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The Tattooist of Auschwitz

By: Heather Morris
Narrated by: Richard Armitage
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Publisher's Summary

The Tattooist of Auschwitz is based on the true story of Lale and Gita Sokolov, two Slovakian Jews who survived Auschwitz and eventually made their home in Australia. In that terrible place, Lale was given the job of tattooing the prisoners marked for survival - literally scratching numbers into his fellow victims' arms in indelible ink to create what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust. Lale used the infinitesimal freedom of movement that this position awarded him to exchange jewels and money taken from murdered Jews for food to keep others alive. If he had been caught, he would have been killed; many owed him their survival.

There have been many books about the Holocaust - and there will be many more. What makes this one so memorable is Lale Sokolov's incredible zest for life. He understood exactly what was in store for him and his fellow prisoners, and he was determined to survive - not just to survive but to leave the camp with his dignity and integrity intact, to live his life to the full. Terrible though this story is, it is also a story of hope and of courage. It is also - almost unbelievably - a love story. Waiting in line to be tattooed, terrified and shaking, was a young girl. For Lale - a dandy, a jack-the-lad, a bit of a chancer - it was love at first sight, and he determined not only to survive himself but to ensure that Gita did, too. His story - their story - will make you weep, but you will also find it uplifting. It shows the very best of humanity in the very worst of circumstances.

Like many survivors, Lale and Gita told few people their story after the war. They eventually made their way to Australia, where they raised a son and had a successful life. But when Gita died, Lale felt he could no longer carry the burden of their past alone. He chose to tell his story.

©2018 Heather Morris (P)2018 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

What listeners say about The Tattooist of Auschwitz

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Incredible story

So very well written, kept me enthralled to the end.
Ensure you listen to epilogue, authors note and last word as it wraps the story perfectly.

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6 people found this helpful

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The tattooist

Broke my heart:(((
But you have given me a whole new way of how to be and live my life…
I’m truly saddened to know that a another human being can be so cruel to others… but I promise you, I will and have loved my life being good to all.
I thank you all for my freedom and may god bless all that gave so much..
Stephen.

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Could not put it down

Loved every minute! Could not stop listening, it was so captivating and easy to listen to!

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Good read, worth a listen

I find the events of WWII horrific yet fascinating at the same time. What the people must have gone through is uncomprehending and stories like this need to be told regardless of how much people consider the book to be fictional. Personally I could feel the pain and torment. I’d recommend this to any who loves history

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Loved it

I loved this book, it was amazing how I couldn't stop listening. The voice for the characters helps to create an image of what's happening.

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Incredible

An amazing true story that I could not stop listening to! Horrific and tragic but also strong and beautiful - highly recommended.

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Such a mix of emotions with this life story.

I really enjoyed this from start to finish. I cried, felt so angry, relieved, happy, heart broken, disgusted, horrified. So many emotions in even the first couple chapters.
The couple things that made me emotional and devastated was when he was Tattoing with Leon and the ash started falling on them. It was horrific and heartbreaking. The time he had to go and work out the numbers that had been tattooed the same but they weren't it was that one was faded. The sheer heartless and cruel way humans were treated. To find love and stay alive, the human resilance is astounding. I laughed at how they reunited, just in the middle of the street by sheer luck.

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insightful, educational and entertaining

This incredible story written and read in a way which touches the soul and gives such insight into the horrific experience had by many in the Nazi camps. A must read story!!

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Great story

Easy to listen to. Good pace. A lovely thing to come out of a heartbreaking time. Couldn't help but cry in the end.

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Breathtaking

Stunned by the beauty and rawness of the writing and the story. Couldn’t put it down.

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