Another beautiful and heartbreaking WWII story. We follow Ester and Ana, two midwives, confined to the Auschwitz camp working together to safely deliver babies into the world despite their grim fate. This story made me cry a lot, and the ending was very bittersweet for me. I loved parts of it, and another part made me sad and I thought it would go differently. I enjoy WWII historical fiction, although this story was based on true events. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

“Compliance is but a shield. We will walk these streets with our heads bowed to their ridiculous orders, but underground…”

This five-star novel was inspired by the real-life story of the valiant Stanislawa Leszczyńska, a Polish Catholic woman who assisted at the births of over 3,000 children during her time in the notorious death camp, Auschwitz.

Ana Kaminski declares herself a midwife and Ester Pasternak, her assistant when they arrive in Auschwitz. They are sent to the maternity ‘ward’ – a place like to no other to welcome the gift of life. Her story of what happened here is a testament to the resistance of a small group of women who were determined to help their fellow prisoners. Offering medical care and friendship, they displayed courage and defiance in the face of atrocity.

Readers will discover that Ana’s desire to help others is what originally landed her in Auschwitz. She was caught smuggling documents and food, ‘liberated loaves,’ to Jews inside the Łódź Ghetto as part of the Polish resistance. Even the Nazis couldn’t tame her spirit; she stood up to them at her friends’ wedding and to Dr. Josef Mengele in the camp. Not only that, but she also secretly ensured that those children she delivered who survived had an opportunity to discover who they were and possibly connect with their birth mothers.

Although difficult to read in parts due to the horrors, author Anna Stuart’s story celebrates the sanctity of life and honours the remarkable legacy of this Polish midwife. Stuart’s research is impeccable, and her stellar writing sweeps you back in time through the iron gates of Auschwitz. She doesn’t hold back on the atrocities and writes to evoke emotion.

I love it when an author inspires me to investigate a little-known historical person/event. Stuart had me hopping to the computer after I turned the last page. This is one historical fiction lovers will not want to miss.

I was gifted this advance copy by Anna Stuart, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I find it tricky to review books such as this because of the natural sensitivity around the subject matter, but this was one of the best.

This was an absolutely stunning piece of literature, it pulled me out of a reading slump and bought me to tears.

‘The Midwife of Auschwitz’ follows two women and their miraculous survival of the Holocaust, as they worked as midwives whilst imprisoned in Auschwitz. As you would expect, this story is one that is heart wrenching and almost unbelievable - fiction* at its very best where the description and the dialogue feels so intensely real.

The tragedy mixed with a tale of friendship, survival and motherhood. The ending had me in tears at my desk at work.


*I am not entirely sure whether the characters in this book are based off of real people, regardless - this is some seriously skilled storytelling.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance readers copy in exchange for this review.

This is the second book that I have read that deals with babies being born in concentration camps and it had never occured to me before reading the first one that this would have been the reality for many women and children- which is crazy when you think about it, that I didnt think about that before but it had never come up in books I have read before so wasn't even in my thought process.
This book is well writting with a gripping storyline that is completely heart-breaking and well developed characters that I am still thinking about now.
I couldn't put this one down, I read it in almost one sitting and I will definitely be looking for more from this author. Heart-wrenching and also as with any new birth, hopefuly which was so powerful in a place where hope doesnt exist. I loved it.

Most of the reviews I read of this book say to have a box of tissues nearby. They are correct. I cried my way through this wonderful wonderful book. Many WWII novels are being published today, but this one stands out among the rest. Ana, the main character, is a wonderful, interesting woman and not only did the author do a good job at describing the horrors of Auschwitz, she also gave voice to a story that is often overlooked - women prisoners had children in the camps. Midwives were there to serve them and played an important role for both women and the children they gave birth too. An overall fantastic read and I highly recommend!