Grosse Fugue 
by Ian Phillips

Grosse Fugue interweaves the sublime and the depraved to create a searing tale of tragedy and reconciliation. This gripping epic charts the journey of a virtuoso violinist from child prodigy, through conscription into the trenches of the First World War, to a life in post-war Austria that is violently interrupted by the Holocaust.

Sweeping through London, Vienna, Paris, Toulouse, Auschwitz and beyond, the novel tracks the fate of Reuben Mendel and his family, played out against the seismic events of the 20th Century.

Grosse Fugue is a story of love, loss, identity and the need to make sense of catastrophe. It provocatively examines the legacy of genocide, survivor guilt and the redemptive power of great music.


"With necessary courage, graceful overstatement, and implausible wit, Grosse Fugue addresses the most difficult questions. What possible meeting ground exists between art and historical horror? Can there be music after Auschwitz? How might a Holocaust survivor offer up his extraordinary gifts after he has lost everything? I am in awe of Ian Phillips."
Michael Alec Rose, Composer and Author

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