Cellist of Dachau

Martin Goodman’s debut novel On Bended Knees, shortlisted for the Whitbread First Novel Award, heralded a major theme of his writing: the aftermath of wars. His nonfiction picked up the theme when his biography of the scientist who worked to counter WW1 gas attacks, Suffer & Survive, won 1st Prize, Basis of Medicine in the BMA Book Awards. In Client Earth, which won the Jury’s Choice Business Book of the Year Award 2018, and the Green Book Award from Santa Monica Libraries, he told the story of ecolawyers who battle to rescue the planet from human destruction. He is Emeritus Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Hull.

"Extraoridnary. An important, aching, artful Holocaust novel." - The Toronto Star"Beautifully structured and a distinctive and haunting tone. Altogether a very clever and memorable piece of work."– Simon Mawer, author of The Glass Room"The parts of the novel set in Dachau, Buchenwald, Terezín and Auschwitz ring with a visceral truth, and real figures such as Herbert Zimmer, who established a secret orchestra at Dachau, and Hans Krása – composer of the children’s opera Brundibár get respectful supporting roles." - The Financial Times "This is one powerful story that dares to hope, and shows the way to love."– Bonnie Greer "A subtle novel that treads delicately around identity, values and life purpose."– The Hackney Citizen "A Masterful novel." - Morning Star, UK"A wonderful story. A beautiful book about the unimaginable and what can grow from it." - Marina Mahler, granddaughter of Gustav Mahler"Music is atthe heart of this novel and all the contested relationships in it." AnnMcElvoy, Free Thinking, BBC