A review by sams_fireside
The Midwife of Auschwitz by Anna Stuart

dark hopeful informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Heartbreaking, shocking, unbelievable, and harrowing. These are just four words that only make a dent in how The Midwife of Auschwitz will make you feel. Inspiring, courageous, graphic and brilliant. Another four words that only make a dent in how Anna Stuart has written about and portrayed the events that occurred in Auschwitz-Birkenau between 1943 and 1944, from the point of view of the midwives that were imprisoned there but who helped to birth over 3000 babies during that time.

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.