A Mother's Promise
Found a better price? Request a price match
A Mother's Promise
A Mother's Promise
The beautiful, emotional and true story of a mother and daughter's love and their strength to survive the horrors of the Holocaust.
'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.'
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
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.
*
'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
'This is a story the world needs to know' — Madeline Martin
'This book travels to the very heart of existence' — Joshua Levine
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781399625425
Publisher: Orion Publishing Co
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 15 January 2026
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Seven Dials
Illustration: Integrated images
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 129.0mm
Height: 198.0mm
Weight: 0g
Pages: 336
About the Author
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.Also by Kate Thompson
View allAlso by Renee Salt
View allMore from Biography & Memoir
View allWhy buy from us?
Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!
Service & Delivery
Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 80,000 books and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.
Auckland Bookstore
We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.
Our Gifting Service
Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.
