The Pianist - Alberto R

The majority of Eastern European Jews who perished during World War II met their demise in overcrowded ghettos or concentration camps across the Third Reich. These camps were either designed for extermination on an industrial scale or forced labor, where the younger and stronger were slowly starved. However, some, like Władysław Szpilman, managed to escape this fate by going underground, saved from certain death on trains to camps like Treblinka.

Born in Sosnowiec, Poland, in 1911, Szpilman gained fame as a pianist and composer before the war disrupted his career. He recorded his survival in his memoir, "The Pianist," recounting his time in the Warsaw Ghetto and hiding. Initially published in 1946, it was later reprinted in various languages, solidifying his legacy as a survivor and artist.

In August 1939, as German troops invaded Poland, Szpilman continued his work at Warsaw Radio during the siege and bombardment. Life for Jews in Warsaw deteriorated rapidly as laws by the Nazi's stripped away their rights, leading to their confinement in the ghetto by November 1940. Szpilman supported his family through his musical talents until they faced deportation to Treblinka in 1942.

Szpilman's memoir presents a firsthand account of survival during the Holocaust. Despite the horrors recounted, Szpilman's narrative remains clear and devoid of moralizing, offering a nuanced perspective on the human experience during tragedy and suffering. His work stands as a powerful example to resilience and serves as a reminder that history is more complicated than we think.

Extracts from the diaries of the German officer who aided Szpilman further the narrative, offering insight into individual feeling and thought collective suffering. The movie made from the book is really touching and is a great pick if you want to see how people can make it through tough times and still stay human.

9/10