“Germaine Shames’ beautiful depiction of the life of Margit Wolf and Pasquale Frustaci is told with such vivid and haunting detail, it's as if the reader is propelled back in time to witness a devastating journey of shattered dreams, juxtaposed with the strength and courage of the human heart. A tragic story, beautifully written.”

Susan Jaffe, “America’s quintessential ballerina”

"Shames captures the essence of a ballerina with such expertise in her riveting story.  Dancers succeed by creating beauty from effort; this book, too, shows that exquisite art can be made from history's hardships."   Elana Altman, soloist dancer, San Francisco Ballet

"Germaine paints a vivid and accurate portrait of the world of ballet in pre and post war Europe.  The epic drama expected on the ballet stage is dwarfed by the tragic real life events of her ballerina heroine, Margit Wolf.  Penetrating descriptions of political brutality and the prepossession of romantic love, an ever present theme in classical ballet, make for a page-turning, impelling read."

Janet Panetta 

ballet master Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch

'In this heartbreaking and original novel based on the life of Hungarian ballerina Margit Wolf, Germaine Shames has crafted a story that will absorb readers fascinated not only by history and art, but romantic obsession. From Wolf's touching point of view, we see a valiant Jewish artist swept along by a combination of political horrors and her unfailing passion for her husband, famed Italian composer Pasquale Frustaci,who refuses to help her and her son escape from brutal life under the Nazis occupying Hungary.  Shames's faithful, carefully researched portrayal of Wolf's blindness and history's cruelty makes this a compelling read."

Elizabeth Evans

author of The Blue Hour