Overture of Hope

A Secret Aria of Courage and Suspense

Europe, 1937. Two British sisters - one a dowdy typist, the other a soon-to-be famous romance novelist. One shared passion for opera. With prospects for marriage and families of their own cut down by the scythe of WWI, the Cook sisters have thrown themselves into their love of music, with frequent pilgrimages to Germany and Austria to see their favourite opera stars perform.

But now with war clouds gathering and harassment increasing, the stars of Continental opera - many of whom are Jewish - face dark futures under the boot heel of the Nazis.

What can two middle-aged British spinsters do about such matters? They can form a secret cabal - right under Hitler's nose - and get to work saving lives!

Along with Austrian conductor Clemens Krauss (a favourite of Hitler, but quietly working with the Cooks), the sisters conspire to bring together worldwide opera aficionados and insiders in an international operation to rescue Jews in the opera from the horrific fate that everyone believes is coming.

By the time war does arrive, the Cooks and their operatives have plucked over two dozen Jewish men and women from the looming maw of the Holocaust and spirited them to safety in England.

Packed with original research and vividly told with suspense, hope and wonder by award-winning New York Post investigative journalist Isabel Vincent - author of the memoir Dinner with Edward - Overture of Hope reveals many new details of the seemingly naive and oblivious Cook sisters' surreptitious bravery, daring and passionate commitment as they mount a successful rescue mission that saves dozens of lives and preserves the opera they love for another generation.