The Piano Teacher of Montparnasse by Heather Morris is listed as historical fiction, but there are places where truths are woven into the story. WWII caused so much damage to so many places. Paris was only one of them. The horror of being taken with little to no warning, always having to watch your back due to collaborators and the horror of the world under the Nazis.
The Nazis broke into Josephine’s family’s apartment to arrest them as they were Jewish. However Josephine was not taken and she escaped to her piano teacher’s home. Andree and her parents take in Josie and she becomes Josephine Levallois. The story then revolves around the Levallois and Josie as they make a family, continue their resistance work and try to survive until the end of the war.
Heather Morris wove in actual events and people in the story although she was careful to change enough information to protect people. The story is both hopeful and horrifying at the same time. Full of poignancy and angst, the characters learn to live with fear, meager food, curfews and traitors. The Piano Teacher of Montparnasse by Heather Morris is an awesome read!
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
