While The Music Played
Book Feature - While The Music Played by Nathaniel Lande
Book Feature - While The Music Played by Nathaniel Lande
HBL Note: Calling all WWII historical fiction fans! This title is coming out tomorrow but I wanted to bring it to your attention so that you can pre-order it today. While the Music Played: A Remarkable Story of Courage and Friendship in WWII is by journalist, filmmaker, and author Nathaniel Lande. As soon as you read the description below you’ll see what I wanted to feature it on the blog. It has so many of the things I’m drawn to: history (especially of WWII), a beautiful story of friendship, and a little bit of art (in the form of music, this time.) Scroll down to read more.
Book Feature - While The Music Played by Nathaniel Lande
From the publisher:
Beginning in 1939 prewar Prague, While the Music Played focuses on the story of young Max Mueller, a curious bright romantic—a budding musician, piano tuner, and nascent journalist. Max is on the cusp of adolescence when the Nazi influence invades Prague’s tolerant spirit with alarming speed as he struggles to understand the changing world around him. When his father, noted German conductor Viktor Mueller, is conscripted into the German army and finds himself increasingly promoting the Nazi message, Viktor’s best friend, noted Czech composer Hans Krása, protests the occupation in every way he can.
As everyone Max loves is compromised by intolerable conditions, he becomes increasingly isolated, and is forced to find his own way. With each step, Max’s journey grows more conflicted. Music is the one constant connecting him to both the lost childhood he cherishes and the man he still hopes to become. But will it be enough to sustain him against the relentless Nazi threat?
With a seamless blend of historical and fictional characters, told from multiple points of view, and sweeping across the capitals of Prague, London, and Berlin as World War II ravages Europe, this meticulously researched book is unique with its diverse and interweaving narratives, threaded with news accounts, and encompassing some of the most triumphant and devastating moments of the war—from the opera houses of Berlin to the music halls of London and the making of the famous children’s opera Brundibár.
While the Music Played is a lyrical, absorbing, and heartbreaking story of love and courage from the widely revered and bestselling author Nathaniel Lande.
Book Feature - While The Music Played by Nathaniel Lande
