A Mother's Promise
My true story of surviving Auschwitz and the horrors of the Holocaust, the Sunday Times bestseller
Published on 15. January 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-1-3996-2542-5 (ISBN)
Description
The Sunday Times Bestseller
'Quite simply the most important book you will read this year' Hazel Gaynor
'An extraordinary read' Lorraine Kelly
'Deeply moving' Daily Mail
'Mama, it's me.' I held her hand in mine, hoping it would give her the strength to hold on.
Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.
'Do not cry when I die.'
From invasion to liberation, September 1939 to April 1945, as Renee was marched from ghetto to camp, there was one constant. One hand that clutched hers - her mother's. Every day for nearly six years, mother and daughter were bound together in hell. From Auschwitz-Birkenau to Bergen-Belsen, they were a powerful source of solace and hope for one another.
The strength of Sala's love gave them both something fragile yet beautiful to cling to in an ugly, depraved world. It was her mother who hid Renee, lied to the SS, went right when she was directed left - whose small actions had life-saving consequences. Now, for Renee, the need to share has finally overcome the desire to forget.
A Mother's Promise is a love letter to a mother eighty years in the making.
*****
'This book travels to the very heart of existence' Joshua Levine
'This is a story the world needs to know' Madeline Martin
'Will stay with me for a long time... A beautiful account, so movingly told' Anna Stuart
'Powerful, poignant, and deeply important. A must-read' Elizabeth Bellak
'Quite simply the most important book you will read this year' Hazel Gaynor
'An extraordinary read' Lorraine Kelly
'Deeply moving' Daily Mail
'Mama, it's me.' I held her hand in mine, hoping it would give her the strength to hold on.
Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.
'Do not cry when I die.'
From invasion to liberation, September 1939 to April 1945, as Renee was marched from ghetto to camp, there was one constant. One hand that clutched hers - her mother's. Every day for nearly six years, mother and daughter were bound together in hell. From Auschwitz-Birkenau to Bergen-Belsen, they were a powerful source of solace and hope for one another.
The strength of Sala's love gave them both something fragile yet beautiful to cling to in an ugly, depraved world. It was her mother who hid Renee, lied to the SS, went right when she was directed left - whose small actions had life-saving consequences. Now, for Renee, the need to share has finally overcome the desire to forget.
A Mother's Promise is a love letter to a mother eighty years in the making.
*****
'This book travels to the very heart of existence' Joshua Levine
'This is a story the world needs to know' Madeline Martin
'Will stay with me for a long time... A beautiful account, so movingly told' Anna Stuart
'Powerful, poignant, and deeply important. A must-read' Elizabeth Bellak
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Orion Publishing Co
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Illustrations
Integrated images
Dimensions
Height: 195 mm
Width: 127 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Weight
270 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-3996-2542-5 (9781399625425)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Renee Salt | Kate Thompson
A Mother's Promise
My true story of surviving Auschwitz and the horrors of the Holocaust, the Sunday Times bestseller
E-Book
01/2025
Seven Dials
€5.99
Available for download
Persons
Renee Salt is a 96-year-old Holocaust survivor. Born Rywka Ruchla Berkowicz in Poland in 1929, she was just 10 year old when World War II brought horror to her doorstep. After surviving Auschwitz-Birkenau, Renee was liberated from Bergen-Belsen in 1945. After moving to Paris, Renee met her husband Charles, a member of the British Army, and part of the the liberating forces at Bergen-Belsen. They married in 1949 and lived in North London, having two children and five grandchildren.
Kate Thompson is a journalist and bestselling writer. As well as being passionate about capturing lost voices and untold social histories, Kate's also a library campaigner. Her 100 libraries project celebrates the richness and complexity of librarians work and the vital role of libraries in our communities. Alongside her journalism and writing, Kate is also a podcaster and recently launched her own podcast, From the Library With Love. You can find Kate on Facebook @KateThompsonAuthor.
Kate Thompson is a journalist and bestselling writer. As well as being passionate about capturing lost voices and untold social histories, Kate's also a library campaigner. Her 100 libraries project celebrates the richness and complexity of librarians work and the vital role of libraries in our communities. Alongside her journalism and writing, Kate is also a podcaster and recently launched her own podcast, From the Library With Love. You can find Kate on Facebook @KateThompsonAuthor.