“Fresh. Fascinating. Unforgettable. The Butterfl y and the Violin is a masterpiece of a debut.” —Laura Frantz, author of Love’s Reckoning
“. . . impossible to put down.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 1/2 Stars, TOP PICK!
A Mysterious painting breathes hope and beauty into the darkest corners of Auschwitz—and the loneliest hearts of Manhattan.
Manhattan art dealer Sera James watched her world crumble at the altar two years ago, and her heart is still fragile. Her desire for distraction reignites a passion for a mysterious portrait she first saw as a young girl—a painting of a young violinist with piercing blue eyes.
In her search for the painting, Sera crosses paths with William Hanover—the grandson of a wealthy California real estate mogul—who may be the key to uncovering the hidden masterpiece. Together Sera and William slowly unravel the story behind the painting’s subject: Austrian violinist Adele Von Bron.
A darling of the Austrian aristocracy of 1942, talented violinist, and daughter to a high-ranking member of the Third Reich, Adele risks everything when she begins smuggling Jews out of Vienna. In a heartbeat, her life of prosperity and privilege dissolves into a world of starvation and barbed wire.
As Sera untangles the secrets behind the painting, she finds beauty in the most unlikely of places: the grim camps of Auschwitz and the inner recesses of her own troubled heart.
“In her historical series debut, Cambron expertly weaves together multiple plotlines, time lines, and perspectives to produce a poignant tale of the power of love and faith in difficult circumstances. Those interested in stories of survival and the Holocaust, such as Eli Wiesel’s Night, will want to read.” —Library Journal, starred review
“. . . debut novelist Cambron vividly recounts interwoven sagas of heartache and recovery through courage, love, art, and faith.” —Publishers Weekly
Includes Reading Group Guide
-
Sexual Content - 1/5
1/5
-
Violence - 1/5
1/5
-
Language - 0/5
0/5
-
Drugs and Alcohol - 0/5
0/5
Summary
A symphony of story; full of magnificent high notes and terrifying low notes; written with unimaginable, inexpressible historical events in the shadows; culminating with a contemporary love story that was mesmerizing. Just the title alone; \"The Butterfly and the Violin\" was intriguing, but this debut novel by Kristy Cambron surpassed intrigue, as she crafted chapter after chapter of superb historical fiction. When beautiful Austrian violinist Adele Von Bron, daughter of a high profile officer in the Third Reich, dares to \"break rank\" and assist the man she loves, Vladimir Nicolai, with transporting Jewish families out of Vienna, the consequences are monumental. Sent to Auschwitz, her life is spared when she becomes a member of the Women's Orchestra; forced to play beautiful music in the midst of horrific circumstances. Befriended by a woman named Omara, Adele attempts to survive; especially after viewing a beautiful piece of art, painted by none other than Omara herself. Sera James, a Manhattan art dealer is obsessed with finding an original painting that she saw in Paris as a child; the masterpiece depicted a lovely violinist; head shaved and forearm tattooed with the brand of horrors. Her search brings her to the home of California millionaire William Hanover, the grandson of a wealthy real estate baron; William is also searching for the painting, for an entirely different reason; his future and the future of his family depends on it. When Sera and William attempt to combine efforts in order to find the elusive painting, they learn, as Adele did so many years before them, that beauty can in fact, come out of ashes. \"God plants the talent and it grows, sustained by a spirit¬given strength to endure, even in the midst of darkness. It thrives in the valleys of life and ignores the peaks. it blooms like a flower when cradled by the warmth of the sun. It remains in a hidden stairwell in a concentration camp. It grows, fed in secret, in the heart of every artist. \" \"The Butterfly and the Violin\" is a story that I will not soon forget. It is outstanding.
Violence: Although the setting lends itself to violent descriptions, the author did a wonderful job of describing the scenes without over¬graphic details.