The Cellist of Dachau

by Martin Goodman

The Cellist of Dachau is an acclaimed and “masterful” novel of the Holocaust— the legacy that haunts us, and the music that binds us. In 1938, Otto Schalmik, a 19-year-old musician from a Jewish family in Vienna, is arrested by Nazi police. Transported to Dachau, he is summoned to the home of the camp’s Adjutant, who forces him to scrub the floors and play Bach on a priceless looted cello. In 1990s California, Otto, now a world-famous composer, and a young Australian musicologist, Rosa, discover the ways in which their lives are linked through music and history. Weaving together stories from both sides of Nazi Germany, The Cellist Of Dachau explores the ongoing impact of war and the power of music as a transcending force to heal and rebuild lives.

330 pages, Paperback

Published October 10, 2023

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Martin David Goodman is a historian and writer on Roman history and the history of the Jews in the Roman period.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When 19 year old cellist Otto is taken from his Vienna home to the concentration camp Dachau, he is able to survive with the music in his head as company. He is singled out by the camp Adjutant for duty at his villa: first he must scrub the floors, then he must play a looted Stradivarius cello for his deaf, pregnant wife. It all sounds a little absurd, but everything was during this time of upheaval and war. Goodman does not hold back in his depictions of horrific conditions and brutality.

The first half of the novel, when Otto is in captivity, was written in more of a stream of consciousness style. The latter half depicts the lives of those who survived. Otto becomes a world-renowned musician and composer. A biographer named Rosa asks to interview him, and their interaction is a good portion of the second half. There is a connection between Otto and Rosa that bonds them and I enjoyed how their combativeness and cooperation played out.

The writing was lyrical, almost as much as the music it invoked. I found reading this novel to be a very immersive experience.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

[Terezie Růžičková · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think this book should be read word by word. It should be listened as a melody.

[Pharlap · Rating 4 out of 5]

My highest rating for a book in many years.
Amazing book confirming a saying - when the music starts, the words end.
Of course there are words, 318 pages of them but for most of the book they are very discreet, transcending words, music, life, feelings, emotions - impossible to be expressed in other words.
Story line... not just one, few - all of them connecting Holocaust victims and music.
Of course everything comes to the end, here I experienced disappointment - in the last few chapters the author confronts two key characters and tries to explain all what was unclear and mysterious throughout the book. In my opinion it is a failure.
Second thoughts...
Over one week since fished reading - still thinking about connecting in the book quite contradicting story lines. Final conclusion was surprising - Rose - granddaughter of Adiutant of Dachau concentration camp is in some way also a granddaughter of Otto - victim of Holocaust. I do not know if it was authors intention, but I suppose he could expect such conclusions.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a different book for me and I selected it because it was available and looked interesting. I enjoyed the beauty of the story being told thru the reference to music. My only criticism is that I expected a more conclusive ending.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know what I think of this one. I think it's one that needs to percolate.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A moving look at the “Holocaust story” from a musician survivor.

[Kathy Schwentke · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was disappointing. The mid section was very dry. I had to force myself to continue reading and then skipped ahead to the last chapter.