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Orfeo

3.5(3)
Language
English
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About the book

Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2014

'A virtuoso performance' SUNDAY TIMES

'Extraordinary and confounding, mind-spinning and wonderful' INDEPENDENT

'A magnificent and moving novel' LOS ANGELES TIMES

Seventy-year-old avant-garde composer Peter Els opens the door one evening to find the police on his doorstep. His home microbiology lab - where he is conducting the latest experiment in his lifelong attempt to find musical patterns in surprising places - has aroused the suspicions of Homeland Security.

Panicked by the raid, Els turns fugitive, earning him the moniker 'Bioterrorist Bach'. He hatches a daring plan to transform this disastrous collision with the security state into an unforgettable work of art that will reawaken its audience to the sounds all around it.

A gripping escape narrative filled with lyrical wonder, Orfeo is both a portrait of a creative, obsessive man, and a reflection on finding melodies in everyday life.

Editions (1)

ISBN9781804951767
PublisherDK
Publication Date06/12/25
Pages384

Reviews & Ratings

3 ratings

1 reviews

3.5

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  • einfach__pia
    einfach__pia

    3 Followers

    3.5

    Peter Els is a musician and hobby-chemist. After the demise of his beloved dog Fidelio he gets visited by the police who find bacteria samples that might make him a terrorist. Instead of explaining himself and turning himself in, he decides to be a fugitive and visits old friends and family while reminiscing in his past.

    Great book to read if you have an art block. His descriptions of how he views music really give inspiration to be creative yourself. It tends to be a bit hard to read if you’re not familiar with a lot of musical vocabulary. In the end it also gets a bit lengthy but still enjoyable to read. The only thing I am quite unhappy about is the ending, it could have been a bit more obviously written ( I struggled with figuring out wether what I thought happened was true or not)

    Feb 1, 2024

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