In her new book, “Orchestra of Exiles,” Denise George (and co-author Josh Aronson) tells the amazing story of Polish Jewish violinist, Bronislaw Huberman, and how he saved 1,000 European Jewish musicians and their families from Hitler’s horrors during the Holocaust. Released in April, it is her third book in three years published by New York’s Penguin Random House Publishers.
Surely only God could bring together a Jewish Academy Award-nominated filmmaker from New York City and a Southern Baptist Christian writer from Birmingham and produce an action-packed, page-turner nonfiction narrative that covers WWI, pre-WWII, the beginnings of the Holocaust, the founding of an orchestra and the State of Israel.
“Several years ago Aronson wrote, directed and produced an award-winning documentary on Bronislaw Huberman,” George said. “His story includes how he personally founded the Israel Philharmonic, now a world-famous orchestra.
A love for the narrative
“My mother, Willene Wyse, saw Aronson interviewed on The 700 Club and told me about this incredible story. I immediately loved the narrative of this famous violinist who put his own successful musical career on hold to personally arrange and transport 1,000 Jews to Palestine (becoming Israel in 1948) away from Hitler’s deadly clutches.”
After hearing the story, George checked to see if a book had been written on Huberman. When she discovered the story had not yet appeared in book form, she telephoned Aronson, whom she had never met, and invited him to collaborate with her on the book. He agreed.
George then contacted her book agent of 15 years, Greg Johnson, president of WordServe Literary and FaithHappenings, introduced to her years before by the late author Calvin Miller. Johnson loved the idea and flew to New York City to personally meet with Aronson. He then contacted Penguin Random House and they immediately sent George and Aronson a publishing contract. After a year of research and writing, the book was released. Book launches have taken place and been scheduled for New York City, Los Angeles, San Diego, Chicago, Boston and other cities.
In 2015, George’s book on WWII hero and Birmingham native Andrew Gerow Hodges also was released by Penguin Random House. She teamed up with Hodges’ son, Gerry Hodges, a psychiatrist in Birmingham, and together they wrote his father’s story in the book, “Behind Nazi Lines.”
The late Andrew Gerow Hodges was an American Red Cross volunteer in 1944 France who courageously slipped behind Nazi lines and personally negotiated with German officers the successful release of 149 allied POWs. It was the only time in military history that such a feat had been accomplished by one individual.
“Harland Hobart Grooms, a Samford University trustee, Birmingham attorney, former Marine and WWII expert had been a good friend of Hodges,” George said. “He had notebooks of research and a deep knowledge of Hodges. I will be forever grateful to Grooms for guiding me throughout the writing of this book, as well as an upcoming WWII book, “The Lost Eleven,” to be released by Penguin Random House in February 2017.”
Writing about WWII gave George a powerful insight into the horrors American troops experienced in Europe.
“Our veterans are heroes,” George said. “I never before realized the sacrifices they made in fighting for our country’s freedoms. My dad, Robert C. Wyse, served in the Air Force during WWII, but he never ever talked about it.”
“Nonfiction books written in story form bring history to life,” she said. “When we teach historical events through great storytelling, young and old readers enjoy learning.”
The book reviews readers write about her books are filled with words like “exciting,” “suspenseful” and “page-turners.”
“As a Christian, I decided long ago that all these books I wrote would be wholesome and free from any four-letter words,” George said. “Only lazy, uncreative writers depend upon foul language to describe characters or make a point. Good writers don’t need it.”
George has kept this promise to her readers in her 30 books, all published by traditional publishers. She hopes today’s youth will read and enjoy these stories, learn about these quiet heroes and realize and appreciate the debt we all owe them.
George and her husband, Timothy George, moved to Birmingham in 1988. He founded Beeson Divinity School on the campus of Samford University and has served as its dean for 29 years. They have two children and are longtime members of Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Vestavia Hills.
“We love Birmingham,” Denise George said. “We plan to live here forever.”
Other books
She also has written two books on Birmingham’s civil rights history: “The Gentle Giant of Dynamite Hill” (with Judge Helen Shores Lee and Barbara Shores), and “While the World Watched” (with Carolyn McKinstry).
“In April, I turned 65 years old,” she said with a laugh. “My agent, Greg Johnson, asked me if I planned to retire from book writing. ‘Of course not.’ I told him. ‘I’m just getting started.’”
Denise George speaks often to universities, churches and other groups around the country on the topics of her books. You can contact her through her website, www.denisegeorge.org.
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