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 read this book because my uncle fought in Germany during WWII. T
his book details some of the unimaginable things that happened during the holocaust..
A well written book about a horrible time in our history and the goodness of people in spite of their circumstances.
A book you will never forget
Fascinating, I really enjoyed it!
This book hit all the right buttons. It is in a tragic concentration camp setting but mostly it is a love story. Enjoy the read…..
Interesting read. Vivid in description of the characters and what was happening. Enjoyed the book.
Not like any “surviving Auschwitz ” story I have ever read. These real life people managed to create advantages to survive the worst imaginable deprivation and find lasting love as well. Amazing story!
Could not get into this book. Made the whole idea of the Holocaust simplistic instead of the horror that it was
Seems to lack some historic accuracy
This book was a true story of a young man who was assigned the job of tattooing the numbers of incoming prisoners during WW II. He especially loathed having to tattoo the numbers on young, innocent girls. He falls in love with with one particular young girl and the subsequent love story is amazing. I don’t want to give too much away but this is definitely a worthy read.
Liked it. It held my interest and I enjoyed the characters and the story
Great insights into WWII and concentrations camps.
I read this book quite a while back and it still comes to mind, it was that good.
A different take on the familiar concentration camp theme. A jewish prisoner gets extra privileges because he does a great job tattooing the prisoners, He uses the extra rations to help others.
It was so sad but part of history
Wonderful characters, just enough suspense and tragic but beautiful weaving of story lines. Highly recommend!
I’ve read my fair share of memoirs written by people who suffered the atrocities of the Nazi concentration camps during WWII – specifically that of Auschwitz-Birkenau. To find a bio-fic about that terrible place was something I couldn’t even begin to imagine. I had to read it. I’m so glad I did.
The story of Lale and Gita is one for the ages. A true testament of human perseverance and the power of love. No matter how dire things got for them, survival and love carried them through until the very end.
My one and only issue with the book, and the reason I rated it 3.5 stars, is that the book is very much told rather than showing us what happened. I realize it’s part biography, but by establishing it a historical fiction, there should be more character development and action. After I read it, I came to realize that the author originally wrote it as a screenplay. That explains why I felt personality and action were lacking. I still finished it. Loved it. And fully intend to read Cilka’s Journey.
Wonderful way to get a history lesson
One of the reasons I read WWII historical fiction is because there are so many amazing stories of survival, resilience, and determination amidst a backdrop of evil. These are stories not taught in school – perhaps they should be. So much can be learned from the survivors willing to share their experiences.
This book is based on the true events as told by the main character, Lale. He volunteered to go to a “work camp” with the understanding it would save the rest of his family. Little did he know he was heading towards a death sentence. Fortunately for him, he was able to find a way to survive – he became the tattooist. His job was to tattoo numbers on the arms of those brought into his camp and Auschwitz. He used his position to help others and even fell in love – things that gave him reason to survive.
This story follows Lale for several years until he is liberated. Then the reader learns what happens to him after the war. This story is beautifully written and filled with important life lessons. A must read!
Moving story of love and perseverance in unspeakable times.