Women of War
Publication Date: March 23, 2026
Auschwitz, 1945: I rock my baby gently in my arms, willing him to be quiet. Because if anyone hears my newborn cry, he could be taken from me. I pray that soon I will be able to escape with my precious son…
Inspired by incredible true stories, this emotional novel tells of a mother’s love and courage in a time of unimaginable darkness.
Naomi Demetriou has survived three years behind the walls of Auschwitz. Torn apart from her family, every breath could be her last. She’s learnt to survive by secretly trading the clothes she’s forced to sort through in exchange for food. But when an SS officer singles her out, her life becomes even harder. And then she discovers she’s pregnant…
With the support of Ana, the kind midwife, and the other mothers in Barrack 24, Naomi does the impossible and gives birth to a tiny baby boy. Hiding in the shadows, Naomi vows to do whatever it takes to keep baby Isaac safe. With rumours circulating of an Allied invasion, Naomi holds onto the hope the camp will be liberated. And she dreams of returning to her house by the Greek sea with her son.
But the day comes when Naomi hears heavy footsteps and the harsh voice of an SS guard. ‘Out! Now! You can’t take anything with you!’ She’s shoved into a line of people being marched out of the iron gates. Thick snow falls around them. Tears sting in Naomi’s eyes.
It all happened so fast. And she was unable to grab the bundle of blankets containing her little boy. But Ana is still there, will she and the other brave women be able to save him?
An absolutely heart-wrenching and page-turning WW2 novel inspired by true stories of love and bravery. Perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Alice Network and The Nightingale.
Amid the horror and devastation within the barbed wires of Auschwitz, a young Greek woman must fight to survive, even if it means dealing with attention from a Nazi soldier.
Author Anna Stuart serves up a heartbreaking story of love and loss woven against the backdrop of the German occupation. The Last Baby in Auschwitz illustrates a flicker of light amid the darkness.
So many atrocities come to light regarding the brutal treatment at the hands of the Nazis. Tricking people into leaving their homes with the promise of free land goes hand in hand with the walk to what should have been the showers.
Naomi’s story is one of desperate survival. Unlike others from her village who speak German, her existence hinges upon hard labor. A work reassignment alters her life after she catches the attention of a soldier.
Naomi knows what happens to babies born in the camp. They are taken away from their mothers and given to a German family. However, Naomi is determined that her child will not meet that fate. When she and others are forced to leave the camp amid the scramble to destroy evidence as liberation looms, Naomi takes extraordinary actions.
The Last Baby in Auschwitz provides memorable characters caught up in horrifying circumstances.
Anna Stuart lives in Derbyshire with her campervan-mad husband, two hungry teenagers and a slightly loopy dog. She was hooked on books from the moment she first opened one in her cot so is thrilled to now have several of her own to her name. Having studied English literature at Cambridge university, s Stuart he took an enjoyable temporary trip into the ‘real world’ as a factory planner, before returning to her first love and becoming an author. History has also always fascinated her. Living in an old house with a stone fireplace, she often wonders who sat around it before her and is intrigued by how actively the past is woven into the present, something she likes to explore in her novels. Anna loves the way that writing lets her ‘try on’ so many different lives, but her favourite part of the job is undoubtedly hearing from readers.
