hard to imagine anyone who would not be drawn in, confronted and moved. I would recommend it unreservedly to anyone, whether they’d read a hundred Holocaust stories or none.”—Graeme Simsion, internationally-bestselling author of The Rosie Project
In April 1942, Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, is forcibly transported to the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau. When his captors discover that he speaks several languages, he is put to work as a Tätowierer (the German word for tattooist), tasked with permanently marking his fellow prisoners.
Imprisoned for over two and a half years, Lale witnesses horrific atrocities and barbarism—but also incredible acts of bravery and compassion. Risking his own life, he uses his privileged position to exchange jewels and money from murdered Jews for food to keep his fellow prisoners alive.
One day in July 1942, Lale, prisoner 32407, comforts a trembling young woman waiting in line to have the number 34902 tattooed onto her arm. Her name is Gita, and in that first encounter, Lale vows to somehow survive the camp and marry her.
A vivid, harrowing, and ultimately hopeful re-creation of Lale Sokolov’s experiences as the man who tattooed the arms of thousands of prisoners with what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is also a testament to the endurance of love and humanity under the darkest possible conditions.
more
This is an incredible story. I couldn’t stop reading it. It is difficult to imagine the atrocities that many endured during the Holocaust. My parents were young adults in Poland during that time. It blows my mind that they lived through the occupation and war ravaging their country.
This book took an unexpected turn, by using the real life experience of the person who actually was the tattooist. What a wonderful, informatively rich reading book! It met every book readers need in writing!
It always amazes me when I read books about the Holocaust what people can endure. The story of Lale and Gita is heartbreaking and heartwarming. This book is so well written I highly recommend it to everyone. Sometimes humankind is not so human and we must never forget. Thank you for telling Lale and Gitas story.
based on a true story, quite amazing.
I enjoyed this book Started reading and couldn’t put it down. I recommend this book!
4.5 rating. Such a moving story. Couldn’t put it down. Since finishing it, I’ve been watching interviews online to keep the story going and to see the real Lale speak. Books telling these stories are so important. Happy to see it’s getting the attention it deserves.
great read!
Good information.
Wonderful book, excellent
Quick and easy to read but inspirational (fictional, I believe) love story. Does contain the hard parts of Auschwitz too so it’s not all happy and easy going.
I am a complete sucker for historical fiction. This book is based on the true love story of Lale & Gita. Their love story begins in Auschwitz concentration camp. So this is completely an interesting story, especially because it is based on real people. But there was no emotion behind it. It seems to really just plow through the story without any reflection or real understanding of what had happened. I wanted to know their thoughts, feelings-mentally & physically. How did they arrive at the decisions they did? Where any decisions difficult? The ending did save it somewhat for me. I finally had an emotional response, but it was still only 3 stars for me. I understand why people enjoy it, it just wasn’t for me. My recommendation-Read it and decide for yourself.
Such a wonderful book!
True story, easy to read, pulls you in and won’t let go.
I felt this book needed an improvement in the writing. There was so much potential and history here that was barely scratched in the writing. Characters were interesting but many tragic things touched upon too lightly.
I found the perspective of Lale, the prisoner/tattooist, in Auschwitz concentration camp fascinating. The story is believable and thought provoking as you imagine the survival instincts practiced among some of the prisoners as stated in the book. I was fascinated by what people were willing to risk in order to help themselves and others. Historic facts are easily found, but when reading about an individual’s experience – the reality of history comes to life. I totally enjoyed this book; it was a page turner for me.
Should be required reading in High School & again in College!! The majority of young people today are clueless about WWII and what happens when freedoms are lost because of Government corruption.
I won’t go as far as saying that this was amazing, but it was good. Heartbreaking. Depressing. The author does not go into detail, and considering the setting, this is a good thing.
Hands down one of the very best books on Auschwitz I have read and inspirational in showing how team building works even in the darkest settings.
Hard to believe this ever happened.
This book taught me new things I never thought about having to do with the holocost