Elisabeth Hartig Lentulo Illuminates History and Humanity Through Near the Danube Bridge
PHOTO: Elisabeth Hartig Lentulo, author of Near the Danube Bridge, shares her father’s extraordinary story of survival, music, and resilience across war-torn Europe.
Exploring Memory, War, Music, And The Strength Of The Human Spirit
Elisabeth Hartig Lentulo’s Near the Danube Bridge tells her father’s powerful WWII story, blending personal memory, history, and music to highlight resilience, injustice, and the enduring human spirit.
Elisabeth Hartig Lentulo delivers a stirring and deeply personal exploration of resilience, memory, and survival in her book, Near the Danube Bridge. Through the lens of her father Kalman’s life, Lentulo crafts a narrative rooted in the historical upheavals of twentieth-century Europe, particularly in the Balkans, and the enduring strength of the human spirit. Collaborating with a classically trained violinist and gifted storyteller, the author weaves together oral histories, rare archival materials, and firsthand family accounts to create a book that resonates on both intimate and universal levels.
The emotional impetus for the project began shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, when Elisabeth approached her collaborator with a request to tell her father’s story. Despite the uncertainty of where the journey would lead, the writer agreed, driven by a passion for cultural history and an academic background in the humanities. Their research began with archival recordings of Kalman speaking to a congregation about his experiences in labor camps during WWII. His pain was audible not just in his words, but also in the movement of his body and the sound of hymns played on his violin — a poignant reminder of the trauma he carried and the solace he found in music.
Elisabeth Hartig Lentulo honors forgotten histories with emotional depth, historical insight, and an unwavering commitment to truth, legacy, and compassion.
A trained violinist herself, the writer recognized both Kalman’s mastery of the instrument and the physical limitations imposed by his injuries. This understanding informed the musical themes throughout the book, offering authenticity and emotional depth to Kalman’s character. His relationship with music — both as refuge and as lost professional aspiration — became a key element in the retelling of his life. Despite the destruction wrought by war, he continued to find joy in music, sharing his passion with others by playing in church and teaching children.
Historical accuracy posed a challenge throughout the writing process. The author carefully interwove Kalman’s personal experiences with the broader context of global and regional events, from the bombing of Pearl Harbor to the overlooked tragedies of the Balkans. Situating Kalman’s story in these events was not only a narrative strategy but also a historical reclamation. As she explains, the Balkans’ suffering during WWII is often omitted from mainstream European history. This book seeks to correct that, shining light on lesser-known atrocities such as the Pančevo Massacre and honoring their victims.
The modern relevance of Near the Danube Bridge is clear, especially amid ongoing refugee crises and global displacement. Kalman’s experience speaks to the injustice and persecution that continue to affect individuals worldwide. His story reminds readers that these tragedies are not isolated or historical relics — they are part of a persistent, global narrative that still demands attention.
Another central figure in the book is Minka, Kalman’s wife, whose voice and presence were reconstructed through the memories of her daughter Elisabeth and interviews with Minka’s surviving sister. Their shared journey through war, loss, and rebuilding took place in an era without the psychological support systems available today. The writer’s portrayal of Minka underscores the quiet strength of women in wartime and the unseen toll of trauma.
At its heart, Near the Danube Bridge is a story of transformation. Kalman begins as a man shaped by strict religious values and harsh life lessons. Over time, personal and collective hardships soften his outlook and deepen his compassion. Lentulo hopes readers will not only recognize themselves in Kalman’s story but also become more curious about the complex and often underrepresented history of the Balkan region. As she suggests, understanding the roots of the conflicts that erupted in the 1990s requires an understanding of the decades of turmoil that preceded them — much of which is mirrored in her father’s life.
Through this poignant work, Elisabeth Hartig Lentulo ensures that her family’s history — and the histories of many like them — are not forgotten. Instead, they live on as reminders of courage, endurance, and the power of storytelling to connect generations across time and space.
Source: Reader’s House Interview with Elisabeth Hartig Lentulo
