The pianist

Written shortly after the end of World War II, The Pianist conveys a devastating immediacy found in few books about the period. This new edition, which includes a previously unpublished foreword by Andrzej Szpilman, serves as a beautiful testament to the human capacity for resilience and healing through compassion.

On September 23, 1939, Władysław Szpilman played Chopin's "Nocturne in C minor" on the radio as bombs fell around the studio—the roar was so loud he could barely hear his own piano. It was Warsaw's last live music experience. Later that day, a German bomb hit the station, and Polskie Radio went off the air. Despite losing his entire family, Szpilman survived. Eventually, some time later, his life was saved by a German captain who heard him play the same Chopin nocturne on a piano found in an abandoned building.

In The Pianist , Szpilman recounts his life in the Warsaw ghetto and his escape from it, his experiences in hiding, and how he survived the destruction of the Polish capital. The author reveals a story of suffering, loss, and hope in a vivid and realistic way. His experiences vividly demonstrate the polarity of human behavior—cruelty and kindness—seen during the war.

Władysław Szpilman paints a portrait of his life between 1939 and 1945 in an authentic and moving narrative of the Holocaust period, from the perspective of a survivor of the Warsaw ghetto, where Jews were stripped of their humanity as yet another form of Nazi torture. A historical and humane document of one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century, it inspired Roman Polanski's film of the same name, winner of the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and three Oscars: Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

“Extraordinary... A document of lasting historical and human value.” – Los Angeles Times

“Historically indispensable.” – The Washington Post

“Astonishing... Even by the standards set by Holocaust accounts, this book is shocking.” – Seattle Weekly

“For a change, 'unforgettable' is the right word.” – The Guardian