Auschwitz, 1943: In the depths of hell, can hope rise? And can love triumph over hatred?

Based on the unforgettable true story of Alma Rosé, The Violinist of Auschwitz brings to life one of history’s most fearless, inspiring and courageous heroines. Alma’s bravery saved countless lives, bringing hope to those who had forgotten its meaning…

In Auschwitz, every day is a fight for survival. Alma is inmate 50381, the number tattooed on her skin in pale blue ink. She is cooped up with thousands of others, torn from loved ones, trapped in a maze of barbed wire. Every day people disappear, never to be seen again.

This tragic reality couldn’t be further from Alma’s previous life. An esteemed violinist, her performances left her audiences spellbound. But when the Nazis descend on Europe, none of that can save her…

When the head of the women’s camp appoints Alma as the conductor of the orchestra, performing for prisoners trudging to work as well as the highest-ranking Nazis, Alma refuses: “they can kill me but they won’t make me play”. Yet she soon realizes the power this position offers: she can provide starving girls with extra rations and save many from the clutches of death.

This is how Alma meets Miklos, a talented pianist. Surrounded by despair, they find happiness in joint rehearsals, secret notes, and concerts they give side by side––all the while praying that this will one day end. But in Auschwitz, the very air is tainted with loss, and tragedy is the only certainty… In such a hopeless place, can their love survive?

This devastatingly heartbreaking yet beautifully hopeful tale proves that even in the darkest of days, love can prevail––and give you something to live for. Fans of The Choice, The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The Orphan Train will lose their hearts to this magnificent tale.

No. of pages:- 356 pages

Date published:- will be published on 18th November 2020

Genre:- Holocaust/Non Fiction

Thank You Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC! This review is based on my complete honest opinion.

This book is based on the true story of a talented violinist, Alma Rose, an Austrian violinist who is in Auschwitz. She is a Jew. This story tells about how Alma, creates a Music Block at Auschwitz and had saved many girls from the Quarantine Block so they could be a part of the girl’s orchestra that she has created. This story talks about Alma’s courage, bravery and her willingness to do whatever she wants even if it involves befriending SS soldiers.

This story is truly emotional and the ending made me cry. What makes this story so powerful and gripping is in fact that this story is based on a true story. The descriptions of Auschwitz camp in particular was too disturbing at times to read that I have to pause and try to understand how much cruelty and brutality these Jews and other prisoners had to face from ruthless SS people. The exchange of luxurious goods to bread or a chocolate bar, the hard conditions, the conditions in the hospital…it was all at time too disturbing and sometimes I had a hard time as to how such brutality existed. But what made this story standing is the fact that Alma would negotiate with the SS leaders–particularly the well known “Angel of Death”, Josef Mengele–the girls who are in her orchestra will be kept alive and they had to perform in front of the SS leaders at Auschwitz. Through the Author’s note, this story was told from the survivors, who was a part of Alma’s orchestra at Auschwitz.

As usual, many Holocaust books I have read, this one is the most emotional and heartbreaking books I have read after Diary of a Young Girl – Anne Frank. The ending left me in tears but Alma’s story is worth telling to the world–her courageous and determination to keep the girls alive by making them train and perform in her orchestra. Worth five stars.

Ellie Midwood is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning historical fiction author. She owes her interest in the history of the Second World War to her grandfather, Junior Sergeant in the 2nd Guards Tank Army of the First Belorussian Front, who began telling her about his experiences on the frontline when she was a young girl. Growing up, her interest in history only deepened and transformed from reading about the war to writing about it. After obtaining her BA in Linguistics, Ellie decided to make writing her full-time career and began working on her first full-length historical novel, “The Girl from Berlin.” Ellie is continuously enriching her library with new research material and feeds her passion for WWII and Holocaust history by collecting rare memorabilia and documents.

In her free time, Ellie is a health-obsessed yoga enthusiast, neat freak, adventurer, Nazi Germany history expert, polyglot, philosopher, a proud Jew, and a doggie mama. Ellie lives in New York with her fiancé and their Chihuahua named Shark Bait.

Readers’ Favorite – winner in the Historical fiction category (2016) – “The Girl from Berlin: Standartenführer’s Wife” (first place)

Readers’ Favorite – winner in the Historical fiction category (2016) – “The Austrian” (honorable mention)

New Apple – 2016 Award for Excellence in Independent Publishing – “The Austrian” (official selection)

Readers’ Favorite – winner in the Historical fiction category (2017) – “Emilia”

Readers’ Favorite – winner in the Historical fiction category (2018) – “A Motherland’s Daughter, A Fatherland’s Son”