Historical
The Tattooist of Auschwitz
A Slovak Jewish man is forced to tattoo numbers onto fellow prisoners at Auschwitz. He falls in love with a young woman he marks and risks his life to help others survive.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 2018
- Pace
- Fast
- Length
- Short
- Pages
- 288
- Format
- Book 1 of 3 in The Tattooist of Auschwitz
Read this if you want a very readable, emotional entry point into Holocaust fiction.
Skip this if you want strict historical accuracy; it is a novel drawn from one man's account, and historians have raised questions about details.
The feel
Content warnings
Quick answers about The Tattooist of Auschwitz
- What is The Tattooist of Auschwitz about?
- A Slovak Jewish man is forced to tattoo numbers onto fellow prisoners at Auschwitz. He falls in love with a young woman he marks and risks his life to help others survive.
- Who should read The Tattooist of Auschwitz?
- Read it if you want a very readable, emotional entry point into Holocaust fiction. Skip it if you want strict historical accuracy; it is a novel drawn from one man's account, and historians have raised questions about details.
- How long and how fast is The Tattooist of Auschwitz?
- It is a fast-paced, short read of about 288 pages, first published in 2018.
- Does The Tattooist of Auschwitz have content warnings?
- Content we flag: War, Genocide, Death, Violence.
- Can I borrow The Tattooist of Auschwitz for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends The Tattooist of Auschwitz; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after The Tattooist of Auschwitz?
- Readers who liked it often move on to The Book Thief, The Nightingale, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
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| Audiobook | ||
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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If you loved The Tattooist of Auschwitz
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The Book Thief
Another accessible war-time story told with great tenderness, focused on small acts of kindness under terror.
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The Nightingale Also centres on the courage of ordinary people in occupied Europe, with a stronger focus on women.
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The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas A shorter, simpler fable about the camps seen through a child's eyes.
Historical
