In the audiobook version of And After the Fire by Lauren Belfer, listeners will experience a powerful and passionate narrative inspired by historical events, centering on two women whose lives are transformed by a mysterious choral masterpiece by Johann Sebastian Bach. The story begins in the ruins of Germany in 1945, where American soldier Henry Sachs mistakenly kills a girl while taking an old music manuscript from a deserted mansion.

Fast forward to 2010 in America, where Henry’s niece, Susanna Kessler, is struggling to rebuild her life after a violent incident in New York City. Upon Henry’s death, she discovers the hidden manuscript and feels compelled to learn its origins, leading her on a journey that will challenge her understanding of her family’s history. Interwoven with Susanna’s narrative is the story of Sara Itzig Levy, a renowned musician in Berlin in 1796, who conceals an anti-Jewish cantata gifted to her by Bach’s son. The audiobook captures the intergenerational impact of their stories, blending the past with the present in an evocative and emotionally resonant way.