Alice's Piano: the Life of Alice Herz-sommer

Brief Description: Translation of: Alice Herz-Sommer, "ein Garten Eden inmitten der H'olle."Marc Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.; Translated from the German. Biographical Note: MELISSA MULLER is an author and journalist living in Munich. Her collaboration with Traudl Junge became an international bestseller. She is also the author of "Anne Frank: The Biography. """REINHARD PIECHOCKI is the author of a number of works of cultural history and a close friend of Alice Herz-Sommer's for many years. ALICE HERZ-SOMMER, at 107 years old, is the oldest living Holocaust survivor. She lives in London."Review Quotes:"Most moving is the story throughout of her loving bond with her son and how she saved him. No politics, intolerance, or self-righteousness, no talk of revenge, always the rigor and joy of music."--"Booklist" (Starred Review) "A miraculous journey of mother and son for whom music provided strength and nourishment."--"Kirkus Reviews"Publisher Marketing:"How music provided hope in one of the world's darkest times--the inspirational life story of Alice Herz-Sommer, the oldest living Holocaust survivor"Alice Herz-Sommer was born in Prague in 1903. A talented pianist from a very early age, she became famous throughout Europe; but, as the Nazis rose to power, her world crumbled. In 1942, her mother was deported to the Theresienstadt concentration camp and vanished. In 1943, Alice, her husband and their six-year-old son were sent there, too. In the midst of horror, music, especially Chopin's "Etudes, " was Alice's salvation. Theresienstadt was a "show camp," a living slice of Nazi propaganda created to convince outsiders that the Jews were being treated humanely. In more than a hundred concerts, Alice gave her fellow prisoners hope in a time of suffering. Written with the cooperation of Alice Herz-Sommer, Melissa Muller and Reinhard Piechocki's "Alice's Piano" is the first time her story has been told. At 107 years old, she continues to play her piano in London and bring hope to many. " Review Citations:

Kirkus Reviews 01/15/2012 (EAN 9781250007414, Hardcover)

Booklist 02/15/2012 pg. 11 (EAN 9781250007414, Hardcover) - *Starred Review

Contributor Bio:  Mueller, Melissa Melissa Mueller is associate professor of classics at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She has published widely on the topics of tragedy and Homer. Contributor Bio:  Piechocki, Reinhard REINHARD PIECHOCKI is the author of a number of works of cultural history and a close friend of Alice Herz-Sommer's for many years. He is co-author of "Alice's Piano: The Life of Alice Herz-Sommer". Contributor Bio:  Herz-Sommer, Alice ALICE HERZ-SOMMER, at 107 years old, is the oldest living Holocaust survivor. She lives in London.