"This is a delightful family story set against a politically turbulent backdrop."
‘Fernando: Beethoven of the Guitar. Book II: Exile, Favor, & Triumph’ by Lou Marinoff follows on from Book One: ‘Youth, Celebrity, & War’ which depicted the early life of the greatest guitarist-composer of his era, Fernando Sor. After leaving Fernando and his first wife on the borders between Spain and France, after the liberally inclined artist’s brush with the Spanish Inquisition we see Fernando’s stratospheric rise to prominence across Europe after loss and adversity as well as a tepid musical reception in Paris. As mentioned in my review of the first book, this is a musician and composer that was unfamiliar to me, and so I am enjoying this slightly embellished tale of a musician's success amongst the political turmoil of his homeland and the fallout it had across Europe. The storyline in this instalment is again fluid and engaging as Fernando’s life and career progresses. We meet the vibrant character that is Carolina, Fernando and Joaquina’s daughter, who has the potential to be as much of a child prodigy as her father before her. We also see Fernando, Carolina, his second wife and family embark on his Grand Tour of Europe. It would seem as the book ends that Fernando is at the highest peak of fame, celebrity and success as he heads to Moscow, and I am curious to see how his story concludes. This is a delightful family story set against a politically turbulent backdrop. You do not have to be particularly knowledgeable about this period in history as the author’s extensive research and expertise shines through and plenty of context is provided. Amongst this was a line I found particularly poignant, and perhaps still relevant to the climate we see today: “as long as nationhood is permitted to eclipse humanity, future horrors will continue to outstrip past ones”. In all this is another enlightening and entertaining instalment of Fernando Sor’s enduring legacy and I am keen to read it’s conclusion.
Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading Ambassador
| Primary Genre | Historical Fiction |
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