Synopsis

A powerful tale of love, music, and survival during WWII. The story follows Lukas Bauer, a gifted teenage pianist, and Anna Stein, the daughter of a respected Jewish doctor, who becomes his muse and his compass. When the Nazis rise to power, their quiet town of Oberdorf begins to change. Lukas and Anna, once inseparable, find themselves on different sides of a dangerous divide. Lukas is forced to play for Nazi officers, while Anna’s family is marked for persecution. But music becomes their secret weapon. With Anna’s help, Lukas encodes messages in musical scores for the underground resistance. As air raid sirens scream and friends disappear, the two risk everything to save others, and each other. After a daring escape to Switzerland and the eventual liberation, they are torn again by the demands of survival. They are reunited through working in the underground. Both dedicate themselves to rebuilding lives through music and humanitarian work. They travel through devastated cities to bring aid, hope, and healing. When they are offered a chance to migrate to Australia, they question, if they can leave Europe behind and start anew in a land of peace? It is a sweeping novel of survival, courage, and the enduring power of love and art in the face of unspeakable darkness.grity, ensuring that everything we do reflects our commitment to excellence.