The War Pianist: from the internationally bestselling author comes a BRAND NEW and gripping WWII historical fiction novel about love, loss and the worst kind of betrayal

Product Information

An exciting and heartbreaking story of WWII resistance in Amsterdam. A story of courage and strength of those brave men and women that resisted the Nazi's during the occupation of Amsterdam. I like that this author used a so-called, 'ordinary and mundane' woman who thinks little of herself and her own abilitiies and took her outside of her boxed-in self in ways that astounds her - you know the scenario where one needs to pinch oneself to see if what is happening is reality. Such was Miss Marnie Fern of BBC, and the main character in this thrilling tale. Other characters with spine and some with dubiousness, are: Gatsby; Corrie; Willem; Daisy, Lizzy, Darcy, Jan, Gus, Dirk, dear young Felix, Miss Roach, Raymond and the abominable Lother Selig, to name a few. There is also sadness, after all, there's a war on, but also a touch of romance, humor, and good naturededness, which when all combined, creates a kaleidoscope of exceptional enjoyment. A front row seat to the survival of the Blitz in London as well as the Dutch resistance work. Fascinating…riveting.’ Real Reader Review, Corrie Bakker is also a Pianist, and she ends up in a very dangerous situation. She fights to protect her family, but also herself. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Many thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for this opportunity.

The piano piece heard at the beginning of the film is Chopin's Nocturne in C-sharp minor Lento con gran espressione, Op. posth.The cello piece heard at the middle of the film, played by Dorota, is the Prelude from Bach's Cello Suite No. 1. Bound together by the invisible wires of their radios, the two women lead parallel lives in their home cities, as both are betrayed by those they trust the most. But when the Nazis close in on one of them, only the other can save her… The War Pianist is the second Mandy Robotham novel I have read via NetGalley. As was the case of that first novel, The War Pianist focuses on the roles of women in dealing with the Nazi occupation of Northern European countries during WWII. A portion of The War Pianist takes place in London during the Blitz. The final third of the novel moves to Amsterdam. The entire novel, though, is fraught with tension and the risk of betrayal. The story tells us how Marnie after the death of her grandfather replaced him at his post and became an undercover radio operator or pianist for the Dutch resistance and set to complete his mission at any cost. a b " THE PIANIST (15)". British Board of Film Classification. 3 July 2002 . Retrieved 24 October 2023.

The Pianist" begins in Warsaw, Poland in September, 1939, at the outbreak of the Second World War, first introducing Wladyslaw (Wladek) Szpilman, who works as a pianist for the local radio. The Polish Army has been defeated in three weeks by the German Army and Szpilman's radio station is bombed while he plays live on the air. While evacuating the building he finds a friend of his who introduces him to his sister, Dorota. Szpilman is immediately attracted to her. This story has everything, espionage, love and romance, danger, betrayal, flight, imprisonment by the Nazi's and the daring exploits of the young resistance fighters. This gripping and heartbreaking WW11 historical fiction is set in Blitz-ridden London and Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. The piano music heard in the abandoned house when Szpilman had just discovered a hiding place in the attic is the Piano Sonata No. 14 (Moonlight Sonata) by Beethoven. It would later be revealed that German officer Hosenfeld was the pianist. The German composition juxtaposed with the mainly Polish/Chopin selection of Szpilman.

I loved that both pianists, one in Blitzed London and one in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam relied on their skill and put their life on the line for the war effort. Robotham made sure her readers knew exactly what was involved in this risk and the tension is palpable. As I got further into the book, I realized how similar these two girls’ journeys really were and the trust they needed to develop in each other to survive. I appreciated the fresh perspective of ‘fighting’ in the Dutch resistance. Marnie Fern works as a production assistant for the BBC in London. She is devasted to hear that her grandfather has been killed while working at his shop. While visiting the ruins, as she wants something to remember him by, she meets Willem who tells her that her grandfather worked for the resistance as a Pianist, which was also known as a Radio operator. Tapping Morse coded messages to and from the resistance in Amsterdam. She tells Willem what she does at the BBC to Willem and tells her she will be a great candidate to be a Pianist herself. Taking over the duties left from her grandfather. She agrees to help them fight the war against the Nazi’s. In an interview, Brody said: “The beauty of what I do is it gives you the opportunity to give up who you are and attempt to understand someone else, another time, other struggles, other emotions. If you really do experience a lot of them, you connect, and it’s very rewarding. She emerges from the underground shelter that she was pushed into by the tide of humanity and heads towards her grandfather's desperately hoping that last night's bombing has left him unscathed only to discover that the air raid has destroyed everything. Rushing beyond the barriers she desperately looks for him. After being told the bad news she is determined to see him; he isn't marked, no physical wounds and looks so peaceful she can't believe he is dead. Hare, William (2004). LA Noir: Nine Dark Visions of the City of Angels. Jefferson, North Carolina: Macfarland and Company. p.207. ISBN 0-7864-1801-X.