In this poignant historical novel, Pamela Reitman reimagines the life of Charlotte Salomon, a young German-Jewish artist who, amidst the horrors of the Nazi regime, created a groundbreaking autobiographical masterpiece.

As a promising art student at the Berlin Art Academy in 1938, Charlotte's aspirations are thwarted when her achievements are nullified due to her Jewish heritage. Following the devastation of Kristallnacht, she is sent to the south of France to live with her grandparents. There, Charlotte uncovers a harrowing family history of mental illness and suicide, revelations that her grandfather insists define her destiny.

Determined to forge her own path, Charlotte channels her experiences into art, culminating in her magnum opus, Life? Or Theater?, a series of over 700 paintings that blend images, text, and music to narrate her life story. Reitman's narrative delves into themes of trauma, artistic expression, and the indomitable human spirit. Through meticulous research and evocative prose, she brings to life the story of a woman who used art to assert her identity and preserve her legacy.