The Last Waltz in Fans of Tristi Pinkston

Mar 31, 2009

Heather rated it:

Read in March, 2009

Modern teenagers of today might think people of early twentieth century Europe were a simple lot. After all, they rode in carriages, wrote letters by hand, and attended formal balls. The nobility did little else but gossip and discuss Parisian fashions. Yet, in GG Vandagriff’s newest novel, pre-World War I Austria explodes with intrigue, volatile politics that would eventually bring the Austrian people under Hitler’s rule, and a love story that proves that a woman’s heart is as vast ...more
Modern teenagers of today might think people of early twentieth century Europe were a simple lot. After all, they rode in carriages, wrote letters by hand, and attended formal balls. The nobility did little else but gossip and discuss Parisian fashions. Yet, in GG Vandagriff’s newest novel, pre-World War I Austria explodes with intrigue, volatile politics that would eventually bring the Austrian people under Hitler’s rule, and a love story that proves that a woman’s heart is as vast as the ocean.

In 1913, Amalia Faulhaber is just nineteen years old, engaged to a Baron who will secure her family’s social status. Her life is predictable as she follows the pattern set by the aristocracy. Then her fiancé breaks their engagement, telling her he must follow his childhood dream and join the Prussian army. He leaves for Germany that same day. Amalia is devastated, but even worse, humiliated. She hides the break-up until she can deliver a valid explanation to her family.

Yet as she is struggling with feelings of being rejected, she meets two men. One is another Baron—an Austrian who promises to choose her over his country. The other, a Pole, who holds the same ideals as Amalia and haunts her dreams and every waking moment.

But a terrible misunderstanding drives Amalia to make a mistake that she will pay for a lifetime. Soon after, World War I breaks out, and Amalia is forced to face her ghosts and heal from tragedy. She copes by working as a nurse, becoming a witness to unspeakable horrors.

Her family loses their position in society and politics and war take over any hope of Amalia ever marrying for true love. Austria is thrown into chaos as various government ideals struggle for power. Family members are forced to choose sides. Fortunes are lost. Jews are persecuted. Amalia’s only salvation is developing a relationship with the Lord. And she must learn to trust again.

Before reading this book, I’d never given too much thought to those who lived in pre-Hitler controlled Austria. Of course, I’ve seen the Sound of Music enough times to understand that those who did not swear allegiance to Hitler were in mortal danger. Yet, the events leading up to this historical time were fascinating. The Last Waltz was truly an epic love tale, spanning four decades of Amalia’s life—following her through triumph and tragedy. She’d lost so much, yet came out so strong. And through all of her temptations she remained a virtuous woman.

If I was to nitpick one thing, I would have liked more time and attention spent on the literal last waltz that took place near the end of the book.

Yet, overall GG Vandagriff has a talent for immersing the reader in a different time and place. I was interested to read her biography and discover that she’d lived and studied in Austria. The Last Waltz is also a novel that was thirty years in the making. I’m grateful it finally made it to me.
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Mar 24, 2009

Tristi rated it:

When I first received my copy of “The Last Waltz” in the mail, I was a little intimidated by its size. This bad boy comes in at 591 pages and one deftly placed blow would stop a midnight marauder in his tracks. But once I opened the covers, I was hooked and the size didn’t matter so much—in fact, it meant more story to enjoy.

The first thing that attracted me to the story is the fact that it’s set during World War I. We don’t see a lot of fiction based on this era—Wor...more When I first received my copy of “The Last Waltz” in the mail, I was a little intimidated by its size. This bad boy comes in at 591 pages and one deftly placed blow would stop a midnight marauder in his tracks. But once I opened the covers, I was hooked and the size didn’t matter so much—in fact, it meant more story to enjoy.

The first thing that attracted me to the story is the fact that it’s set during World War I. We don’t see a lot of fiction based on this era—World War II gets most of the attention in that regard. I also appreciated that the book was set in Austria, a country that is sometimes overlooked in the shadow of Germany’s history. And the third thing … well, I’m going to be blatantly honest. I’m not much of a romance reader, but this book had my heart going pitty-pat on more than one occasion.

We begin the book with nineteen-year-old Amalia, a girl born into the aristocracy, engaged to Eberhard von Waldburg, a Prussian baron. He has decided to enlist in the army and wants to call off their engagement, knowing war is eminent, and fearing he will be killed. She’s hurt and outraged, believing herself to be in love with him, but he tells her that someday, she’ll know what it means to truly be in love, and she’ll realize that her feelings for him were just an infatuation. This doesn’t soften the blow of his leaving, but soon she has the chance to realize what he meant, when Andrzej, a charming and enigmatic Polish doctor, comes into her life.

Their chemistry is instant, but she badly wants to avoid the scandal of her broken engagement to Eberhard seeming to come so soon before an engagement to another man. She puts Andrzej off, believing it to be for the best, but when he finds out she’s no longer engaged, and has been delaying him, his feelings are hurt and he lashes out at her in turn.

This sends both of their lives into a spiral. They each make decisions, some for good and some for ill, as fate continues to bring them together across the years. We see World War I through their eyes, and later, see the groundwork laid for World War II. I can only hope there is a sequel that will take us through that momentous event as well.

Through it all, we see Amalia grow up from the idealistic teenager to the mature woman who still wants to see the world made a fair place. She does the best she can with her circumstances, which are far from ideal, and we feel every bit of anguish she experiences as she copes with death, insanity, misplaced trust, misplaced mistrust, and a passion that lives in her heart, even though she tries time and time again to push it down.

I really liked this book. The history was woven in beautifully as we see the characters react to it. We didn’t jolt out of the story to hear rehearsed historical facts and figures – something that always drives me nuts when I’m reading a historical fiction. I felt connected to the characters and just about ate my liver out when Amalia … well, I’ll let you read the book for yourself and see if your liver comes out of it unscathed. I’ll just say, the book held me captive all afternoon and I congratulate author GG Vandagriff on a well-written, well-researched novel that deserves rich praise.

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Mar 25, 2009

Anne rated it:

Read in March, 2009

recommends it for: Everyone

I’m sad to have finished G. G. Vandagriff’s epic historical romance, The Last Waltz, and grateful for the splendid read. What a grand, eye-opening adventure! I feel like I’ve lived in Austria and Germany since Page 1 and enjoyed every minute of my visit.

This novel of love and war carries messages from which nations today could well take heed. Dangerous politics that produced World Wars I and II also brought immeasurable tragedies to individuals and families.

Along wi...more I’m sad to have finished G. G. Vandagriff’s epic historical romance, The Last Waltz, and grateful for the splendid read. What a grand, eye-opening adventure! I feel like I’ve lived in Austria and Germany since Page 1 and enjoyed every minute of my visit.

This novel of love and war carries messages from which nations today could well take heed. Dangerous politics that produced World Wars I and II also brought immeasurable tragedies to individuals and families.

Along with heartbreaks come selfless heroics, and individual growth. And this to me is the theme of The Last Waltz. One piece of dialogue that stays in my mind is found on Page 206 when the main character, spunky young Amalia, asks her friend Louisa, “And what is the ultimate tragedy, then?” Louisa replies, “To become less than we were born to be.”

To quote from the back cover:

“In this gripping tale of love and war, a dazzling young socialite of the old world contends with deeply contradictory notions and personal crises to become a woman who would be extraordinary in any age.”

Amalia has to choose between a love so deep it refuses to die, and a different kind of love that holds her heart with loyalties born of sacrifice, devotion, and an iron will.

I highly recommend this book for everyone who enjoys soaking up history in foreign lands and at the same time getting teary-eyed over a wonderful love story. I can well imagine The Last Waltz as a breath-taking movie production that fills movie theaters worldwide.

There is, however, one small thing I’d like to ask the author, and that is, “How do you pronounce Andrzej?”

From the publisher, Shadow Mountain: "The Last Waltz is a culminating work for the author. She started it decades ago during a study abroad in Austria and has been revising and researching it ever since. When she wasn't publishing one of the other half dozen novels she has published, she was working on this historical romance novel."

Paperback - 591 pages
ISBN 9781606410523
Price: $19.95 - 2009
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Mar 25, 2009

Taffy rated it:

bookshelves: lds-authors

Read in April, 2009

Mrs. Vandagriff's book is full of history and rich storytelling. Her research and characters shine throughout the book.

The story starts with an engaged Amalia, an idealistic teen living in Austria right before WWI. Her fiance, a Baron who will help her family's social status, feels he can not be married and a soldier at the same time so he breaks off the engagement. Amalia is shocked and embarrassed and hides the breakup for as long as she can.
Almost immediately, two men seem t...more

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Mar 30, 2009

Vicki rated it:

bookshelves: lds-books

Read in August, 2009

This book was an eye opener! I really never knew or cared before what the people in Austria went through before and during the two world wars. This book helped me to gain an understanding and some lessons in the way we as Americans see things. I will never take my freedom for granted again! I hope G.G. has a sequel planned, because I need it!

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