This short story is a translation of a Catalan novel by Maria Angels  Anglada.  It is the first time her work has been presented in English. There have been many stories written about the Holocaust and the  devastation it brought on the Jewish community.  This particular short  story gives a haunting description of the fortitude and resilience of  the human spirit.  Daniel, a Jewish prisoner of Auschwitz, is a luthier,  a violin maker.  But when asked his occupation by the camp intake guard  he quickly states he is a carpenter.  His fear being that a violin  maker would not be of much use in a prison camp. Through several circumstances it becomes apparent that he is a  gifted craftsman and the commandant of the camp happens to love violin  music and collecting instruments.  Daniel is given the task of making a  violin for the commandant.  Little does he know that his life hangs in  the balance dependent on the quality and timeliness of his work. Throughout the story we are given glimpses of life in the prison  camp.  The author does a good job of helping us feel the despair of the  prisoners as they are beaten for no reason, the despair they feel when  some are singled out at roll call and never return, and the complete  devastation of watching children being walked off to the gas chambers. But while all this despair is in the air our violin craftsman  battles with the depression of his situation but the joy of being able  to work with his hands and craft an instrument of true quality.  We are  given glimpses into how the mind can loose itself in memories of the  past and provide inspiration for building a violin in the midst of  inhuman treatment.  Given the same situation would you be willing to use your artistry  to produce an instrument for a brutal murderous barbarian of a human? One question that Daniel raises is, why would Christians (the  Germans) be so cruel and heartless to the Jewish people if they truly  believe the Bible is the word of God?  Shouldn't they instead show love  and compassion?  It is a cruel irony that is pointed out and caused me  to stop and reflect on my own attitudes towards others.  I believe in  God's word, but do I completely follow His teachings and treat others as  more important than myself? This is a short quick read that you won't be able to put down once  you start it.  I hope it brings you as much enjoyment as it brought me  and I hope that it also gives you pause to reflect on the gifts that God  gives us and how we can use them even in the worst of circumstances.