Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Preview

£0.00 for first 30 days

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz

By: Heather Morris
Narrated by: Richard Armitage
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £27.99

Buy Now for £27.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

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
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2
activate_samplebutton_t1

Listeners also enjoyed...

The Midwife of Auschwitz cover art
The Palest Ink cover art
The Secret Letter cover art
Nocturne cover art
The Picture of Dorian Gray cover art
The Silmarillion cover art
The Diplomat's Daughter cover art
Survivors Club cover art
Pastel Orphans cover art
The Storyteller cover art
Broken Angels cover art
From Sand and Ash cover art
Night cover art
A Thousand Splendid Suns cover art
Beneath a Scarlet Sky cover art
Once We Were Brothers cover art

What listeners say about The Tattooist of Auschwitz

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    15,490
  • 4 Stars
    2,218
  • 3 Stars
    517
  • 2 Stars
    125
  • 1 Stars
    85
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    13,101
  • 4 Stars
    2,410
  • 3 Stars
    736
  • 2 Stars
    200
  • 1 Stars
    138
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    14,353
  • 4 Stars
    1,621
  • 3 Stars
    415
  • 2 Stars
    91
  • 1 Stars
    69

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent story, very poorly edited narration

It’s a wonderful story, but unfortunately the audio seems to have been cobbled together from several takes, often substituting single, obvious words, and really doesn’t flatter Richard Armitage’s excellent characterisations.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Moving true story of the power of love

This is a great book based movingly on a true story of resilience during the darkest hours of world history. This is the story of how love can grow in the darkest of places how two people can find something meaningful in a place where there is no hope. Lale and Gita meet in Auschwitz and against the odds keep their love alive whilst death prevails around them meeting again once the camp is liberated back in their homeland. I went onto read more about them on the internet and found how they eventually married had a family and moved to Australia. I also read how Lale did not want to talk about his role as Tattooist as he did not want to be seen as a collaborator. It is clear the way the author has carefully researched this book and got to know him in later life he was a deeply caring human being who helped countless others to survive a terrible place. This book is beautifully written and in some ways I wish I had read rather than listened to it. My only criticism was some of the narration which was a little out of place particularly some of the accents given to the german camp workers which bordered on northern British rather than German this was a little off putting. But this should not take away from a moving thought provoking book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good story very powerful

Shame with the Shap editing that cuts the end of some words. It detected from the enjoyment a little. But would recommend.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A must read

I understand that this book isn't the most sophisticately written, and it may not be everyone's cup of tea, however, nothing can distract from this incredible story of the determinations to live.
This is an insightful, sad, and humbling story of Lale's fight to survive one of the worst genocides in the history of humanity.
An absolute reality check, when you think you're blessed, first world problems are hard.
I came away not only feeling incredibly lucky for where I was born and at what point in history, but with a further education about the Second World War.
I commend the author for telling Lala's story. Everyone needs to hear it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Heart wrenching but intensely uplifting

An absorbing story peppered with superb characterisation. Given the historical backdrop it cannot have been easy to avoid sermonising. An excellent read. A real page turner.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A beautiful story of love and perseverance

I absolutely loved this book!!! A very important story of a time that should never happen again. A true story of love and survival!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Lovely story

I still can't tell if there was 1 or 2 narrators, as the voice was a bit choppy. But the story itself is really captivating and heart wrenching.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

excellent book

kept me captivated throughout and helped me to understand the historical importance of those that could tell their story from such trauma.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

moving,powerful, not too painful to listen to

very well read and interesting to hear the sons account of his parents at the end.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

brilliant

such a sad but lovely moving story can't wait to start the next book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!