This is an account, gathered over a prolonged period, of Lale Eisenberg’s time in Auschwitz.
It is compulsive reading in that it makes the extraordinary ordinary as the day to day struggle for existence is recounted over the almost three years that Lale managed to survive in Auschwitz. Lale’s account of the horrors committed in Auschwitz are probably more hard hitting because they are recounted within the context of the day to day reality of Auschwitz.
Lale survived largely due to his decision to ensure that he walked out of Auschwitz come what may. It could be argued that his role as the tattooist for the camp was collaboration to a degree even though he did use his position to help other prisoners and also his future wife Gita whom he met in the camp. Lale is very aware of the moral ambiguity of his position but he also used it obtain seized jewellery with which he bought items such as chocolate and antibiotics for both Gita, himself and others. Personally I found his use of these stolen gems to buy his way out of trouble when he had successfully escaped from Auschwitz more of a moral dilemma. He later stole jewellery from the Soviet occupying army that he used to pay for his return home.
It does however raise the issue of what as an individual you would do to ensure your own survival and it is the way that this is raised without preamble which is probably most unsettling.
The book is also a love story as the story of Gita and Lale’s life in Auschwitz is recounted.
The book is well researched and well written and it is not a burden to read and this is why it is a powerful and lasting contribution to Holocaust literature.
It is compulsive reading in that it makes the extraordinary ordinary as the day to day struggle for existence is recounted over the almost three years that Lale managed to survive in Auschwitz. Lale’s account of the horrors committed in Auschwitz are probably more hard hitting because they are recounted within the context of the day to day reality of Auschwitz.
Lale survived largely due to his decision to ensure that he walked out of Auschwitz come what may. It could be argued that his role as the tattooist for the camp was collaboration to a degree even though he did use his position to help other prisoners and also his future wife Gita whom he met in the camp. Lale is very aware of the moral ambiguity of his position but he also used it obtain seized jewellery with which he bought items such as chocolate and antibiotics for both Gita, himself and others. Personally I found his use of these stolen gems to buy his way out of trouble when he had successfully escaped from Auschwitz more of a moral dilemma. He later stole jewellery from the Soviet occupying army that he used to pay for his return home.
It does however raise the issue of what as an individual you would do to ensure your own survival and it is the way that this is raised without preamble which is probably most unsettling.
The book is also a love story as the story of Gita and Lale’s life in Auschwitz is recounted.
The book is well researched and well written and it is not a burden to read and this is why it is a powerful and lasting contribution to Holocaust literature.