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The Tattooist of Auschwitz
- Narrated by: Richard Armitage
- Length: 7 hrs and 26 mins
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The Tattooist of Auschwitz
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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.
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What listeners say about The Tattooist of Auschwitz
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- RICHARD JOHNSON
- 14-07-18
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.
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17 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- None
- 20-10-19
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.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dan Tooke
- 29-01-21
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.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ms Charlie Holt
- 12-01-21
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.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Gerard O'Brien
- 18-02-20
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.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 04-06-21
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!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Emilia
- 11-10-19
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.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- marie utting-brown
- 22-06-21
moving,powerful, not too painful to listen to
very well read and interesting to hear the sons account of his parents at the end.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 27-01-21
excellent book
kept me captivated throughout and helped me to understand the historical importance of those that could tell their story from such trauma.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- KM
- 08-12-21
brilliant
such a sad but lovely moving story can't wait to start the next book
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