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Music & Silence [Paperback]

Rose Tremain (Author)
3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
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Book Description

Publication Date: 6 July 2000

In the year 1629, a young English lutenist named Peter Claire arrives at the Danish Court to join King Christian IV's Royal Orchestra. From the moment when he realises that the musicians perform in a freezing cellar underneath the royal apartments, Peter Claire understands that he's come to a place where the opposing states of light and dark, good and evil, are waging war to the death.

Designated the King's 'Angel' because of his good looks, he finds himself falling in love with the young woman who is the companion of the King's adulterous and estranged wife, Kirsten. With his loyalties fatally divided between duty and passion, how can Peter Claire find the path that will realise his hopes and save his soul?

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Music & Silence + Restoration + Sacred Country
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Product details

  • Paperback: 464 pages
  • Publisher: Vintage; New Ed edition (6 July 2000)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0099268558
  • ISBN-13: 978-0099268550
  • Product Dimensions: 13 x 2.8 x 19.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 59,783 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

Amazon Review

Rose Tremain deserves a Hallelujah chorus dedicated just to her: a decade after the appearance of Restoration--and with a range of stunning novels and short story collections before and after it--now comes her glorious and enthralling Music and Silence.

This treasure house of delights, as haunting as it is pleasurable, teems with characters, real and imagined; with intrigues, searches, betrayals, in vivid scene after scene which loop in and out, back and forth, like overlapping and repeated chords.

King Christian IV of Denmark is, in the year of 1630, living in a limbo of fear and rage for his life, his country's ruin, and his wife's not-so-secret adultery. He consoles himself with the weaving of impossible dreams and with music--played by his Royal Orchestra in the freezing cellar at Rosenborg while he listens in his cosy Vinterstue above. Music, he hopes, will create the sublime order he craves. Kirsten, his devious wife, is a continual maker of Beautiful Plans to outwit, avenge, feed her greed. And she detests music.

The awkward duty of assuaging the King's miseries falls to his English lutenist, Peter Claire, his "Angel", whilst Emilia Tilsen must bend to Kirsten's every whim. Yet what Peter and Emilia seek is each other, largely in silence both necessary and cruelly imposed. Other stories, each of them full of fabulous and often joyful and witty invention, intertwine through the Royal Court's machinations: the King's mother who hoards her gold in secret; his boyhood friend, Bror, a tormenting memory; the villagers who suffer and wait in the frozen Numedal; Emilia's mute young brother Marcus. And in Ireland, Johnnie O'Fingal, once a kind father and husband, is driven mad by hearing music of utter divinity in his dreams, but which neither he nor Peter Claire can make earthbound. His devoted but spirited wife has distracted herself with Claire, but now finds herself rejected. Palpable with desire and longing, this extraordinary narrative builds its grand themes in storytelling that is both profound and wonderfully satisfying. --Ruth Petrie --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"The best thing from Denmark since Hamlet." (John Julius Norwich 20020530)

"A magnificent novel... a brilliant book which will repay many readings" (The Times 20020530)

"She is the best historical novelist of her generation. She evokes the past with sensuality, wit and superb sleights of hand... The plot is ingenious...an unforgettable tapestry of Eros and of art" (A. N. Wilson )

"Tremain's achievement in Music & Silence is extraordinary ... A narrative as funny as it is compelling" (Daily Telegraph 20020530)

"Tremain weaves her web of stories with great visual flair and emotional acuity: This is a fabulous cacophony of passion and despair" (Metro 20020530)
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 33 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A splendid recreation of 17th century Denmark 29 Oct 2000
By johare1950@aol.com
Format:Paperback
Tremain has created a masterpiece of historical fiction -- fascinating, informative, richly-detailed. She moves deftly between subplots and sites (Scandinavia and England).

Among the many characters both real and fictitious, Tremain enlivens one of the 17th century's most striking monarchs: Christian IV of Denmark, called the Sun King for the dazzling sweep of his ambitions. While reading this book I visited his tomb, outside Copenhagen. Music & Silence was the perfect introduction to the king and his world.

It's worth noting that readers in Denmark, more familiar with this history than I, have loved this book.

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58 of 60 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautifully lyrical masterpiece. 15 Aug 2001
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
In Music and Silence, Rose Tremain lyrically reproduces the rich fabric of seventeenth century Denmark as though she was there. As in Restoration, Tremain has succeeded in breathing the past into the book and still infusing the story, that of the court of Christian XV, with a contemporary elegance. The novel is narrated by four different narrators, all of whom are inextricably linked together. We see Kirsten Munk, the King's consort, who is adulterous, vicious and scheming. We also see one of her women, Emilia Tilsen, who is a meek young girl come to serve Kirsten Munk as one of her Women. The pivotal character, and indeed narrator, is perhaps Peter Clare, the lutenist and also the protagonist, who has been appointed the Kings' Angel, because of his good looks. Peter Clare falls in love with Emilia, but their love is soon stopped by the wicked Kirsten, who is banished from court by her husband, as he finally sees her for the evil that she is, thus deciding that if she is not to have any joy in her life, then neither can Emilia. Tremain directs the story with an eye to detail and wit and transports the reader to seventeenth century Denmark, where the air is crisp and smells of spiced wines. Without doubt, Music and Silence is one of the most beautiful, intricateley woven stories I have ever read.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Superb; an exciting historical novel 14 Aug 2000
By Andrew Howell
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is the first Rose Tremain book that I've read; how I was impressed. 'Music and Silence' is a reminder of just how good the historical novel can be. Everything is here: a range of leading players all trapped in history or circumstance; old ghosts and secrets everywhere; madness, pomposity and all manner of outrageousness; magical realism in the Danish forests. Superbly crafted and easy to read - in the best sense of the phrase.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant playing
If you like really brilliant playing of the guitar then it is a must have. If you enjoy this one then neil's other two are an absolute must.
Published 8 days ago by Mr Philip W Randall
5.0 out of 5 stars Best novel I've read for years.
I tried toi read this book slowly as I didn't want it to end it was so sympathetically and well written.
Published 21 days ago by PamC
4.0 out of 5 stars Music and Silence
Here is another of Rose Tremains interesting stories. She write in such a way I find it hard to put the books down. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Elin K Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars Another great work from Rose Tremain
With a light touch Rose Tremain draws you into the world of her novel, invites you to know her characters bad and good, makes your laughter disappear into profound sorrow and... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Anna Knight
5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant read
I loved this book. The historical detail was excellent and the characters well drawn. I couldn't put it down. I thoroughly reccommend it.
Published 5 months ago by Anne Henley
2.0 out of 5 stars Not for lutenists.
A friend, bowled over by this book, and knowing my love of the lute and John Dowland's music in particular, recommended it to me. Read more
Published 7 months ago by T. P. C. Macy
1.0 out of 5 stars Buttons & Jam a better title than Music & Silence ?
[Spoiler alert].

Probably I should give this five stars and a glowing review and then try to sell my copy. However I thought the book was very poor indeed. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Not enough time for reading
1.0 out of 5 stars Maybe its because I'm a bloke...
... but I have just abandoned this book at page 123 at the sentence "A compress has been applied to Kirsten's head and still visible among the mass of her chestnut hair is some... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Shove Coupler
5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning
This is the first Rose Tremain I have read and it's left me hungry for more.

This book has some of the most lyrical, beautifully written passages I have ever read... Read more
Published 23 months ago by LouBee79
1.0 out of 5 stars Did not enjoy this!
Music & Silence
I thought this book was really very slow and boring! After reading her other books which I loved, it was a great disappointment - which lasted for weeks!
Published on 8 May 2011 by prunella
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