Lovers in Auschwitz

A True Story

By: Keren Blankfeld

Narrated by: Suzanne Toren, Keren Blankfeld

“Mesmerizing and inspirational.”—Judy Batalion, New York Times bestselling author of The Light of Days

The incredible true story of two Holocaust survivors who fell in love in Auschwitz, only to be separated upon liberation and lead remarkable lives apart following the war—and then find each other again more than 70 years later.

Zippi Spitzer and David Wisnia were captivated by each other from the moment they first exchanged glances across the work floor. It was the beginning of a love story that could have happened anywhere. Except for one difference: this romance was unfolding in history’s most notorious death camp, between two young prisoners whose budding intimacy risked dooming them if they were caught.

Incredibly, David and Zippi survived for years beneath the ash-choked skies of Auschwitz. Under the protection of their fellow inmates, their romance grew and deepened, even as their brushes with death mounted and David’s luck in particular seemed close to running out. As the war’s end finally approached and the time came for them to leave the camp, David and Zippi made plans to meet again. But neither of them could imagine how long their reunion would take or how many lives they would live in the interim. They had no inkling, either, of the betrayals that would await them along the way. But David did suspect that Zippi harbored a secret—one that could explain the mystery of his survival all those years ago.

An unbelievable tale of romance, sacrifice, loss, and resilience, Lovers in Auschwitz is a saga of two young people who found themselves trapped inside a waking nightmare of the Nazis’ creation, yet who nevertheless discovered a love that sustained them through history’s darkest hour.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 Keren Blankfeld (P)2024 Little, Brown & Company

Critic reviews

“A page-turning account of [an] unlikely love story… Fast-paced and novelistic, this is a moving demonstration of the ability to find love in the darkest places.”—Publishers Weekly

“A story of hope in one of humanity’s most hopeless places, Lovers in Auschwitz honors those who were lost while producing fresh insights into the nature of survival, the resilience of memory, the unseen debts we all owe one another, and, yes, the transformative power of love.”—Robert Kolker, New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Valley Road and Lost Girls

“Most of what we know about the life of prisoners in Auschwitz comes from testimonies by men. In Lovers in Auschwitz, we see it through the eyes of the indomitable Zippi, who uses her grit and ingenuity to protect herself and others. Demonstrating both copious research and narrative flair, Keren Blankfeld offers an intimate and surprising story of Auschwitz from the inside, remarkable for both its insights into the workings of the camp and its heart.”—Ruth Franklin, National Book Critics Circle Award-winning author of Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life and A Thousand Darknesses: Lies and Truth in Holocaust Fiction

What an amazing book!

This was a fascinating although very brutal story! Exceptionally well done! I highly recommend this book!!

Well Written

I've read alot of holocast memoirs and for me what makes a memoir good is being able go connect with the characters. this book does tht. it goes thro the lives of the 2 main characters b4 they were taking to auschwitz and then weaves an amazing story thro their experiences. this is an amazing book and one of the better ones I've read.

How I was able to walk through the concentration camp, as I was listening, and imagining the words of the author.

I loved hearing about a story that inspires hope in some of the darkest most hellish times of our human history.

Lovers in Auschwitz

Definitely wrong description of the Ueberfall of the Gleiwitz sender. There were no Polish prisoners left there. There was nothing except the transmission over the radio. My father was the commander of the border forces. I am his daughter. Russian lies at Nuernberg started this fable.

Excellent Book

This book is both frightening and hopeful. Its chronicle of how the imprisoned women were able to save so many and alleviate at least some of the suffering of others demonstrates hope and bravery can exist in the darkest place there ever was in this world. It is well written and researched, always compelling and provides a rich portrait of its main characters. The performance is wonderful, never gets in the way of the story but also adds richness in its straightforward presentation. I recommend this book without reservation.

A must read!

This is one of the best books I’ve read. It’s a beautiful story and has a wonderful message.