Instruments and works of art were stolen and very few were returned to their original owners afterwards because most of them were dead or could not be located. While this story is a novel, the circumstances of the theft of instrument were true to what actually happened in Germany and surrounding countries during the war. It is not an easy time in Russia, and even within a family, one must be careful not to say too much in case a family member will turn you in to the authorities.įinally the story returns to 2008 and we learn how the violin returns to inspire Daniel Horowitz and his family. The next part begins in 1945 when the violin through interesting circumstances ends up in the hands of a Russian who loves music and gifts it to his daughter, an extremely talented violinist. How Simon manages to survive is an incredible story that I won't spoil by going into details.
We learn of the violin's theft and the subsequent internment at Dachau of three members of the family. He determines to track down the 1742 Guarneri which was stolen from the Horowitz family by the Nazi's.īack to 1935 and the reader learns the horrific story of what happened to Simon and his family. A Spanish conductor works hard to try and come up with a solution to the problem and get Daniel playing again. He is fourteen though and baseball is just as important to him as music so when his parents ask him to stop playing baseball in case he will hurt his fingers,he rebels and refuses to play the violin at all. Simon's grandson Daniel Horowitz has also been taught to play the violin and is exceptionally talented. The most impressive is a 1742 Guarneri del Gesu which their family had owned for over 150 years and Simon knows that he is destined to play it as part of his career. They own many storied instruments including ones from the 17th and 18th century. His family own a bank and believe that nothing bad will happen to them. Simon Horowitz is following in the family tradition of playing the violin - a tradition passed on from father to son and so on. The story begins in Berlin in February of 1935 when life was getting very difficult for anyone of Jewish ethnicity. It moves between the past and present day in telling the story of an incredible violin and the different people who owned it. They For a debut novel I found this story very impressive. In taking on the task he discovers a family story like no other that winds from World War II and Communist Russia all the way to Rafael's very own stage.moreįor a debut novel I found this story very impressive.
#KEEPER OF SECRETS HOW TO#
When he learns the boy's family once owned a precious violin, believed to have been lost forever, Rafael thinks he might know exactly how to get Daniel playing again. Then the boy, Daniel Horowitz, suddenly refuses to play another note, and Rafael knows he'll do anything he can to change that. In the present day, orchestra conductor Rafael Gomez has seen much in his time on the world's stage, but he finds himself oddly inspired by the playing of an aspiring violin virtuoso, a fantastic talent who is only just fourteen. Amid unimaginable cruelty and death, Simon finds kindness from an unexpected corner, and a chance to pick up a violin again and a chance to live. But all is lost when the Nazis march across Europe and Simon and his father and brother are sent to Dachau. His family owns a superb collection of instruments and at its heart is his father's 1742 Guarneri de Gesu violin. Fourteen year old Simon Horowitz is awash in a world of music. A decision that could change everything.īerlin, 1939. Fourteen year old Simon Horowitz is awas Beautiful and mysterious, this debut novel follows a priceless violin across five decades-from WWII to Stalinist Russia to the gilded international concert halls of today-and reveals the loss, love, and secrets of the families who owned it.Ī priceless violin. Beautiful and mysterious, this debut novel follows a priceless violin across five decades-from WWII to Stalinist Russia to the gilded international concert halls of today-and reveals the loss, love, and secrets of the families who owned it.