22/04/2025
Anne Sebba at the Authors’ Club
April’s speaker at the Authors’ Club was the distinguished historian and biographer Anne Sebba, who gave us an eloquent and at times moving insight into the research for her book The Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz, A Story of Survival (Wiedenfeld & Nicholson, 2025).
Almost fifty women and girls from eleven nations, mostly Jewish but including some resistance fighters, were assembled and required to play both for the forced labour battalions and for the SS rulers of Auschwitz. For all of them, it was harrowing. For most, it was life-saving. Anne Sebba set out to ‘restore the humanity and individuality’ of these women, who were conducted by Alma Rosé, the niece of Gustav Mahler.
A full report, by Authors’ Club member Miranda Miller, will appear on our web site shortly.
Forthcoming dates:
Weds 30 April: Meet the ‘Best First Novel Award’ shortlisted writers at the National Liberal Club, London, SW1A 2HE.
Thursday 15 May: lunch with novelist Ben Markovits at the National Liberal Club.
Weds 21 May: The BFNA winner will be announced at a dinner at the National Liberal Club.
About the Authors’ Club:
The Authors’ Club is a social club for all those in the profession of writing. Meetings and events are held at the National Liberal Club on the embankment. If you wish to discuss membership, please make contact via our web site.
