Summary
Heather Morris, an international best-selling author, shares her journey of storytelling rooted in personal history and the experiences of others. Growing up in New Zealand, she developed a passion for narratives through her great-grandfather, who regaled her with tales from his life, including his experiences in the Boer War. This early exposure to storytelling shaped her understanding of the importance of listening and learning from the past, which she later channeled into her writing.
Morris's most notable works, including "The Tattooist of Auschwitz" and her latest novel "The Piano Teacher of Montparnasse," explore the Holocaust's impact through individual stories. She emphasizes the significance of personal narratives in conveying the broader horrors of history, arguing that while the scale of the Holocaust is unfathomable, individual stories allow readers to connect emotionally. Morris recounts her serendipitous meeting with Lali Sokolov, a Holocaust survivor, which inspired her to tell his story and ultimately led to her literary success.
The author reflects on the themes of bravery and sacrifice present in her narratives, particularly in "The Piano Teacher of Montparnasse," where characters face harrowing decisions during wartime. She highlights the often-overlooked contributions of women in the French resistance, noting the challenges they faced in gaining recognition for their roles. Morris's background in social work informs her writing, as she draws parallels between the acute trauma experienced by her patients and the historical trauma of those she writes about. Through her storytelling, she aims to honor the memories of those who suffered and to keep their stories alive for future generations.
Show Notes
International best-selling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Heather Morris, reflects on her new novel, The Piano Teacher of Montparnasse, tells the story of how she became a story-teller, discusses the challenge of writing about the Holocaust, responds to criticism, explains how her life changed in her sixties when she became a global literary star, looks back at her childhood in New Zealand, and reveals what she's learned through travelling the world to promote her books.
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