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Lovers in Auschwitz: A True Story
“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 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.
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 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.
400 pages, Hardcover
Published January 23, 2024
489 people are currently reading
15477 people want to read
About the author
Keren Blankfeld
2 books63 followersKeren Blankfeld is an award-winning journalist whose stories have appeared in the New York Times, Forbes, Reuters, The Toronto Star, and others. Her first book, Lovers in Auschwitz: A True Story was published through Little, Brown in January 2024 and translated to multiple languages. A former editor and staff writer at Forbes, Keren has been a guest on CNN, BBC World News, and E! Entertainment. In 2013, Keren served as a creative executive at New Regency Productions, where she worked with screenwriters and playwrights to develop material for movies and TV shows. She holds a B.A. in International Relations and English from Tufts University and an M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University. Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, Keren spent her teenage years in Houston, Texas. She now lives in New York with her husband and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews
June 17, 2024
Keren Blankfeld does an incredible job writing the memoir of two individuals who met while imprisoned in Auschwitz. Zippi Spitzer and David Wisnia survived the horrors of the Holocaust and promised to meet each other when the war ended. It turns out that they didn't see each other again until 70 years after WWII ended.
Blankfeld's research and interviews are thorough and detailed which enabled this amazing story to be told. The atrocities are not for the faint of heart.
Blankfeld's research and interviews are thorough and detailed which enabled this amazing story to be told. The atrocities are not for the faint of heart.
July 21, 2024
I am sure that you, like me, never considered the possibility that people might be hooking up while in Auschwitz. We would be wrong. It just goes to show you that even in hell, people have needs.
Lovers in Auschwitz by Keren Blankfeld follows the lives of Zippi and David as they orbit each other in the aforementioned hellhole. It is obvious when you think about it, but the actual "love" part of the story takes up a limited amount of page count. If you are looking for a bodice-ripping love story, then I assure you this is not the one for you because it was freaking Auschwitz. Instead, Blankfeld tells a much more engaging story about how two people tried to stay alive in one of the worst places on Earth while somehow intertwining their lives for a short amount of time.
It would be more accurate to describe the book as a dual biography of two Holocaust survivors. Blankfeld expertly walks the tightrope of telling her story with context without talking down to the audience. I have read a lot of Holocaust literature and even when Blankfeld explained something familiar, she did is succinctly without condescension.
The book is simply exceptional, and you don't need to be a history nerd to enjoy it. And, God forbid, you might learn something along the way.
(This book was provided as a review copy by the publisher.)
Lovers in Auschwitz by Keren Blankfeld follows the lives of Zippi and David as they orbit each other in the aforementioned hellhole. It is obvious when you think about it, but the actual "love" part of the story takes up a limited amount of page count. If you are looking for a bodice-ripping love story, then I assure you this is not the one for you because it was freaking Auschwitz. Instead, Blankfeld tells a much more engaging story about how two people tried to stay alive in one of the worst places on Earth while somehow intertwining their lives for a short amount of time.
It would be more accurate to describe the book as a dual biography of two Holocaust survivors. Blankfeld expertly walks the tightrope of telling her story with context without talking down to the audience. I have read a lot of Holocaust literature and even when Blankfeld explained something familiar, she did is succinctly without condescension.
The book is simply exceptional, and you don't need to be a history nerd to enjoy it. And, God forbid, you might learn something along the way.
(This book was provided as a review copy by the publisher.)
June 25, 2024
What fascinating information, amazing lives and experiences that fills in more knowledge about Auschwitz prisoners, so well researched and written.
August 9, 2024
Auschwitz-Birkenau, 1943. Toen hij haar voor het eerst zag, wist David Wisnia direct dat Helen ‘Zippi’ Spitzer bijzonder was. Zippi was als een van de eerste Joodse vrouwen naar Auschwitz gedeporteerd, waar ze haar tewerkstelling als administratief medewerker gebruikte om gecodeerde berichten naar haar broer te sturen, andere gevangenen te helpen en hen zelfs van dodenlijsten af te strepen.
David en Zippi werden elkaars lichtpunt in de duisternis. Daar, op de onwaarschijnlijkste plek ter wereld, bloeide een grote liefde op. David en Zippi deden elkaar een belofte: als ze de oorlog overleefden, zouden ze in Warschau op elkaar wachten.
Het liep anders. Zijn leven lang zou David zich blijven afvragen hoe het Zippi was vergaan en wat de waarheid achter de gebeurtenissen in Auschwitz was geweest. Had ze hem in het kamp voor de gaskamer behoed? En het belangrijkste: had zij net zo veel van hem had gehouden als hij van haar?
Boeken over de oorlog blijf ik altijd enorm heftig vinden, zo ook met dit verhaal.
Je leest eerst over een jongere Zippi en David, hierdoor leer je de voorgeschiedenis van dit tweetal kennen. Het boek bevat ook foto's, dus je krijgt echt een beeld van deze mensen.
Vervolgens komt dan de verschrikkelijke oorlog op hun pad en zowel Zippi als David komen in het concentratiekamp terecht. Dan lees je een heel groot deel over wat Zippi meemaakt en de verdere ontwikkelingen van haar in het kamp. En dan ontmoet ze David daar op een dag...
Het tweetal trekt steeds meer naar elkaar toe en er ontstaat een liefde in het concentratiekamp. Samen proberen ze te overleven en ze beloven elkaar dat ze op elkaar zullen wachten als ze bevrijdt worden...
Maar dit loopt dus helemaal anders en het tweetal bouwt ieder weer een eigen leven op. Uiteindelijk kruisen ze zeventig jaar later weer elkaars pad.
Dit verhaal omschrijft de verschrikkelijke omstandigheden in het kamp goed. Wat blijft dit toch een ontzettend heftige en verdrietige periode. De toegevoegde foto's zeiden ook alles. Het verhaal zelf vond ik ook erg meeslepend... Een verschrikkelijke periode!
Beoordeling: 4,0 ⭐️
David en Zippi werden elkaars lichtpunt in de duisternis. Daar, op de onwaarschijnlijkste plek ter wereld, bloeide een grote liefde op. David en Zippi deden elkaar een belofte: als ze de oorlog overleefden, zouden ze in Warschau op elkaar wachten.
Het liep anders. Zijn leven lang zou David zich blijven afvragen hoe het Zippi was vergaan en wat de waarheid achter de gebeurtenissen in Auschwitz was geweest. Had ze hem in het kamp voor de gaskamer behoed? En het belangrijkste: had zij net zo veel van hem had gehouden als hij van haar?
Boeken over de oorlog blijf ik altijd enorm heftig vinden, zo ook met dit verhaal.
Je leest eerst over een jongere Zippi en David, hierdoor leer je de voorgeschiedenis van dit tweetal kennen. Het boek bevat ook foto's, dus je krijgt echt een beeld van deze mensen.
Vervolgens komt dan de verschrikkelijke oorlog op hun pad en zowel Zippi als David komen in het concentratiekamp terecht. Dan lees je een heel groot deel over wat Zippi meemaakt en de verdere ontwikkelingen van haar in het kamp. En dan ontmoet ze David daar op een dag...
Het tweetal trekt steeds meer naar elkaar toe en er ontstaat een liefde in het concentratiekamp. Samen proberen ze te overleven en ze beloven elkaar dat ze op elkaar zullen wachten als ze bevrijdt worden...
Maar dit loopt dus helemaal anders en het tweetal bouwt ieder weer een eigen leven op. Uiteindelijk kruisen ze zeventig jaar later weer elkaars pad.
Dit verhaal omschrijft de verschrikkelijke omstandigheden in het kamp goed. Wat blijft dit toch een ontzettend heftige en verdrietige periode. De toegevoegde foto's zeiden ook alles. Het verhaal zelf vond ik ook erg meeslepend... Een verschrikkelijke periode!
Beoordeling: 4,0 ⭐️
January 26, 2024
I love a good historical biography and this roughly fits into that category. And it was an easy read. Even more fascinating was the fact that the author had the opportunity to interview one of the two lovers prior to his death.
My question prior to reading was how clean it would be. Was this relationship a sexual one? Yes. Perhaps mostly or only entirely sexual from the man’s perspective… perhaps less so from the woman’s. (It appears emotions did play a part) But the author handled it all tactfully. And the book is about so much more than their relationship.
I would have given the book 4 stars if I didn’t struggle with the premise of the book— a book about lovers at auschwitz. The book is more about two different people and their background and response to the opportunities they were given. The love story seemed more about a need for comfort or lust than genuine love. As mentioned, the author had an opportunity to interview David. She never had that opportunity to interview zippi but researched well. If descriptions were accurate, Zippi was a strong, independent woman who actually fell in love with David at the camp and after marrying later in life, was wise and fiercely loyal to her husband to the end. Zippi’s heroism in saving lives was inspiring. The author describes David, on the other hand, as an entitled playboy whose later life only supported his earlier decisions.
The book describes countless other people who were imprisoned along with these two. It tells of the rare situation of the “privileged” prisoner at Auschwitz. But the book does not shy away from the ugly either. It is not gentle.
Interesting as a character study.
My question prior to reading was how clean it would be. Was this relationship a sexual one? Yes. Perhaps mostly or only entirely sexual from the man’s perspective… perhaps less so from the woman’s. (It appears emotions did play a part) But the author handled it all tactfully. And the book is about so much more than their relationship.
I would have given the book 4 stars if I didn’t struggle with the premise of the book— a book about lovers at auschwitz. The book is more about two different people and their background and response to the opportunities they were given. The love story seemed more about a need for comfort or lust than genuine love. As mentioned, the author had an opportunity to interview David. She never had that opportunity to interview zippi but researched well. If descriptions were accurate, Zippi was a strong, independent woman who actually fell in love with David at the camp and after marrying later in life, was wise and fiercely loyal to her husband to the end. Zippi’s heroism in saving lives was inspiring. The author describes David, on the other hand, as an entitled playboy whose later life only supported his earlier decisions.
The book describes countless other people who were imprisoned along with these two. It tells of the rare situation of the “privileged” prisoner at Auschwitz. But the book does not shy away from the ugly either. It is not gentle.
Interesting as a character study.
October 26, 2023
“Can beauty still exist in an inferno?”
A harrowing love story set in WW11 Auschwitz. At parts hard to read in detail just what David, Zippi, and countless others experienced in Auschwitz. Truly a stain in our world’s history, but their love story in finding solace in each other was beautiful.
A harrowing love story set in WW11 Auschwitz. At parts hard to read in detail just what David, Zippi, and countless others experienced in Auschwitz. Truly a stain in our world’s history, but their love story in finding solace in each other was beautiful.
April 27, 2025
¡¡¡Me ha encantado!!! una novela histórica. Se nota que hay un gran trabajo de recopilación de información. La prosa es increible. Me ha gustado mucho como combina el contexto histórico con la vida de los personajes.
March 3, 2024
After hearing an amazing book talk by the author, I really wanted to read her book. The story is amazing, but the writing felt dry & cumbersome.
February 26, 2024
From the title of Blankfeld’s text, one would assume that the central feature of the narrative would be the romance between young David Wisnia and Zippi Spitzer – two Jewish prisoners of Auschwitz. It is described as a discovery of “hope and humanity in history’s darkest hour.” And, yet, their brief liaison, hiding behind piles of discarded clothing in the camp’s storeroom, Canada, is given but a brief glimpse over the 323 pages, devoid of the detail or intensity that the title seemed to promise. Rather, the strongest feature of this Holocaust story is the incredible bravery and skill shown by twenty-six-year-old Zippi in her personal resistance within Auschwitz to save lives and reorganise its systems to reduce the chaos that characterised its brutality.
In chapters tracing both David’s and Zippi’s separate journeys through the camp years and after their incredible survival, Blankfeld acknowledges that in never having met Zippi, her commentary depended on historical research and the information/perspective provided by 90+year-old David. After 70 years, the two met to explain what had kept David from keeping his promise to meet Zippi in Warsaw after the war.
I was disappointed by the way the book was portrayed and by its lack of intensity in exploring what had brought these two together. To promote this fleeting romance as the central feature of a Holocaust narrative seemed to misdirect readers and play down the survival story it told.
In chapters tracing both David’s and Zippi’s separate journeys through the camp years and after their incredible survival, Blankfeld acknowledges that in never having met Zippi, her commentary depended on historical research and the information/perspective provided by 90+year-old David. After 70 years, the two met to explain what had kept David from keeping his promise to meet Zippi in Warsaw after the war.
I was disappointed by the way the book was portrayed and by its lack of intensity in exploring what had brought these two together. To promote this fleeting romance as the central feature of a Holocaust narrative seemed to misdirect readers and play down the survival story it told.
May 28, 2024
I couldn't put this book down. It follows the compelling stories of real-life individuals leading up to, during, and after the Holocaust, offering a perspective I had never encountered before. As expected, it is both heartbreaking and tragic, capturing the profound human suffering and resilience of the time.
What stood out to me was the book's exploration of the complex Holocaust "prison system" and the intricate politics at play. The depth and detail provided a new understanding of this dark chapter in history.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an insightful and moving read.
What stood out to me was the book's exploration of the complex Holocaust "prison system" and the intricate politics at play. The depth and detail provided a new understanding of this dark chapter in history.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an insightful and moving read.
August 9, 2024
This book felt so important. I love historical fiction and have read a few books based off this time period but nothing like this. It was beautiful, it was sad, it was heartbreaking. But it was also so honest and raw.
March 8, 2025
One of the most difficult books I have ever read. Yet, there is a trail of hope throughout this whole book. Reading is a way of honoring them.
March 25, 2025
Compelling, nuanced, and a fresh perspective that continues to humanize an inhuman event in ways that highlight the resilience and fragility of what it means to be human.
May 29, 2024
Incroyable histoire de deux survivants de ce camp maudit. J'ai adoré les faits, les photos. Très touchant.
June 7, 2024
Thank You to NetGalley, Little, Brown and Company, and Keren Blankfeld.
I was drawn to this book because of it's summary WWII, romance, Europe, holocaust, survival, history, Jewish, antisemitism, and relationships. I loved the book and its main characters, Zippi and David. They are well developed characters. The couple meet under horrific historical events and build a romance, only to be separated by war. Will they find their way back to each other? What will they experience apart? Will they survive? It is obvious the author did a lot of research and was in contact with survivors, their families, and other first hand accounts and documents. I may have needed a few Kleenexes, but I still kept on reading and finished it.
I was drawn to this book because of it's summary WWII, romance, Europe, holocaust, survival, history, Jewish, antisemitism, and relationships. I loved the book and its main characters, Zippi and David. They are well developed characters. The couple meet under horrific historical events and build a romance, only to be separated by war. Will they find their way back to each other? What will they experience apart? Will they survive? It is obvious the author did a lot of research and was in contact with survivors, their families, and other first hand accounts and documents. I may have needed a few Kleenexes, but I still kept on reading and finished it.
March 30, 2025
learning history first hand is very special and i appreciated how this book gave an honest account of life during WW2. The ending made me tear up as well.
June 21, 2024
genuinely one of the most beautiful books i’ve ever read
July 11, 2024
Devastating
March 31, 2024
There are so many books about the Holocaust and Auschwitz, in particular. What’s different about this one is the extraordinary fact that Helen “Zippi” Tichauer, age 25, and David Wisnia, age 17, were able to survive three years in the most inhumane conditions, where the life expectancy usually was measured in days, weeks or months.
Both Zippi and David figured out that they each had to look good, as healthy as possible, and be incredibly useful. Zippi had a graphics background that she used to find ways to become indispensable to her captors. She worked in the administration office, enabling her to manipulate names, numbers and lists, thus saving thousands of prisoners. She forms a romantic relationship with David, and, unbeknownst to him, saves his life five times.
The details of the horrendous conditions at this and other Nazi death camps cannot be overstated, but they must be written and spoken about, because history is not always studied and remembered.
“More than sixty-five hundred American soldiers died on June 6 alone, and 41 percent of Americans were not clear on why the US was at war. They’d heard about the Nazis’ persecution of the Jews, and yet they didn’t want to take in refugees. Many Americans believed that the stories of concentration camps were propaganda. How could such horrific tales be real?”
We must remember.
Both Zippi and David figured out that they each had to look good, as healthy as possible, and be incredibly useful. Zippi had a graphics background that she used to find ways to become indispensable to her captors. She worked in the administration office, enabling her to manipulate names, numbers and lists, thus saving thousands of prisoners. She forms a romantic relationship with David, and, unbeknownst to him, saves his life five times.
The details of the horrendous conditions at this and other Nazi death camps cannot be overstated, but they must be written and spoken about, because history is not always studied and remembered.
“More than sixty-five hundred American soldiers died on June 6 alone, and 41 percent of Americans were not clear on why the US was at war. They’d heard about the Nazis’ persecution of the Jews, and yet they didn’t want to take in refugees. Many Americans believed that the stories of concentration camps were propaganda. How could such horrific tales be real?”
We must remember.
August 1, 2024
Questo libro viene venduto come "storia d'amore", ma a mio personale parere il fulcro centrale di questa storia è la voglia di salvare, di sopravvivere, di aiutare il più possibile coloro che sono finiti ad Auschwitz. La storia d'amore è marginale, e non è una storia come ce la potremmo immaginare.
Resta il fatto che è un libro stupendo, una storia vera che racconta tutto il male che è successo ad Auschwitz e in tutta l'Europa durante la seconda guerra mondiale. Ancora mi chiedo come sia stato possibile.
Resta il fatto che è un libro stupendo, una storia vera che racconta tutto il male che è successo ad Auschwitz e in tutta l'Europa durante la seconda guerra mondiale. Ancora mi chiedo come sia stato possibile.
February 10, 2024
Remarkable story!
February 25, 2024
I think I may have read just one too many Holocaust novels.
April 26, 2024
This book had a slow start, but once I got to about page 60 I couldn’t put it down. Such a deep story that really makes you feel like you are part of it.
July 16, 2024
4,5⭐️ ik vond dit echt een mooi en interessant boek om te lezen over de tweede wereld oorlog in Auschwitz
September 3, 2024
Did not finish.
got a few chapters in, and was struggling to figure out who was who.
got a few chapters in, and was struggling to figure out who was who.
December 17, 2024
Remarkable. Better than a novel.
March 16, 2025
3.5 🌟 rounded down.
I've read many books about the various people imprisoned at Auschwitz and other Nazi concentration camps and have always found these books to be harrowing but intriguing. This book was no different. The details of the horrific acts that took place during the Holocaust and specifically at the Auschwitz concentration camp are sickening and the things that nightmares are made of. This book was somewhat of a misnomer in that very little of it focused on the "lovers" in the book title. There were alternating chapters from each of their perspectives and the reader got to know each of them individually and learned about their individual plights at Auschwitz, but there was very little known or written about them as lovers. So, if that's what you're looking for, you'll be disappointed. In fact, the pair did not see each other again for more than 70 years after they left Auschwitz and by then they were in their 80's and 90's. I think the author did an good job of piecing together as much information as she could from the sources that she had and she explains the limitations at the end of the book. For me, this book did not stand out amongst the many Holocaust-era books I've read, hence the lower rating.
I've read many books about the various people imprisoned at Auschwitz and other Nazi concentration camps and have always found these books to be harrowing but intriguing. This book was no different. The details of the horrific acts that took place during the Holocaust and specifically at the Auschwitz concentration camp are sickening and the things that nightmares are made of. This book was somewhat of a misnomer in that very little of it focused on the "lovers" in the book title. There were alternating chapters from each of their perspectives and the reader got to know each of them individually and learned about their individual plights at Auschwitz, but there was very little known or written about them as lovers. So, if that's what you're looking for, you'll be disappointed. In fact, the pair did not see each other again for more than 70 years after they left Auschwitz and by then they were in their 80's and 90's. I think the author did an good job of piecing together as much information as she could from the sources that she had and she explains the limitations at the end of the book. For me, this book did not stand out amongst the many Holocaust-era books I've read, hence the lower rating.
March 4, 2024
Lovers in Auschwitz: A True Story by Keren Blankfeld
dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced
I don’t like giving traversing to true stories especially a book of this nature, so I’m not going to. I really enjoyed this book, though I feel that I have read one too many holocaust books because some of the facts and of course the dates are so deep in my memory that they all start to sound similar. I did find that Lovers in Aushwitz doesn’t hold back when it comes to graphic details and backstories which I really appreciate.
One feature I enjoyed was that instead of waiting to the middle or end of the book for photos, at the start of a few of the chapters a relevant photo or map was there and it helped tell the story.
An inspiring and heartbreaking read and it will never cease to amaze and shatter me what holocaust survivors were able to live through and survive.
dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced
I don’t like giving traversing to true stories especially a book of this nature, so I’m not going to. I really enjoyed this book, though I feel that I have read one too many holocaust books because some of the facts and of course the dates are so deep in my memory that they all start to sound similar. I did find that Lovers in Aushwitz doesn’t hold back when it comes to graphic details and backstories which I really appreciate.
One feature I enjoyed was that instead of waiting to the middle or end of the book for photos, at the start of a few of the chapters a relevant photo or map was there and it helped tell the story.
An inspiring and heartbreaking read and it will never cease to amaze and shatter me what holocaust survivors were able to live through and survive.
February 10, 2025
This book was utterly devastating! Hearing the details of what survivors from Auschwitz went through made me sick to my stomach. The hell they went through and how they managed to survive is a true miracle. To be a hero in a time of great loss and such devastation and to know how so many still resisted and still tried to do their part to get news out or save others was truly heroic. Learning about Zippi's dedication to have the true story of Auschwitz to be told but her story getting lost within that was sad but knowing that someone cared to know more about her was so touching. Getting to know how Zippi met David and fell in love and how she managed to save his life made me realize that with such devastation, hope and love still could exist. It wasn't the love story you would expect but a sacrifice of what this life offered them at a time when there was nothing left. Thank you to the author for letting Zippi's story be told. I now want to learn more about the survivors, to give them the respect they deserve.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews