And After the Fire

More about the book

The New York Times-bestselling author of A Fierce Radiance and City of Light presents a powerful novel inspired by historical events, focusing on two women—one European and one American—and a mysterious choral masterpiece by Johann Sebastian Bach that transforms their lives. In the aftermath of World War II in 1945 Germany, American soldier Henry Sachs takes an old music manuscript from a deserted mansion, inadvertently killing a girl who tries to stop him. Fast forward to 2010 America, where Henry's niece, Susanna Kessler, grapples with the aftermath of a violent incident in New York City. Following Henry's death, she discovers the long-hidden manuscript and becomes determined to uncover its significance and return it to its rightful owner, a quest that challenges her understanding of her family's history and offers a chance for reconciliation with her past. Meanwhile, in Berlin in 1796, renowned musician Sara Itzig Levy conceals an anti-Jewish cantata gifted to her by Bach's son, a piece that will haunt her family for generations. Interweaving Susanna's and Sara's stories across over two centuries—from the 18th century through the Holocaust to the present—this narrative seamlessly blends history with personal journeys, resonating with deep emotion and immediacy.