Hiding in the Spotlight
Hiding in the Spotlight by Greg Dawson, published by Pegasus Books in October 2010, presents the extraordinary story of a young girl whose musical talent becomes her lifeline during the Holocaust. At just six years old, Zhanna showcases a remarkable repertoire that earns her scholarships to prestigious Soviet conservatories. However, her life takes a drastic turn in 1941 when the Nazi Army invades Ukraine, leading to a harrowing escape from certain death alongside her family.
This reprint edition, spanning 296 pages, delves into Zhanna’s journey as she navigates the dangers of war while adopting a new identity. With only a copy of Chopin’s Fantasy Impromptu and her father’s words urging her to survive, she roams the countryside, constantly evading recognition. Her musical prowess ultimately captures the attention of a local Nazi battalion leader, transforming her into a performer for the occupying forces. The narrative intertwines themes of survival, music, and the harsh realities of war, offering readers a poignant exploration of resilience and identity amidst adversity.
Official synopsis Publisher
The extraordinary story of a young girl whose musical genius saves her from the Holocaust
By the age of six, Zhanna had developed a repertoire fellow students twice her age would envy. Scholarships to the most prestigious conservatories in the Soviet Union soon followed?conservatories that had produced legends like Rachmaninoff, Kogan, and Horowitz.
In 1941 disaster strikes. The Nazi Army is smashing through the Ukraine en route to Moscow. Zhanna and her family are to be executed alongside thousands of others in the ravines of Drobitsky Yar. A few short miles from certain death, her father bribes a nearby guard, and she escapes into the forest with only the clothes on her back, a copy of Chopin’s Fantasy Impromptu in her pocket, and her father’s parting words echoing in her head: “I don’t care what you do, just live.”
Adopting a new identity and ever fearful of recognition, Zhanna roamed the ravaged countryside. One lonely evening, the head of a local Nazi battalion hears her play. he is so taken with her exquisite interpretation of Chopin that little Zhanna soon becomes the performing darling of the Nazi forces. 12 black-and-white photographs
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