A Landmark Work of Research, Recovery, and Translation

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Acclaim . . .

“A book that is so much more than a book, that one might describe it as a monument, a headstone, an exhibition, an archive, a living flame. . . . A reminder of extraordinary creativity on every level. . . . An incredible accomplishment. . . . An indispensable book for anyone interested in twentieth-century music, the Holocaust or Jewish Studies.” -- Michael Haas, Forbidden Music

"A history lesson, a warning, a reminder, a work of scholarship, a work of love . . . Speaks to the joy of creation." — Elisa Birdseye, Boston Musical Intelligencer

"To know the Holocaust in great detail is one thing. But to hear and feel it from the souls of those who were in the midst of it becomes a singular revelation in th[is] monumental new book. . . . exhilarating in life-affirming ways." — David Stearns, The Philadelphia Inquirer

“Takes readers into the world of Terezín’s silenced artists and makes their voices come alive. A testimony to the inextinguishable strength of the human spirit. There are moments of excruciating beauty, there are heartrending stories, all reminding us that if we lose our humanity, we are nothing.” Yo-Yo Ma

“This astonishing book is an act of creation from chaos. Here is art, music, humor, precision, speculation, indignation, love — the panoply of human expression dredged from darkness. A wonder.” Rabbi David Wolpe, Sinai Temple, Los Angeles

“Amidst dislocation and death, these artists strived to assert their culture, identity, and creativity. Our Will to Live both celebrates and mourns them. A remarkable homage.” Richard Blanco, 2013 Presidential Inaugural Poet, author of How to Love a Country

“An amazing jewel of a book, an experience. Here is the crème de la crème of Europe’s artistic talent essentially resisting cultural genocide and doing so with pride and vigor. Our Will to Live honors their determination as it sheds new light on this unique chapter in Holocaust history.” Anna Ornstein, Auschwitz survivor, psychiatrist, author of My Mother’s Eyes

​“Remarkable. Reflects Ullmann's inexhaustible belief in art as a means to survive. . . . Invaluable.”  Frank van Vree, Director, NIOD Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Amsterdam
 
“Glorious art by shining talents, created amidst the Shoah. Page by page, the visual and intellectual delights play against the somber reality of Terezín. An essential part of Holocaust studies.” Leo Pavlát, Director, Jewish Museum in Prague
 
“Thanks to Mark Ludwig’s decades of research and work, we now have a richly expanded picture of the cultural life of Terezín’s involuntary inhabitants. Our Will to Live is an invaluable tool for historians and a fascinating, moving journey for all.” Jan Roubinek, Director, Pamatník Terezín
 
“A deeply moving testament to the power of music and art. Bears witness to the extraordinary work of Viktor Ullmann and others whose love for art did not vanish even in the face of hunger, pain, and death. Our Will to Live ensures that the lives and the great musical legacy of Ullmann and his fellow artists will not be forgotten.” Dr. Danielle Spera, Director, Jewish Museum in Vienna
 
“Enchanting, heartrending, and unique . . . An ode to the people of Terezín.” Norman L. Eisen, former U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic

“Paging through this miraculous collection of art and writing from Terezín, I was riveted and held in a mix of awe and grief. The intellect and artistry that shined in the face of death is unforgettable. A fitting memorial to the murdered artists and a timely message to us all that we must honor life, decency, and humanity.” Khizr Khan, human rights activist
 
“Ullmann's writings emit a blazing, revelatory intensity . . . and Mark Ludwig’s devoted curatorial attention and the stirring art in this book are imbued with the same extraordinary love for the eternal, the same fierce dedication to honoring Life, that sing from every page.” Osvaldo Golijov, composer
 
“A feat of re-membering, an act of grace. . . . Shows how the will to create art and community cannot be extinguished from the soul.” Leah Hager Cohen, author of Strangers and Cousins 
 
“Deeply moving and richly detailed. . . . Shows these artists’ unquenchable need to create, even as death lurks at every turn. Delves into the very essence of what it means to be human." Arnold Steinhardt, first violinist of the Guarneri String Quartet
 
“Our Will to Live is bountiful evidence that, as Vaclav Havel said, free expression is an innate human impulse." Liao Yiwu, Chinese dissident writer, author of God is Red
 
“A genuine treasure trove delivering heartwarming affirmations of human resilience as well as a warning about the bad winds that menace so many countries—all of this in a book of sheer visual beauty. It left me in awe.” Samuel Bak, painter, survivor of the Vilna Ghetto
 
“Our Will to Live is more than a book—it is history, art, criticism, and testimony. Perused with Ullmann's music playing in the background, it is an experience.” Glenn Dynner, author of Yankel’s Tavern: Jews, Liquor & Life in the Kingdom Poland

​Our Will to Live 
The Terezín Music Critiques of Viktor Ullmann
With Illustrations by Terezín Artists
MARK LUDWIG
Published by Steidl Verlag January 11, 2022.
328 pages, 8.5 x 10.5 in. / 21.5 x 26.5 cm
22 black-and-white and 264 color photos and images
Clothbound hardcover $45.
ISBN 78-3-95829-959-7