Exempted from military service, violinist Gottfried Keller spent the waning days of World War II playing for wounded soldiers, a task he felt was demoralizing and a misuse of his talents. He dared not complain, though, and was rewarded with a trip to nearby labor camp. After meeting briefly with the commander of the camp, Keller begins playing anew, but this time for the inmates, for whom his violin, it is hoped, will inspire hope in otherwise despondent men. As Keller plays the greats, the author Eugene Drucker, unravels his character’s life, revealing the death of his best friend and the Jewish fiancé he fled from at the outset of the war.

Drucker is himself a professional violinist, and his mastery of the instrument informs The Savior, his first novel, all throughout. He appeared yesterday on The Diane Rehm Show. Listen to the full interview.