5 Stars
I loved The Pianist for a number of reasons but the supreme reason goes to Władysław Szpilman's storytelling. Szpilman writes down the struggles he had endured to survive, when Warsaw was under occupation by the Nazis. Władysław voice never grows bitter, plus, his emotions never twist to abhorrence, and it’s why, I find myself respecting him so admirably. His story was in no means out of hatred or disgust. His intention was not to spit political statements about WWII. As mentioned on the title, it was solely based on his extraordinary true story to survive when the whole of Europe went into chaos. Not to forget, it was about his determination to live long enough, in the hopes to achieve his dream.
Wladyslaw Szpilman was a polish Jew born in Warsaw. He had three siblings and two loving parents. He was a talented musician growing up; he studied in Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw, Poland and then attended the prestigious Academy of Arts in Berlin, before Hitler was in power. He then worked at a polish radio performing Jazz and classical music. But at 1939, the Nazis invaded Poland and developed a new general government, which established a ghetto in Warsaw, specifically for Jews. Life for Władysław turned into a daily torture. Hunger and illness sweeped every corner of the streets in the ghetto. Senseless hate by the Nazis and unjustified death leads Szpilman to escape, rather than await his death. However survival behind the walls of the Warsaw ghetto - proves to be as difficult as a rapid death.
“Tomorrow I must begin a new life. How could I do it, with nothing but death behind me? What vital energy could I draw from death?”
Szpilman, out of all odds survived the six year war. Considering all he underwent, it did not leave him with a taste of vengeance and animosity. I thought at first, if I read more in-between the lines, then I would catch some slight repugnance towards the Germans, but Władysław displayed none whatsoever. I was not the only one curious about this, so when the book reached the epilogue (written by a German poet Wolf Biermann), I finally had my answer, which simply strengthens my respect for Szpilman.
“One thing strikes me; Szpilman’s emotional register seems to include no desire for revenge. We once had a conversation in Warsaw; he had toured the world as a pianist and was now sitting, exhausted, at his old grand piano, which needed tuning. He made an almost childish remark, half ironically but half in deadly earnest. “When I was young man I studied in music for two years in Berlin. I just can’t make Germans out…they were so extremely musical!”
I will lastly talk about Captain Wilm Hosenfeld (who I can't help but include in my review). Captain Wilm at first, really appeared as if something out of a fairy-tale - the bad guy aiding the ‘enemy.’ Hosenfeld helped Szpilman survive when he was closest to his death. Captain Wilm Hosenfeld is very much a hero with his capability to clearly draw the line between wrong and right, when countless other Nazis were utterly naïve. The book gives an extract from the diary of Hosenfeld. His opinions are very matter of fact on how villainous the Nazi Germans were.
“It is hard to believe all this, and I try not to, not so much of anxiety for the future of our nation, which will have to pay for these monstrous things someday – but because I can’t believe Hitler wants such things and there are Germans who will give such order. If it so, there can only explain: they’re sick, abnormal or mad.”
Overall, you might/or might not pick up The Pianist, but if you’re still interested in the story, then the film version of The Pianist is also a great insight of Władysław Szpilman's survival.
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