Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

    • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    From $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    The Tattooist of Auschwitz: A Novel
    The Tattooist of Auschwitz: A Novel
    The Tattooist of Auschwitz: A Novel
    Audiobook7 hours

    The Tattooist of Auschwitz: A Novel

    Written by Heather Morris

    Narrated by Richard Armitage

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    #1 New York Times Bestseller and #1 International Bestseller • Now a Peacock Original Series starring Harvey Keitel and Melanie Lynskey

    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 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.

    Editor's Note

    Audie Award winner…

    This moving story of love and hope amid atrocities (based on the real-life experiences of a Holocaust survivor forced to tattoo fellow prisoners at Auschwitz) won the 2019 Audie Award for fiction. AudioFile praises the “superb narrator” for capturing “every emotion from fear to trepidation to hope and even to love with understated warmth.”

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateSep 4, 2018
    ISBN9780062866998
    The Tattooist of Auschwitz: A Novel
    Author

    Heather Morris

    Heather Morris is a native of New Zealand, now resident in Australia. For several years, while working in a large public hospital in Melbourne, she studied and wrote screenplays, one of which was optioned by an Academy Award-winning screenwriter in the US. In 2003, Heather was introduced to an elderly gentleman who “might just have a story worth telling.” The day she met Lale Sokolov changed both their lives. Their friendship grew and Lale embarked on a journey of self-scrutiny, entrusting the innermost details of his life during the Holocaust to her. Heather originally wrote Lale’s story as a screenplay—which ranked high in international competitions—before reshaping it into her debut novel, The Tattooist of Auschwitz.

    More audiobooks from Heather Morris

    Related to The Tattooist of Auschwitz

    Related audiobooks

    Historical Fiction For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • UNLIMITED

      Those that Remain

      Mar 2, 2023

      Those that Remain
      6 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Table Talk

      Dec 1, 2024

      Table Talk
      11 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Decisions, Decisions

      Jan 11, 2022

      Decisions, Decisions
      6 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      The Eulogy

      Jul 13, 2022

      The Eulogy
      7 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Helen

      Jun 5, 2023

      She was a friend of my family—the Carlins, as I have chosen to call them. She and my father met in the fifties through the editor of the architecture magazine where she began her career. My father had taken her out a few times. They were never lovers

      30 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Begin Again

      Jun 14, 2022

      My grandfather came to live with me. There was nowhere else for him to go. What had happened to all his children? Death, decay, exile—I hardly know. My own parents died of pain. But I must not be too gloomy, at the beginning, or you will leave me, an

      6 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Something About Her

      Feb 2, 2019

      Something About Her
      5 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Nights When Nothing Happened

      Nov 6, 2020

      Nights When Nothing Happened
      9 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Blue ICE

      Dec 12, 2023

      Blue ICE
      6 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      O Fortuna, Velut Luna

      Sep 15, 2018

      What is Miss Treece’s trouble, according to a popular notion? The man A has failed to show up. Arousing herself at the restaurant, she fixes her lipstick when her solo supper concludes and takes herself down the stairs situated behind the bar. There,

      3 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Blue ICE

      Dec 8, 2021

      Blue ICE
      6 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Freedom

      Aug 6, 2020

      Freedom
      7 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Lost Children

      Aug 4, 2022

      Lost Children
      5 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Scapegoat Child

      Mar 15, 2018

      In the crucible of our family my sister burned like molten steel. Once I saw her arms outspread her legs hanging limp and useless wet saliva dripping from her tongue. I screamed they surrounded her lifted her onto the sheets where she convulsed for h

      7 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      The Library

      Nov 4, 2021

      The Library
      2 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Summer Beach Reads

      Jan 10, 2021

      Summer Beach Reads
      7 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      The White Fox

      Oct 13, 2017

      The White Fox
      10 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Karen’s CHOICE

      Jul 7, 2021

      Karen’s CHOICE
      6 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Avuncular Irregularities

      Sep 1, 2019

      Avuncular Irregularities
      10 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      The Man In The Photograph

      Aug 24, 2021

      The Man In The Photograph
      6 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Summer Must-Reads!

      Dec 30, 2024

      Summer Must-Reads!
      8 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Best FRIEND

      Feb 10, 2021

      Best FRIEND
      6 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Somehow

      Mar 15, 2018

      Somehow
      4 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Pigs might FLY

      May 12, 2021

      Pigs might FLY
      6 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Stranger Danger

      May 18, 2022

      Stranger Danger
      10 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      BEST Friend

      Jul 2, 2024

      BEST Friend
      6 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      THE SECRET Keepers

      Aug 26, 2020

      THE SECRET Keepers
      9 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Recapturing THE PAST

      Aug 25, 2021

      Recapturing THE PAST
      6 min read

    • UNLIMITED

      Four Poems

      Jan 1, 2024

      I’ve always been an easy crier (let it come, not ashamed, never held it back in joy or grief, and wherever … subway, teaching, grocery store, (oh the desolate grocery store during the height of Covid) but now, the welling up: that’s daily now. —Lia P

      5 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for The Tattooist of Auschwitz

    4.5/5

    4,980 ratings375 reviews

    What our readers think

    Readers find this title to be a beautiful and heartbreaking story of love and survival during the Holocaust. The book is praised for its beautiful writing, well-drawn characters, and the way it honors the brave men and women who endured the horrors of war. Some reviewers mention issues with the chronology of events, but overall, the book is highly recommended for its powerful storytelling and emotional impact. The audio version is also praised for its excellent narration. This is a must-read for anyone interested in historical fiction and stories of resilience.

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      This was a novelized form of the true tale of Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew who is transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. While there it is discovered that he speaks 5 languages so he is made to the be the camp's tattooist. While there is meets a trembling young woman waiting to be tattooed, Gita, prisoner 34902. Using his "privileged" position Lale steals jewels and trades them for food morsels which he doles out to others. This is a story of hope and humanity even in the darkest hour. One of the best Holocaust books I have read. 288 pages

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      It's long time since I read a book cover to cover in one day, but I just couldn't put this down.

      However, given this was based on a true story, I have to ask; where was the depth, where was the horror of the situation portrayed, where were the characteristics of the characters that are so crucial to a story of this nature.

      The reason my rating is only 3 stars, is that I not only felt the last few chapters were rushed, as if the Author really wasn't sure where to go with this, but the whole book was a missed opportunity to keep the memories of those involved alive. I'm hoping the nest in the trilogy will be more developed.
    • 5/5
      this made me sob uncontrollably one of the best books about forgotten history
    • 5/5
      perfect in every sense, amazing writing, chiling,exciting,all the emotions in one book, one of the best ones I´ve read this year.
    • 5/5
      Amazing book and now I use words to fill up a review
    • 4/5
      Interesting book and a quick read. I had a hard time figuring out if this story was true or fiction. I was hoping it was a true story because that would make it more powerful but then I saw it was listed as fiction.
    • 4/5
      Heart rendering, tear jerking brilliant read.
      Made all the more hard hitting knowing it is a true story, and amongst all the hell these poor people endured love still shown through.
      Even if war books are not your normal reading material I do honestly think you should give this book a read and you will not be disappointed that you took a chance on it.
      Just have some tissues to hand as you will undoubtedly need them!
    • 5/5
      Great Historical Fiction based on accounts of a survivor of the Auschwitz Death Camp. A beautiful story, well written of the life of Lale Eisenberg (Sokolov) and his eventual wife, Gita. I read it with my 13 year old daughter and we both loved the book which was hard to put down.
    • 5/5
      Very well written. Even though the truth is extremely sad and painfull, the human spirit prevailed.
    • 5/5
      Difficult at times, as one would imagine, but it was extremely moving and inspiring. A triumph over evil and hopelessness.
    • 5/5
      This book was absolutely amazing. When I would try to tell myself this is NOT fiction, this is TRUTH, I could hardly wrap my mind around the the terribleness. That being said, the book was not depressing. It was fascinating. Well done!!! I wish she had more books in this genre and era.
    • 5/5
      I’ve learned so much from reading her books. Excellent story retelling from historical events
    • 4/5
      Good book, difficult topic!! But so important to remember these event - well written.
    • 5/5
      Lovely story. Great narration & a tought provoking story involving all the many ways we humans help or hurt love or disregard each other.
    • 5/5
      Just an incredible sad sweet true story. I would read again
    • 5/5
      Honesty of a horrible time on our history. The honor, and strength of two people it took to survive is amazing. The way it is written is beautiful and captivating. May their story live on forever.
    • 5/5
      Incredible story. Incredible narrator. I will definitely listen again in the future.
    • 5/5
      Not only was it well written, but the reader was amazing!
      I was able to
      Distinguish each character and invision what each character is going through. I didn't want to stop listening.
    • 5/5
      Such a deeply moving story of this time in our history. The characters are relatable and the horrors they endured are heart wrenching.
    • 5/5
      Truly heart wrenching. The writing and the The chosen narrator were Perfect.
    • 4/5
      Books on the holocaust tend to get a free pass and any criticism is met with shock and outrage so I will begin by saying that this was an engrossing and well written account of one couple’s experience. If I were a holocaust survivor or had immediate family members who were affected by these atrocities, I might be offended or upset by the tone of the story or how relatively normal Lale’s day to day life seems to be. To be specific, he seems to come and go as he pleases and appears to be relatively unfazed by the disappearance of his friend Leon. I don’t want to spoil the story since it is interesting and a good read.
    • 5/5
      This book rocked me to my core. I finished it yesterday and am still tearing up when I think about it. UGH! how do I pick up the second book in this series now????
    • 4/5
      The heart-breaking and unforgettable international bestseller
    • 5/5
      This was a heart wrenching, fantastically written book. Highly recommend, especially with the world the way it's going today!
    • 4/5
      love historical fiction and this story filled my heart. love that it is based on a real life… and most importantly a happy ending
    • 5/5
      Beautifully written novel honoring the brave men and women who endured the holocaust.
    • 5/5
      Well written and read, heartbreaking and beautiful story of love and overcoming.
    • 5/5
      Absolutely soulwrenching! Perfect Narration! A MUST READ!!!! I was blown away
    • 5/5
      An amazing story. I listened to this as an Audiobook and the narrator was fabulous. Some difficult content as it is a true account of the horrors of WWII but done in a respectful way and important that these stories are told.
    • 5/5
      A beautifully written book with a wonderful story that’s true!