Bel Canto [French] [Paperback]

In Ann Patchett's Bel Canto, an unnamed South American country, a world-renowned soprano sings at a birthday party in honour of a visiting Japanese industrial titan. Alas, in the opening sequence, just as the accompanist kisses the soprano, a ragtag band of 18 terrorists enters the vice-presidential mansion through the air-conditioning ducts. Their quarry is the president, who has unfortunately stayed home to watch a favourite soap opera--and thus, from the beginning, things go awry.

Among the hostages are not only Hosokawa and Roxanne Coss, the American soprano, but an assortment of Russian, Italian and French diplomats. A Swiss Red Cross negotiator named Joachim Messner is roped into service while on holiday. He comes and goes, wrangling over terms and demands, and the days stretch into weeks, the weeks into months.

With the omniscience of magic realism, Ann Patchett flits in and out of the hearts and psyches of hostage and terrorist alike, and in doing so reveals a profound, shared humanity. Her voice is suitably lyrical, melodic, full of warmth and compassion. Hearing opera sung live for the first time, a young priest reflects:

Never had he thought, never once, that such a woman existed, one who stood so close to God that God's own voice poured from her. How far she must have gone inside herself to call up that voice. It was as if the voice came from the centre part of the earth and by the sheer effort and diligence of her will she had pulled it up through the dirt and rock and through the floorboards of the house, up into her feet, where it pulled through her, reaching, lifting, warmed by her, and then out of the white lily of her throat and straight to God in heaven.

Joined by no common language except music, the 58 international hostages and their captors forge unexpected bonds. Ultimately, of course, something has to give, even in a novel so imbued with the rich imaginative potential of magic realism. But in a fractious world, Bel Canto remains a gentle reminder of the transcendence of beauty and love. --Victoria Jenkins, Amazon.com --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

‘Expect miracles when you read Ann Patchett’s fiction. Comparisons are tempting to the unabashed romanticism of Laurie Colwin, the eccentric characters of Anne Tyler, the enchantments of Alice Hoffman. But Patchett is unique; a generous, fearless and startlingly wise young writer.’
NEW YORK TIMES REVIEW OF BOOKS

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

‘Crisply written, immaculately plotted, and often very funny, it is that rarity – a literary novel you simply can’t put down.’ --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

‘a cleverly paced, suspenseful novel told with great emotional delicacy…To be read at a single sitting.’ --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

'Siege mentality at its most liberating.' --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

'Patchett writes with wisdom, humour and such generosity.' --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

The poignant – and at times very funny – new novel from the author of THE MAGICIAN’S ASSISTANT, which was shortlisted for the Orange Prize. BEL CANTO features the intriguing combination of opera and terrorism.

Latin terrorists storm an international gathering hosted by an underprivileged country to promote foreign interest and trade, only to find that their intended target, the President, has stayed home to watch his favourite soap opera on TV. Among the hostages are a world class opera singer and her biggest fan, a Japanese tycoon who has been persuaded to attend the party on the understanding that she will perform half a dozen arias after dinner.

The tycoon’s engaging and sympathetic translator plays a vital role in the subsequent relationships between so many different nationalities closeted together, interpreting not only the terrorists’ negotiations but also the language of love between lovers who cannot understand what the other is saying.

Ultimately, it is the terrorist strike that does more to promote foreign relations than anyone could have hoped to achieve with the party.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

'It is not in my nature to be cutting edge. I tend to neither follow trends nor set them, I just seem to miss them altogether in a state of complete oblivion. That's why also having Bel Canto as an e-book is so exciting for me. For once in my life I feel that I'm right out front of new technology. I plan to enjoy it. Chances are it's not going to happen again.' --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the bestselling author of The Magician's Assistant, a novel of love, opera, and terrorism, set in South America.

Latin terrorists storm an international gathering hosted by an
underprivileged country to promote foreign interest, only to find their intended target, the President, has stayed home to watch his favourite soap opera. The takeover brings together an unlikely assortment of hostages, among them Roxanne Coss, an America opera diva; Mr. Hosokawa, a Japanese CEO and her biggest fan; and his translator, Gen. Forced to reach out across the chasms of language, politics, and culture, the hostages, and their captors, must change their established beliefs, if they are to survive.

In a novel of daring and dramatic intensity, two couples, complete opposites, fall in love, and a horrific imprisonment is transformed into an unexpected heaven on earth. Exploring passion in all its guises, even as the violence of its setting threatens to intrude, this magical novel surprises and enchants.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Originally from Los Angeles, Ann Patchett has also written The Magician’s Assistant and The Patron Saint of Liars. She lives in Nashville and is the Tennessee Williams Fellow in Creative Writing at the University of the South.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.