105 pages • 3 hours read
The Tattooist of Auschwitz
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Summary and Study Guide
Overview
The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a historical novel by New Zealand author Heather Morris. Published in 2018, the narrative retells the true story of Lale Sokolov (born Ludwig Eisenberg), a Slovakian Jew and Holocaust survivor. The novel centers on the love between Lale and Gita, a young woman he meets while tattooing prisoners. Lale is the titular tattooist, forever marking his fellow Jews and other prisoners with the numbers that replace their identities in the genocide known as the Holocaust. The Tattooist of Auschwitz recounts many episodes from Lale and Gita’s time in the concentration camp, depicting moments of tenderness and humanity as well as cruelty and evil. It is the first book in Morris’s Tattooist of Auschwitz trilogy, which also includes Cilka’s Journey (2019) and Three Sisters (2021).
Content Warning: This source text and study guide depict genocide, torture, and rape.
Plot Summary
The novel opens as Lale and other Jewish prisoners are being transported in a converted livestock train to an unknown destination. The prisoners are tired, thirsty, and hungry; as the journey progresses, this only gets worse. The other prisoners turn to Lale for advice and guidance, and a young Jewish man named Unlock all 105 pages of this Study Guide Plus, gain access to 8,900+ more expert-written Study Guides. Including features:
