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The Cellist of Dachau

By Martin Goodman
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Cellist of Dachau follows Otto Schalmik, a young Jewish musician arrested in 1938 Vienna and sent to the Dachau concentration camp. There, he is compelled to play Bach on a looted cello under Nazi supervision. Decades later in 1990s California, Otto, now a renowned composer, and Rosa, an Australian musicologist, uncover their intertwined histories through music, illuminating the enduring scars of war and the healing power of art.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for readers interested in historical fiction centred on the Holocaust, music enthusiasts, and those drawn to stories of resilience and reconciliation.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Weaving together the stories of three generations of women from both sides of Germany's 20th century horror story, The Cellist of Dachau explores the ongoing impact of war, and the power of music to heal and rebuild lives.

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

The Cellist of Dachau is an acclaimed and 'masterful' novel of the Holocaust – the legacy that haunts us, and the music that binds us.

In 1938, Otto Schalmik, a 19-year-old musician from a Jewish family in Vienna, is arrested by Nazi police. Transported to Dachau, he is summoned to the home of the camp's Adjutant, who forces him to scrub the floors and play Bach on a priceless looted cello.

In 1990s California, Otto, now a world-famous composer, and a young Australian musicologist, Rosa, discover the ways in which their lives are linked through music and history. Weaving together stories from both sides of Nazi Germany, The Cellist of Dachau explores the ongoing impact of war and the power of music as a transcending force to heal and rebuild lives.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781909954885

Publisher: Barbican Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 09 November 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Barbican Press

Illustration: Illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 127.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 330

Collections

Education & Reference Fiction General Fiction History & Archaeology History & Military Literary Fiction Martin Goodman Military History

About the Author

Martin Goodman's debut novel On Bended Knees, shortlisted for the Whitbread First Novel Award, heralded a major theme of his writing: the aftermath of wars. His nonfiction picked up the theme when his biography of the scientist who worked to counter WW1 gas attacks, Suffer & Survive, won 1st Prize, Basis of Medicine in the BMA Book Awards. In Client Earth, which won the Jury's Choice Business Book of the Year Award 2018, and the Green Book Award from Santa Monica Libraries, he told the story of ecolawyers who battle to rescue the planet from human destruction. He is Emeritus Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Hull.

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