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The Piano War
The Piano War by by Graeme Friedman
287 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
About the author
Graeme Friedman
10 books7 followersBorn in Cape Town, Graeme Friedman is a former anti-apartheid activist, a clinical psychologist, and an award-winning writer whose short stories have appeared in anthologies published internationally. His latest novel, What the Boy Hears When the Girl Dreams (Lusaris, 2021), is, in the words of one reviewer, both ‘whimsical and tender’ and ‘a powerful and moving exploration of friendship, trauma, loss and recovery.’
An earlier novel, The Fossil Artist (Jacana, 2010), a story about crime and authenticity, what it means to be human and how we come to love, was shortlisted for a 2011 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and the M-Net Literary Award. Friedman is also the author of the critically acclaimed The Piano War (David Philip, 2003), an unbelievable yet true story of love and survival set against the horrors of World War II, and of Madiba’s Boys, a non-fiction book on South African football, politics, and history, published in South Africa (New Africa Books, 2001) and the United Kingdom (Comerford & Miller, 2001) with a foreword by Nelson Mandela. Madiba’s Boys was a Top Ten Sports Book in the United Kingdom.
Friedman has co-edited a collection of prose and poetry entitled A Writer in Stone (David Philip, 1998), and has written on the topics of torture and the political trial, based on his experience as a trauma counsellor and an expert witness for the defence—mostly ANC freedom fighters—during political trials of the apartheid era. He is currently completing a PhD on the topic of shame, terror, and storytelling in the political trial.
He has appeared at writers’ festivals and workshops in South Africa and Australia, where he now lives with his wife and their three children, all of whom share his love of story.
An earlier novel, The Fossil Artist (Jacana, 2010), a story about crime and authenticity, what it means to be human and how we come to love, was shortlisted for a 2011 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and the M-Net Literary Award. Friedman is also the author of the critically acclaimed The Piano War (David Philip, 2003), an unbelievable yet true story of love and survival set against the horrors of World War II, and of Madiba’s Boys, a non-fiction book on South African football, politics, and history, published in South Africa (New Africa Books, 2001) and the United Kingdom (Comerford & Miller, 2001) with a foreword by Nelson Mandela. Madiba’s Boys was a Top Ten Sports Book in the United Kingdom.
Friedman has co-edited a collection of prose and poetry entitled A Writer in Stone (David Philip, 1998), and has written on the topics of torture and the political trial, based on his experience as a trauma counsellor and an expert witness for the defence—mostly ANC freedom fighters—during political trials of the apartheid era. He is currently completing a PhD on the topic of shame, terror, and storytelling in the political trial.
He has appeared at writers’ festivals and workshops in South Africa and Australia, where he now lives with his wife and their three children, all of whom share his love of story.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 5, 2014
Although a rather slow moving story, having known Dr Hermer made the story a wonderful read. I only wish I'd been old enough to read this when he was still alive!
February 26, 2020
Recommended read. A wondeful recounting of a personal 'love story' during a horrible time in history.
A little snippet of noteworthy trivia! - P.G. Wodehouse (noted author) was in the same camp in Southern Poland as Olda Mehr's father, Joseph. Wodehouse tried to make light of a bad situation giving a a humorous talk to others in the camp entitled "How to be an Internee without Previous Training."
A little snippet of noteworthy trivia! - P.G. Wodehouse (noted author) was in the same camp in Southern Poland as Olda Mehr's father, Joseph. Wodehouse tried to make light of a bad situation giving a a humorous talk to others in the camp entitled "How to be an Internee without Previous Training."
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews