The Pianist from Syria: A Memoir

Music ran in Aeham Ahmad’s blood, something his blind violinist father ensured from a young age. Bridging the worlds between refugees and the elite school of music, Aeham reflects on his childhood in Syria leading up to the war and his eventual escape to Europe. When Yarmouk is walled off from the outside, the occupants (including Aeham and his family) are flung into terror.

Images of Aehmad playing his piano in the ruins of Yarmouk became of symbol of hope and a reminder of the daily suffering that the Syrian citizens were experiencing. After seeking refuge in Germany, Aeham chronicled his life in his new memoir, The Pianist from Syria.

Even through translation, Aeham’s voice shines. Aeham writes earnestly, describing his home with loving and evocative detail. His father shines in Aeham’s memory. Everything is told with the impending terror in mind. Stories from his childhood serves as a heartbreaking juxtaposition to his later life when his family is on the brink of starvation. As a Palestinian refugee, Aeham struggles with his place in the war—a fight that takes place in his home but not his country. His memoir is unforgettable, finally revealing the story behind the famous photographs.