Ester and Ana, one Jewish and one Catholic, become friends and ultimately end up in the concentration camp. Ana is there because she has become part of the resistance and is captured as she tries to help others. We follow the journey of the two women and those they care for as World War II continues and they await liberation.
I’m finding it difficult to express how I feel about The Midwife of Auschwitz. I just love, love, love reading about events during both World War I and II and in particular, books that are inspired by true events. Yes, this was hard-going in parts, but a real page-turner too. All the time, I was completely appalled by the actions of the Nazis, but also astounded by how the women reacted to them and continued to fight for their lives. After all, what had they got to live for if not hope?
Anna Stuart is an incredible author and The Midwife of Auschwitz is an incredible story. Brilliantly researched and sympathetically written. I cannot imagine how difficult this was to research. It’s painful enough just reading it over a few days, but to research for months is just astounding.
As I’ve said before in my reviews, everyone should know the atrocities of the Second World War and fiction based on true events is a great way to learn.
I am lucky enough to be a part of Books on Tour for this, so thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of The Midwife of Auschwitz by Anna Stuart.
Book Description
Auschwitz, 1943: As I held the tiny baby in my arms, my fingers traced the black tattoo etched across her little thigh. And I prayed that one day this set of numbers, identical to her mother’s, would have the power to reunite a family torn apart by war…
Inspired by an incredible true story, this poignant novel tells of one woman’s fight for love, life and hope during a time of unimaginable darkness.
Ana Kaminski is pushed through the iron gates of Auschwitz beside her frightened young friend Ester Pasternak. As they reach the front of the line, Ana steps forward and quietly declares herself a midwife – and Ester her assistant. Their arms are tattooed and they’re ordered to the maternity hut. Holding an innocent new-born baby, Ana knows the fate of so many are in her hands, and vows to do everything she can to save them.
When two guards in their chilling SS uniforms march in and snatch a blond-haired baby from its mother it’s almost too much for Ana to bear. Consoling the distraught woman, Ana realises amidst the terrible heartache there is a glimmer of hope. The guards are taking the healthiest babies and placing them with German families, so they will survive. And there are whispers the war is nearly over… Ana and Ester begin to secretly tattoo little ones with their mother’s numbers, praying one day they might be reunited.
Then, early one morning, Ana notices the small bump under Ester’s thin striped clothing…
An absolutely heartbreaking and page-turning WW2 novel of one woman’s bravery and determination to bring life and hope into a broken world. Fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Alice Network and The Nightingale will be gripped.
Anna Stuart lives in Derbyshire with her campervan-mad husband, two hungry teenagers and a slightly loopy dog. She was hooked on books from the moment she first opened one in her cot so is thrilled to now have several of her own to her name. Having studied English literature at Cambridge University, she took an enjoyable temporary trip into the ‘real world’ as a factory planner, before returning to her first love and becoming an author. History has also always fascinated her. Living in an old house with a stone fireplace, she often wonders who sat around it before her and is intrigued by how actively the past is woven into the present, something she likes to explore in her novels. Anna loves the way that writing lets her ‘try on’ so many different lives, but her favourite part of the job is undoubtedly hearing from readers. You can reach her on Facebook or Twitter
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