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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Well written , butHard to read the terrible things that happened on the concentration camps
Now many reviews I have read about this book hated it because they were appalled by the fact that the author wrote a love story in the time of the Holocaust. However this is based on a true story of a couple that developed a relationship in the most horrid of conditions. And I enjoyed it and would recommend anyone who reads it to read with the mindset that even in the darkest of time there can be light found, even love. It is easy to read and can be finished in one to two days.
I put off reading this book because I didn’t want another book about Nazi Germeny.
When I finally picked it up I was pleasantly surprised how readable it was. I really
enjoyed it.
Historical novel based on real people.
Nice story, but doesn’t really depict the horrors of the concentration camps.
It was written with an actual recounting of events in the lives of the characters. It was amazing to see how resourceful these people were in the face of horror and death everyday for years. I recommend this book.
I found this simple and wonderful love story to be a light amongst the ash. Strong historical detail and not for the delicate.
This should be added to every list of WWII books to be read. It will leave readers begging to know more about what happens to the characters.
This incredibly written book will remain with you long after you read The End. I put off reading this one because of the emotions I expected it to evoke. I was correct about the emotional tug but should have read it sooner. Wonderful read.
An inside view of the horrors of the concentration camps during WWII, sad but true. Easy and interesting read.
A heart wrenching tale from WWII that reminds me of that things I have to be thankful for.
This was a gripping and difficult time of history told in a compelling, frank and true story that is worthy of your read.
Fascinating based on true story
I loved this book. It is a true story of two Holocaust survivors and how they survived for 3 years in unimaginable circumstances. The horrors of the camps are not delineated, but enough is reported to thoroughly understand what happened behind the gates of the camps. The love story of Lale and Gita is remarkable. A young man and woman finding out how to make the best of the horrible situation they have found themselves.
Everyone should read this book so we don’t forget history and let it be repeated.
The fact that it is a true story makes the book gripping, but I found it very poorly written. I struggled with the poor sentence structure and wording and found it took away from how good the story was.
It read somewhat like a documentary, but it was informative without being gory. It gave real insight into what people had to do while incarcerated in a concentration camp to survive and how they had to take their happiness where they found it in the moment. It was an excellent real-life book with a different slant than other books about the war.
I loved this book. It is graphic and has some language that some may find offensive, but a beautiful love story.
All I can say is this was one book I couldn’t put down!
WW 2 book with a happy ending!