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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A very sad true story. Hard to believe there are such horrors in the world.
Scary because it’s real – could easily happen again if the holocaust is buried, hidden, the causes for the rise of Hitler and those like him are not discussed. Not a FUN book to read, but definitely worth reading!
The Tattooist of Auschwitz is an engaging, heart-breaking historical fiction novel based on a true story. If you’re a fan of WWII fiction, I highly recommend this book.
This is fiction but based on actual people who met in a concentration camp. An excellent read.
I am always shocked yet inspired by the stories from the holocaust. This book was a richly told, true story that I couldn’t put down.
Who knew that a love story could evolve from the horrors at Aushwitz. The love and unbelievable endurance of the many different people held captive shows us how love and the will to survive can keep one surviving beyond the atrocities that occurred on a daily basis. Well written and memorable.
I admit I was nervous to start it. That saying, it glossed over the reality of Auschwitz to show a different side of survival and love. Showed how normal lives were overturned. Easier intro into the horrors of the concentration camps.
Felt it could have been fleshed out more.
Every so often a love story comes along to remind us that in our darkest hour, hope shines a candle to light our way . Heather Morris does a wonderful job telling the true story of Lale Sokolov. Be prepared when you read this book (and you should read this book!) to have a box of tissue at hand.
** Some mild spoilers ** This is a hard book to describe — partly Holocaust fiction — and mostly a love story. As expected, it was difficult to read at times and the author definitely brought the subject matter to light in a way that was subtle but very affecting. The protagonist, Lale, a resourceful young man who speaks many languages, is given the job of tattooist at Auschwitz, a notorious concentration camp. He tries to harden himself by seeing only the numbers tattooed on peoples’ arms, but soon meets a young woman (and others) that break through his reserves. He falls in love with Gita, and the love between them sustains them through all that they witness and experience. In one particularly poignant scene, Lale befriends a group of Gypsies, who along with their children are housed in the camp. They become a second family. He witnesses them loaded back onto transport, and later in the day notices the ash from the chimneys landing on his arms. He breaks down as he says goodbye to family again. The book is hard to put down, and also hard to read, but if you like this kind of story, well worth spending time with.
Cannot say enough good things about this book. I felt that I was actually living this heartbreaking story. DidnIt realize it was a true story (with liberties, I’m sure) but still gripping. My G-son when very young called me Geta, no one knew where he got it from, when I read her name it made me misty eyed. Please, please read this most wonderful book and Never Forget!
One of a kind. What a beautiful love story in the middle of so much horror. Truly hard to put down.
I love historical fiction, this was a book that once you start reading you can’t put it down. The holocaust in itself was a horrible thing, this book made things very realistic and what the power of love can do even in those times!
Wow this book was just so good. I know the contents about WW2 and they are prisoners. I can’t get over what all he did to survive this man was a fighter and his story was just incredible. In scary situations you have to make a choice eat or be eaten and Lale chose to live and make the best of the worst. The fact that he had to mark his people daily to have a better chance of surviving was such a heart breaking decision to make.
Lale is an inspirational person and yes it’s a fictional story but it’s based on his life and his tale of survival in such a devastating situation. I know there was a lot that was missing and didn’t feel like he was really in a death camp but his life was very different from most of the prisoners.
I really loved this story and that even in a time of death and sorrow he found hope and love. The day will still go on and people will still dye but you have to choose to love and live and not let the Natzis take it away and that’s what he did.
He said something in the book that just stayed with me he said that his normal life in the death camps wasn’t so bad because he go the job at the tattooer and made a decent life for himself even in a place of death. He also chose to ignore most of his surroundings until he was faced with them.
This book was just so powerful I think that in a time where there are fewer and fewer holocaust survivors and WW2 veterans these books need to be more available.
The fact based novel was special that it was WW2 from a different perspective. How to survive when the enemy and your fellow prisoners could care less if you lived or died.
I liked it so much I bought a copy for a family member.
This was an awesome book filled with many emotions and tragic story of the Holocaust.
Recommend this book for sure.
This is a first hand account of the horrors of Auschwitz told through the man who was enlisted to tattoo the prisoner numbers. It does not focus exclusively on the camp but on this man’s humanity and his will to survive his captivity.
I have read many Holocaust stories and this one is one of the best. I highly recommend it. The characters are very well described and the story was not always easy to read but extremely important.
Heather Morris has taken a horrific experience and turned it into a beautifully written love story about love conquering all. When she meets with Lale Sokolov and hears his story he gives her permission to capture a love story in the middle of horror. This fictionized story of Lale and Gita occurring in one of the deadliest concentration camps will make your heart beat with fear and tears fall from your eyes. Lale has the job of tattooing those new to the camp and this is where he meets Gila whose arm he has to tattoo a number. Through the years each must go through much yet Lale always seem to find a way to watch over Gila. Lale promises Gila they will survive the camp because he has plans to marry her. Though this is a fictionized version of their story it captures some of the horrific things which occurred in Auschwitz and also shows that sometimes love wins.
This was based on a true story and a glimpse into an unusual look at life in a concentration camp. Fascinating.