NOVELS SEEKING REPRESENTATION

MATTHEW HAWK ELDRIDGE

Little Violinist One Sheet - Seeking Representation

"They say that music touches the soul. But I believe that music comes from the soul. The notes Arthur played were both angelic and yet came from the pits of hell. I heard beauty. I felt anguish. I was overcome with grief, and yet it was overwhelmingly wonderful."
Little Violinist
Historical fiction musical novel by Matthew Hawk Eldridge

Logline: Young prodigy violinist, Joshua, escapes the horrors of the Holocaust by delving into the melodic, musical memories of classical masterpieces. But when his gifted hands are wanted as a trophy and he is later invited to perform for Hitler, his only goal becomes survival, as no Jew has ever performed for Hitler and lived to tell about it. 

When young Joshua and his Jewish family are imprisoned in Auschwitz, he discovers the key to emotional and physical survival is found through his special gift of music. The youngest of the camp, the prodigy auditions for his life, opening doors for him to play at the fence for other prisoners in Auschwitz with a small chamber. His daydreams of famous classical compositions help him escape the mental turmoil and perils of the camp. After he leads a dangerous failed uprising, he is moved to the concentration camp in Birkenau to play for the funerals of his friends and father. Winning the heart of the prison warden, he is moved again to save his life, playing as a special guest of the Beast of Buchenwald, who eventually wants his hands as a trophy. He ultimately joins an orchestra of famous musicians and becomes a concert master, playing for his worst enemy, Hitler, as an honored guest. But no Jewish prisoner has ever played for Hitler and lived to tell about it.
 
Little Violinist is a culmination of the 2007 musical movie, August Rush, and the best-selling novel, The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak. Told in first person from the point of view of our lead character, the child musical prodigy, Joshua, we get a glimpse of his musical genius and how remembering classical compositions helps him to cope while experiencing the horrors of the Holocaust. 

View an excerpt of the novel. Currently seeking representation.