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The Rebel Pianist of Majdanek

A Holocaust Story of Music and Survival in a Nazi Death Camp
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Brief Description
Former Polish teenage piano prodigy Mosha Gebert is teaching when the Nazis come for her. They kill her student, but she is taken to Majdanek concentration camp. There, Commandant Josef Hanke spots her and recognises her as the pianist he fell in love with years earlier.... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2799
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Inspired by a true story, this is a heart-wrenching fictionalised account of piano virtuosa Mosha Gebert's struggles in the Nazi death camp Majdanek.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Former Polish teenage piano prodigy Mosha Gebert is teaching when the Nazis come for her. They kill her student, but she is taken to Majdanek concentration camp. There, Commandant Josef Hanke spots her and recognises her as the pianist he fell in love with years earlier.

Hanke demands that Mosha play Ode to Joy for him, but she refuses. She will never play in such a horrific placeβ€”or for such an evil monster. So begins a battle of wills and repeated torture. Even when Hanke causes her to lose her hearing, Mosha refuses to play.

When her sister arrives in the camp, Hanke tries to use her as leverage but Mosha is steadfast in her hatred for Hanke and the Nazis. Even when her sister is subjected to worse punishment, Mosha does not waver. Instead of playing for Hanke, she begins teaching the women camp songs.

Hanke finally turns his anger on Mosha, breaking one of her fingers. She convinces prison guard Elsa to smash the rest of her fingers with a rock.

Mosha believes crippling herself is the only way for her to survive and triumph over Hanke, but what will this do to him? Will Hanke forgive her? Or will this last desperate act finally push him over the edge?

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781802471915

Publisher: Gemini Books Group Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 28 March 2024

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Mardle Books

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 240

About the Author

Nicola Pittman is a British screenwriter, an award-winning author and a former Fleet Street journalist. Her TV pilot House of the Rising Sun made the Bitch List 2019 and also placed on the inaugural Grey List 2023 of Hollywood's top 40 writers over 40.

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