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.
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I really wanted to like this book even more than I did. Though it is based on an absolutely true story, I found it lagged at some points. This was my choice for our book club and most were a bit disappointed.
Still worth the read
The story was great. I have read several Auschwitz accounts and with each one I am always amazed by the pure evil in the world as well as the pure grit the victims were able to muster in order to survive. It is overwhelming.
The book itself is what I have a problem with. It was written in the third person and sounded devoid of any emotion. I was never really able to get into the love story itself. What happened to these two people and the others with whom they came in contact was tragic, but I never really had a depth of feeling for them as I have with other books. This is her first book so maybe her next ones will get better.
Not your typical concentration camp story. based on true story, made it more interesting, knowing someone lived thru it to tell the story. we read as a book club selection and everyone really enjoyed it.
There was at least one historical inaccuracy regarding how gunpowder was smuggled.
A true account of a horrific experience, with such mesmerizing story-telling, that somehow kept me compelled to read on. This recreation reads like fiction, so what a surprise to learn that the main characters were real – and this is their story of an almost three-year nightmare in Auschwitz. I was drawn to this book by its title, and what a world that title drew me into. So often, a book title has little meaning. Not so here. It’s all about the Tätowierer (tattooist).
easy to read, couldn’t put it down, a must read
What a engaging story, very tragic, very sad to realize what this ugly, ugly period in human history wrought. Yet there is a very special love story here as well, love between too tragic figures, love for life, love for fellow suffers. Don’t miss this one.
This book is a beautiful story of two people who met and fell in love under the worst possible circumstances and how that love brought them through. Lale was one of the kindest souls and would do anything that he could for anyone. Reading the authors notes you can see how even after all these years, Lale still loved Gita. In the epilogue just as much happened to the two of them as did thru the entire book. This is an excellent book!!
Great history lesson in fiction
Certain books like The Tattooist of Auschwitz should be read, especially by the younger generations, to remind us what type of society to never become. The audiobook version has excellent narration.
Not for the faint at heart.
Amazing account of the strength of the human spirit during a tragic time in our worlds history.
a little unrealistic.
Powerful. This book hurt. It was painful and sickening, and it was powerful to glimpse the story of how deeply evil humans can be, and at the same time, how deeply resilient.
I know that some reviews for this book indicate how the story was good but the writing wasn’t great. I have to disagree. I found it to be descriptive, direct, and emotional. This is dark content. Its subject matter was hard to read. It made me angry and sad.
Also, the audiobook narration was beautifully done. Richard Armitage is a uniquely talented individual, and quite frankly, was the reason I even knew this book existed to begin with. I don’t think anyone could have done a better job bringing this story to life so vividly and masterfully.
The story follows Lale, who is sent to a Nazi camp in Auschwitz during WW2. He’s a strong man who does what he has to do to survive and helping others to do the same for three long years. And despite the violence, the murders, the starvation, and the hopelessness of the situation, he managed to find love in Gita, a woman brought to the camp several months after him.
The way the author unraveled the emotions of this story was really well done. How Lale would be made to work sometimes without a day of rest for weeks and how Gita would think he’d died. How she’d been summoned to see Lale by an SS (one of the soldiers) and she was terrified when she arrived to him because people summoned by the soldiers did not come back. How people feared for their lives and how cruel the Nazis were.
Very well done story. Very relevant content. Five stars.
Great book,
Beautifully rendered.
This is a wonderful story but it is told via imaginary dialogue that is so prosaic as to become tedious. The story, while wrenching and haunting is also highly predictable. Enough has been written about the horrors of Auschwitz, and while each story deserves its own salvation, this telling doesn’t recommend it for reading.
This is a beautifully written story. I couldn’t put it down.
What an incredible story! This is a true account of two people who managed to not only survive Auschwitz, but found their forever love while there. The accounts are heart wrenching and so deeply disturbing that you can hardly wrap your mind around it. Sadly, there is still great injustices happening in the world. This should be on the mandatory read list for all high schools. Thank you for sharing this story, it does need to be told and it needs to be remembered. Never to happen again!
A heart-rending, unique and exceptional account of the Holocaust… not the usual.