Summary of Music and SilenceÂ
“Music and Silence” is a historical novel set in the court of King Christian IV of Denmark and Norway around 1630. An English musician arrives at the Danish court to join the royal orchestra. The atmosphere at the court is frosty, with musicians performing in a cellar and the relationship between the king and queen at a low ebb. However, the chill begins to thaw when the musician falls in love with a servant of the queen.
Reasons to read Music and Silence
“Music and Silence” is a tale of love and music set against the backdrop of early 17th-century Danish history (the Reformation, scientific advancements, religious wars, etc.). The novel features various perspectives, including those of the English lutenist and his lover, and the isolated King Christian and his unfaithful queen. There are elements of drama reminiscent of Hamlet and a touch of enchantment akin to Hans Christian Andersen. “Music and Silence” won the Whitbread Book Award (now known as the Costa Book Award) for Best Novel in 1999. Rose Tremain is an English author renowned for her historical novels and short stories. She has received numerous literary prizes, including the Orange Prize (for “The Road Home”), the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, the Prix Femina Étranger (both for “Sacred Country”), and the National Jewish Book Award (for “The Gustav Sonata”). Readers who enjoy this book may also appreciate “The Visit of the Royal Physician” by Per Olov Enquist.
Setting: Hillerød & Copenhagen (Denmark)
Book set in Denmark: Hillerød (Frederiksborg Castle) and Copenhagen
Original title: Music and Silence
Year of publication: 2000
Nr of pages: 464
