An extraordinary book. The story of English lutenist Peter Claire and his time at the Royal Court of Denmark, of the machinations of the Queen Consort, Kirsten - an unpleasant, reprehensible yet compelling character - and of the King's own mother who hoards gold and hides it from him when he most needs it, is told in lyrical, rather overblown prose of great beauty.

The book strikes me as a strangely female one, for the thoughts and fears and plots of the complex female protagonists far surpass those of the male characters who are portrayed as much simpler souls, driven more by duty and financial need than their own desires. But even for this mere male it was impossible to put down, and has left a deep impression. It is, quite simply, a masterpiece and I do not expect to read its equal for a very long time.

Music and Silence is a beautifully written, lyrical novel which explores music, silence and much, much more.

Set in 17th Century Denmark, the stories of multiple characters intertwine and the tale of each is equally captivating. The description and sense of place is superb, the changing scenery was vivid in my mind.

I especially loved the way in which Rose Tremain blended the historical and magical and that there is nothing predictable in the story or it ending.

My favourite Tremain. A sumptuous historical romp.

There should be a category for Tried to Read, Lost Interest. Or - Read Some Of, Done?

“A man can travel too far from his point of departure and become lost and never find his way back. All that remains to him then is to keep moving forward and pray that hope does not desert him too.”

Rose Tremain has imagined a story of King Christian IV of Denmark, giving some background about his childhood, but primarily telling of the events and people surrounding him in 1629, following the arrival of an English lutenist he has hired to play in his Royal Orchestra.

It is a fanciful novel, so I don’t expect Tremain necessarily stuck to the facts, but I really liked her portrayal of King Christian. I knew nothing about him going in, so read a little after finishing the book, and these facts fit the fiction:
He was an ambitious reformer
He involved his country in many disastrous wars
He was particularly good at hiring musicians and artists
He focused on details, often missing the big picture

Tremain makes him such a likable guy: a dreamer, an idealist.

In childhood, he was taught by his father the king to spot any hint of “shoddiness,” so developed a love of quality. One of the strongest parts of the novel to me was the story of a remarkable childhood friendship with a boy named Bror, who had difficulty writing his name. (After reading The Gustav Sonata, I think Tremain may have a special gift for telling stories about young boys.)

This is not a terribly complex novel, but is long and full of detail. Tremain approaches the story from multiple viewpoints. We have the King, the lutenist, the king’s mother the Dowager Queen Sophie, his second wife Kirsten, Kirsten’s special servant Emilia, Emilia’s peculiar family members … the list goes on.

Kirsten, the second wife, is a fun character. She doesn’t care a whit for the king or her children, but only for her Swedish lover Otto. You can kind of see the lack of interest on her face in this painting:


My second favorite storyline was the one surrounding the servant Emilia’s very special brother Marcus. He has some interesting troubles and gifts that make him a sort of fairy child. Marcus will be staying on my mind for a while.

Tremain weaves all of these storylines together into a narrative primarily about happiness and fulfillment. I was disappointed that there wasn’t more about music, but this was a fun and engaging read.

“There’s the trick: to find the way--whether forwards or back--to what we long to be.”

One of my favorite Tremain offerings. I've found most any of hers are worth the time but I loved the period setting here.

A difficult book to lose yourself in. The skill of the author in creating exquisite prose is undeniable, but I have to confess to losing interest in the story on more than a couple of occasions. The switching back and forth between numerous points of view leaves one somewhat adrift and the story does tend to meander off the point quite regularly. All in all, if you enjoy a literary work of considerable skill, you will enjoy the magic woven with words here. However, I found the plot leaden and could not summon up much empathy for any of the characters. For the poetry of the narrative I could give 5 stars, but for overall enjoyment, sadly only 3.

I gave this 3 stars because I LOVE RT’s writing! SOO refreshing after the 90% mediocre fare that passes for literature out there.
This was my first read of RT and I want to try another of her’s. Unfortunately I DNF as it turned out to be too long and slow. Don’t get me wrong I do love a long read but I must be engaged and unfortunately reading this one I became bored and stopped caring. In the old days I’d have plowed on through but these days I will stop because I don’t have as much time as I used to.

Description: 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 realizes 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 realize his hopes and save his soul?

For my daughter,
Eleanor
Love always

Opening: Copenhagen, 1629: A lamp is lit.
Until this moment, when the flame of the lamp flares blue, then settles to steady yellow inside its ornate globe, the young man had been impressed by the profound darkness which, upon his late-night arrival at the Palace of Rosenborg, he had suddenly stepped.

TR Music & Silence
4* The Road Home
4* Restoration
4* Trespass
1* Merivel
3* The American Lover
3* Collected Short Stories

پیچش داستان و گره‌خوردن سرنوشت‌های شخصیت‌ها توی این کتاب بسیار زیبا بود، و این شخصیت‌های عجیب و دوست‌داشتنی و روون بودن داستان، کتاب رو به خاطره‌ی خوبی تبدیل کرد.

Reminded me of Henry Fielding’s ‘Tom Jones’ in the way the story plays out. However, some hard hitting themes, brilliant characterisation and exceptional writing makes this a five star from me. Rose Tremain is fast becoming one of my favourite writers.

A satisfying historical novel that reads like a mix of literary fiction, fairy tales, and an invented seventeenth-century Danish version of magical realism. This chimerical quality makes it easy to overlook the very loose plot as each section reads almost like a little tale of its own. I will miss Kirsten Munk, Almost Queen of Denmark, and her private papers.