Is there hope for the love that sprouted between the barbed wire of an extermination camp?
A historical novel about the life of the famous Austrian violinist Alma Rosé.
In Auschwitz, every day is a struggle for survival. Alma has the number 50381 tattooed on her arm in light blue ink and, separated from her loved ones, she is crammed into a labyrinth of barbed wire along with thousands of others. Every day people disappear here and are never seen again.
The tragic reality could not be further from Alma's previous life. As an acclaimed violinist, she captivated her audiences, but when the Nazis began to sweep across Europe, all the glory in the world could not save her... When the commandant of the women's camp appoints Alma as conductor of the camp orchestra, which plays for prisoners trudging to work and for high-ranking SS officers, Alma refuses: "They can kill me, but they can't make me play." But he soon realizes the power that position carries: can provide extra food rations to starving girls and save many from death. This is how Alma meets Miklós, a talented pianist. Surrounded by despair, they find joy in rehearsals, secret messages and concerts played side by side while praying that the suffering will one day end. But in Auschwitz, the air they breathe is also saturated with loss and the only certainty is tragedy... Can their love survive in such a desperate place?
The Violinist of Auschwitz, a novel based on the unforgettable story of Alma Rosé, recalls one of history's most courageous, daring and inspiring heroines. Alma's bravery has saved countless lives and given hope to those who have forgotten what the word means...
