The Lost Baker of Vienna: The breathtaking love story inspired by true events after the Holocaust
By (Author) Sharon Kurtzman
Headline Publishing Group
Headline Review
12th August 2025
United Kingdom
General
Fiction
Historical fiction
The Holocaust
Narrative theme: Identity / belonging
Paperback
432
Width 153mm, Height 234mm
Papa whispered to Chana, 'If we get separated, if something happens to me, look after Mama and Aron. And one last thing-' He smoothed an affectionate hand over her hair. 'Remember everything I've taught you, and all your gifts. Promise me this.'
Inspired by the extraordinary experiences of the author's mother and her family during and after the Holocaust, The Lost Baker of Vienna is a testament to the courage and defiance of women in a world torn apart.2018. When Zoe Rosenzweig's beloved grandfather dies, Zoe travels to Vienna to speak to an elusive man who may be the only person who can help her unearth the hidden story of her grandparents. Haunted by what she does not know, Zoe risks her journalism career and her home to find the truth. 1946. Having survived a concentration camp, Chana Rosenzweig arrives in Vienna seeking not only protection for her and her family, but also the freedom to be a baker, just as her father had once been. Torn between a black-market dealer who offers escape to Europe, and an apprentice baker who shares her dreams, Chana battles to stay true to herself and the promise she made her father to live against all odds... Deeply moving and poignant, this sweeping dual-timeframe tale celebrates the unbreakable bonds of family and the resilience of women. 'By turns mysterious, tender, suspenseful, harrowing, and moving, The Lost Baker of Vienna illuminates an important time and place little explored in WWII fiction. I was captivated from the first page of this story about Holocaust survivors in the war's aftermath and beyond... A powerful must-read debut' THERESE ANNE FOWLER'The Lost Baker of Vienna is a story of survival, sacrifice, and the enduring bonds of family. Above all, it is a testament to the power of love' MARJAN KAMALIReal readers love The Lost Baker of Vienna: 'Wow, what a beautiful book' 'The story of Chana, a Jewish young woman and her strength, perseverance, and courage' 'A welcome new take on a World War II novel' 'Enjoyed the characters'Sharon Kurtzman earned her MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. As a freelance food writer, her work has appeared in INDY Week and South Writ Large, and she served as a judge in the North Carolina Triangle's 2019 Chicken Soup Cookoff. She is also a former blogger for The Huffington Post and a former contributor at BetterAfter50.com. She has had two fiction pieces nominated for the Pushcart Prize, and won the 2018 Grand Prize in Carolina Woman Magazine's annual writing contest. Sharon has been a writer-in-residence at the Weymouth Center for the Arts and Humanities and is a member of the Women's Fiction Writers Association. Sharon grew up in New Jersey and now calls the South home.