Praise for Lovers in Auschwitz

 “Lovers in Auschwitz adds to the history of resistance during the Holocaust, and is an example of a rare story of joy during an incredibly dark time.”
—Time Magazine

“Moving and tragic … A true tale of love amid unimaginable suffering.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“A vivid portrait of the brutality of daily life at Auschwitz, alongside formidable tales of people who risked their lives to save others—even strangers—through sabotage, sympathy, and love. Mesmerizing and inspirational.” 
—Judy Batalion, New York Times bestselling author of The Light of Days

“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

 UPCOMING EVENTS 2024

  • October 7 — Omaha, NE
    University of Nebraska, Omaha

  • October 17 — New Canaan, CT
    New Canaan Library (Register here)

  • October 26-27 — Nashville, TN
    Southern Festival of Books

  • November 7 — New York, NY
    Yale Club

  • November 19 — Houston, TX
    Brazos Bookstore (more info here)

  • November 23-24 — Miami, FL
    Miami Book Fair

  • December 11 — Margate City, NJ
    Marjorie & Lewis Katz JCC

  • December 19 — Denver, CO
    Denver JCC Book Club (Virtual)

UPCOMING EVENTS 2025

  • January 21 — Santa Monica, CA
    Zibby’s Bookshop 

  • January 27 — Ann Arbor, MI
    JCC of Greater Ann Arbor (Virtual)

  • February 16 — Houston, TX
    JCC of Houston 

  • March 17 — Port Washington, NY
    Temple Beth Israel

  • April 2 — White Plains, NY
    Temple Israel Center

  • April 23 — Stamford, CT
    Jewish Federation, Stamford

  • April 24 — Dresher, PA
    Temple Sinai

PAST EVENTS

  • January 25 — Manhattan, NYC Book Launch
    92NYC, in conversation with Ruth Franklin (watch video recording here)

  • February 1 — Madison, CT
    RJ Julia (watch video recording here)

  • April 7 — Glencove, NY
    In conversation with Michael Berkowitz at the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County (register here)

  • May 3 — Pleasantville, NY
    Pleasantville Community Synagogue

  • May 6 — Westfield, NJ
    Temple Emanu-El, in conversation with Rabbi Victor Appell

  • May 9 — West Hartford, CT
    Conard High School

  • May 10 — West Hartford, CT
    Hall High School

  • June 7 — London (virtual)
    York Festival of Ideas (watch video recording here)

NEWS 

BOOK PRESS & REVIEWS

  • Washington Post  “Zippi and David are both lovingly rendered. And in focusing on them, the book does implicitly honor the full humanity of two survivors — recapturing the texture of their origins, their hopes and dreams, and their complex lives, rather than merely their presence at one of history’s most unfathomable, tragic episodes.”

  • Time Magazine "Lovers in Auschwitz adds to the history of resistance during the Holocaust, and is an example of a rare story of joy during an incredibly dark time.”

  • People Magazine (January Best Book Selection)  “This searing true story shows the human spirit transcending horrific suffering.”

  • Los Angeles Times (January Best Book Selection) “A complicated, important story, told with great care.”

  • The Forward   “Keren Blankfeld’s gripping Lovers in Auschwitz, written with the page-turning intensity of a good novel, tells one such story."

  • Jewish Book Council "Today, when first­hand accounts of the Holo­caust are few and anti­semitism is once again on the rise, read­ing a warm, acces­si­ble sto­ry like Lovers in Auschwitz offers par­tic­u­lar val­ue. It cap­tures the mir­a­cle of love in a place of hor­ror and reminds us that, at the very moment the world is tear­ing us apart, cer­tain forces might bring us back together."

  • Aish   "A new book uncovers the almost-lost story of hope during the darkest of times."

  • New York Post   "They fell in love at Auschwitz and survived — then they didn’t see each other for 71 years [...] a new, notable book."

  • Publisher's Weekly "Fast-paced and novelistic, this is a moving demonstration of the ability to find love in the darkest places."

  • Şalom Turkey "'Lovers in Auschwitz' is not a book, but a movie. It's a movie that journalist-writer Keren Blankfeld has meticulously woven into our minds, the scenes of which will never leave our eyes"

EXCERPTS

  • The Telegraph David Wisnia and Helen 'Zippi' Spitzer met as prisoners and began a clandestine romance, but plans to meet after liberation went awry...

  • The Smithsonian The Couple Who Fell in Love in a Nazi Death Camp: A new book chronicles the unlikely connection between Helen Spitzer and David Wisnia, both of whom survived Auschwitz

ESSAYS

  • Lithub Uncovering the Incredible Story of a Romance Between Two Prisoners in Auschwitz: Keren Blankfeld on Researching a Gripping Love Story and the Challenges of Writing About Someone Who Isn't There

  • Jewish Book Council Love and Survival in Auschwitz

Keren Blankfeld author website

Keren Blankfeld Taqqu is an award-winning narrative nonfiction journalist.

The granddaughter of four World War II refugees, Keren grew up hearing stories of partisans, hidden children and orphans. Her grandparents were displaced people in Eastern Europe who found their way to São Paulo, Brazil, where Keren was born. At age 12 she immigrated to Houston with her family.

As a journalist, Keren gravitates toward stories about refugees and immigrants. Her articles have ranged from interviews with New York City DREAMers to cover stories and profiles on both refugees and billionaires. Keren has written for The New York Times, Forbes, Reuters, The Toronto Star and others.