In the winter of 1991, at a concert in Krakow, an older woman with a marvellously pitched violin meets a fellow musician who is instantly captivated by her instrument. When he asks her how she obtained it, she reveals the remarkable story behind its origin...Imprisoned at Auschwitz, the notorious concentration camp, Daniel feels his humanity slipping away. Treasured memories of the young woman he loved and the prayers that once lingered on his lips become hazier with each passing day. Then a visit from a mysterious stranger changes everything, as Daniel's former identity as a crafter of fine violins is revealed to all. The camp's two most dangerous men use this information to make a cruel wager: If Daniel can build a successful violin within a certain number of days, the Kommandant wins a case of the finest burgundy. If not, the camp doctor, a torturer, gets hold of Daniel. And so, battling exhaustion, Daniel tries to recapture his lost art, knowing all too well the likely cost of failure. Written with lyrical simplicity and haunting beauty and interspersed with chilling, actual Nazi documentation, "The Auschwitz Violin" is more than just a novel: it is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of beauty, art, and hope to triumph over the darkest adversity.
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Extremely powerful and uplifting --Stylist
Elegantly written --Choice Magazine
Elegantly written --Choice Magazine
Book Description
An international sensation now available in English for the first time, The Auschwitz Violin is the unforgettable story of one man's refusal to surrender his dignity in the face of history's greatest atrocity.
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39 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
'The Auschwitz Violin' is a beautifully presented little book, but at 109 pages long it is more of a short-story, or novella really. Translated from Catalan by Martha Tennent, this is a haunting story of pride and dignity amongst the horrors of a Nazi-led concentration camp.
Daniel, the lead character in the story is a master violin maker - a luthier, although on arrival he stated his occupation as 'carpenter'. Daniel's workmanship is noticed by the Camp Commander and he is instructed to make a violin to be played for the Commander in the camp.
The story follows Daniel's struggle to find the materials to produce the best violin that he can, knowing that his fate if he fails will be death. There is some real insight into the feelings of the Jewish prisoners, the conditions they had to bear and the almost daily disappearances of their friends, but the length of the book made it difficult to connect to Daniel. There were times during the story when he thought back to his family, but most of his issues seemed to be around how hungry he was and wondering if he would get a larger potato in his stew that evening.
The story begins and ends in the present day and centres around the violin that Daniel did successfully make, and these parts of the book are quite touching. Some of the chapters start with quotes taken from authentic Nazi documents and these are shocking too.
Overall, it's a quick and easy read, however, I did feel that there was something lacking. Whether it was due to the length or maybe the translation, I'm not sure. Saying that though, it is worth a read, if only to compare to novels such as Elle Wiesel's 'Night'.
Daniel, the lead character in the story is a master violin maker - a luthier, although on arrival he stated his occupation as 'carpenter'. Daniel's workmanship is noticed by the Camp Commander and he is instructed to make a violin to be played for the Commander in the camp.
The story follows Daniel's struggle to find the materials to produce the best violin that he can, knowing that his fate if he fails will be death. There is some real insight into the feelings of the Jewish prisoners, the conditions they had to bear and the almost daily disappearances of their friends, but the length of the book made it difficult to connect to Daniel. There were times during the story when he thought back to his family, but most of his issues seemed to be around how hungry he was and wondering if he would get a larger potato in his stew that evening.
The story begins and ends in the present day and centres around the violin that Daniel did successfully make, and these parts of the book are quite touching. Some of the chapters start with quotes taken from authentic Nazi documents and these are shocking too.
Overall, it's a quick and easy read, however, I did feel that there was something lacking. Whether it was due to the length or maybe the translation, I'm not sure. Saying that though, it is worth a read, if only to compare to novels such as Elle Wiesel's 'Night'.
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
A gem of a life-affirming novella about a Jewish man who manages to survive in Auschwitz by building a violin for a musical instrument-appreciating camp commandant. The care and passion he devotes to his task illustrates the maxim that having a purpose in life can be the key to surviving in the most extreme of difficult circumstances. It also demonstrates the power of beauty and art to triumph silently over a warped and extreme ideology. Wonderful stuff.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
Maria Àngels Anglada brings the history of the violin made by Daniel, the Jewish luthier, during his internment in the Auschwitz concentration camp, to vibrant life.
The story opens with the playing of the vioin by Regina in the present time. Her relationship to the craftsman becomes apparent about half way through the book, but is not fully revealed until nearr the end.
The brutality of the Nazis in the WWII camps is vividly described in such a way that the reader can feel the day-to-day tension. The prisoners live on a knife-edge between survival and horrific punishment, or even death. Their fortune always hangs on the balance and depends on the moods of their captors as much as on their own actions. Should one stand to attention and salute when a German officer enters the room, or continue with one's work until spoken to? The answer to that question varies, as do the consequences of the answer. Every day is filled with gambles of life for every prisoner.
Amidst all of the stress and anxiety, Daniel is awarded the opportunity to create a perfect musical instrument for the Camp Commandant. His chance comes when he observes a fellow prisoner, a violinst called Bronislaw, being berated by the Commandant for playing bad notes. Daniel can hear the fault in Bronislaw's violin, and knows exactly what it is. Risking his life, he steps forward to point out a split in the shoulder of the instrument. He is allowed to make the necessary repair, demonstrating his expertise.
Suitably impressed, the commandant orders Daniel to make the perfect violin and allows him to choose his tools and materials.
Daniel know that failure could put his life on the line.
The translation from Catalan to English by Martha Tennent must be good, as the strength of feeling, which must have been in the original, comes shining through.
There is some tiny thing, which I can't quite identify, which is lacking in this book, for me, but it is well worth four to four-and-a-half stars. I would thoroughly recommend it to any of my friends.
The story opens with the playing of the vioin by Regina in the present time. Her relationship to the craftsman becomes apparent about half way through the book, but is not fully revealed until nearr the end.
The brutality of the Nazis in the WWII camps is vividly described in such a way that the reader can feel the day-to-day tension. The prisoners live on a knife-edge between survival and horrific punishment, or even death. Their fortune always hangs on the balance and depends on the moods of their captors as much as on their own actions. Should one stand to attention and salute when a German officer enters the room, or continue with one's work until spoken to? The answer to that question varies, as do the consequences of the answer. Every day is filled with gambles of life for every prisoner.
Amidst all of the stress and anxiety, Daniel is awarded the opportunity to create a perfect musical instrument for the Camp Commandant. His chance comes when he observes a fellow prisoner, a violinst called Bronislaw, being berated by the Commandant for playing bad notes. Daniel can hear the fault in Bronislaw's violin, and knows exactly what it is. Risking his life, he steps forward to point out a split in the shoulder of the instrument. He is allowed to make the necessary repair, demonstrating his expertise.
Suitably impressed, the commandant orders Daniel to make the perfect violin and allows him to choose his tools and materials.
Daniel know that failure could put his life on the line.
The translation from Catalan to English by Martha Tennent must be good, as the strength of feeling, which must have been in the original, comes shining through.
There is some tiny thing, which I can't quite identify, which is lacking in this book, for me, but it is well worth four to four-and-a-half stars. I would thoroughly recommend it to any of my friends.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hauntingly brilliant
I found this book hauntingly brilliant. Though it doesn't go into tremendous detail about the concentration camps, the misery of the prisoners is conveyed perfectly through the... Read more
Published 27 days ago by claire reid
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thought-Provoking
This is one of many books I have read about the Holocaust; I found it very easy to read and, yet, moving. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Emm
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable read
Enjoyed it. A good holiday read. Not a long book if you struggle with quantity. It does not go into too much detail about the camps. Read more
Published 2 months ago by CACIOM
5.0 out of 5 stars
Could not put it down
Another modern classic of struggle and music in a concentration camp in world war two. Cannot praise this book enough I found it that good.
Published 2 months ago by D J Wilson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Such beauty from such pain
It really is a beautifully written story of a barbaric time when such foul and wicked deeds were carried out on other human beings. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Pete Williams
4.0 out of 5 stars
A nice story
A nice read, this book could have been longer and the characters and story could have been a bit more developed, but a nice read non the less.
Published 4 months ago by Caitlinhappymeal
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE AUSCHWITZ VIOLIN BY MARIA ANGELS ANGLADA
VERY EXPLICIT OF THE HOLOCAUST THEREFORE EXTREMELY DEPRESSING. THE STORY IS VERY WELL WOVEN ROUND FACT. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE, YOU MUST READ IT. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Raymonde
5.0 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Read2Review
On the lines of `The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas' this is a story of survival in the most dire of circumstances. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Read2Review
3.0 out of 5 stars
Touches on a bigger picture
The Auschwitz Violin by Maria Àngel Anglada is a short novel set mainly in the Nazi concentration camp of its title. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Philip Spires
5.0 out of 5 stars
good read
The Auschwitz Violin a really good read, only a short read but one that describes auschwitz in detail,happy with purchase
Published 7 months ago by lis
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