The Desk

The antique desk once owned by George Weisz’s father is the most significant object in this novel. To Weisz the desk symbolized his father and his family’s life before the war. To Nadia the desk symbolized her dead friend Daniel Varsky. To Arthur the desk symbolized Lotte’s love for the father of her baby. He believed it was that man who had given her the desk. To Leah the desk symbolized her key to freedom as she believed she would have power over her father if she had control of the one thing he wanted most.

R’s Grand Piano

There are two grand pianos that are significant symbols in the novel. The first piano mentioned was owned by R, Nadia’s boyfriend. Even after they broke up R left his piano in the home where Nadia lived for a short time...