A historical novel inspired by the experiences of Sharon Kurtzman's own family after the Holocaust, THE LOST BAKER OF VIENNA is a sweeping saga about survival, loss, love and the reverberating effects of war.
In 2018, Zoe Rosenzweig is reeling after the loss of her beloved grandfather, a Holocaust survivor. She becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to her family during the war.
Vienna, 1946: Chana Rosenzweig has endured the horrors of war to find herself, her mother and her younger brother finally free in Vienna. But freedom doesn’t look like they’d imagined it would, as they struggle to make a living and stay safe.
Despite the danger, Chana sneaks out most nights to return to the hotel kitchen where she works as a dishwasher, using the quiet nighttime hours to bake her late father’s recipes. Soon, Chana finds herself caught in a dangerous love triangle, torn between the black-market dealer who has offered marriage and protection, and the apprentice baker who shares her passions. How will Chana balance her love of baking against her family’s need for security?
THE LOST BAKER OF VIENNA affirms the unbreakable bonds of family, shining a light on the courageous spirit of WWII refugees as they battle to survive the overwhelming hardships of a world torn apart.
- Click here to read our review.
- Click here to read an excerpt.
- Click here to read Carol Fitzgerald's Bookreporter.com Bets On commentary.
- Click here for the discussion guide on ReadingGroupGuides.com.
- Click here to read Sharon Kurtzman's bio.
- Click here to watch Carol's “Bookreporter Talks To” interview with Sharon Kurtzman.
- Click here to listen to a podcast of the interview.
- Click here to visit Sharon Kurtzman's website.
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