From the Publisher
An inspiring story of resilience and the power of
optimism-the true story of Alice Herz-Sommer, the world's oldest
living Holocaust survivor.
At 108 years old, the pianist Alice Herz-Sommer is an eyewitness
to the entire last century and the first decade of this one. She
has seen it all, surviving the Theresienstadt concentration camp,
attending the trial of Adolf Eichmann in Jerusalem, and along the
way coming into contact with some of the most fascinating
historical figures of our time. As a child in Prague, she spent
weekends and holidays in the company of Franz Kafka (whom she knew
as "Uncle Franz"), and Gustav Mahler, Sigmund Freud, and Rainer
Maria Rilke were friendly with her mother. When Alice moved to
Israel after the war, Golda Meir attended her house concerts, as
did Arthur Rubinstein, Leonard Bernstein, and Isaac Stern. Today
Alice lives in London, where she still practices piano for hours
every day.
Despite her imprisonment in Theresienstadt and the murders of her
mother, husband, and friends by the Nazis, and much later the
premature death of her son, Alice has been victorious in her
ability to live a life without bitterness. She credits music as the
key to her survival, as well as her ability to acknowledge the
humanity in each person, even her enemies. A Century of
Wisdom is the remarkable and inspiring story of one woman's
lifelong determination-in the face of some of the worst evils known
to man-to find goodness in life. It is a testament to the bonds of
friendship, the power of music, and the importance of leading a
life of material simplicity, intellectual curiosity, and
never-ending optimism.
Foreword by Václav Havel
About the Author
Caroline Stoessinger, a pianist, has appeared on
the stages of Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center and for twenty-five
years has performed with the Tokyo String Quartet and the Brooklyn
Philharmonic Orchestra. Stoessinger produced the televised
dedication of the Schindler violin at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial
Museum and the first New York production of Brundibár. She
has played in concert halls from Tokyo and Prague to Spillville,
Iowa, and for many years served as the artistic director at the
Cathedral of St. John the Divine. She is artistic director of
chamber music at the Tilles Center, artist-in-residence at John Jay
College, director of the Newberry Chamber Players at the Newberry
Opera House, and founder and president of the Mozart Academy. She
lives in New York City.
About the Book
An inspiring story of resilience and the power of optimism--the true story of Alice Herz-Sommer, the world's oldest living Holocaust survivor. "A Century of Wisdom" is the remarkable and inspiring story of one woman's lifelong determination--in the face of some of the worst evils known to man--to find goodness in life.
Format: Hardcover
Published: March 20, 2012
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Language: English
The following ISBNs are associated with this title:
ISBN - 10: 0812992814
ISBN - 13: 9780812992816
