Variable Stars

by Christina Koning

This is a story of love and astronomy; music and silence; secrets and truth-telling; of world-changing discoveries, and unrequited desire. Moving from York in the 1780s to Regency Bath, and then to Hanover in the 1840s, it concerns the lives of three people-all astronomers. There is Caroline, torn between her passion for music and her passion for the stars; John, deaf from childhood, whose extraordinary mathematical gifts afford him perspectives not available to others; and Edward, friend and mentor to Caroline and to John, who must conceal his innermost feelings from them both. All three find fulfilment in the heavens for the set- backs and disappointments they encounter on earth. All three, in time, come to know the truth about variable stars.

Genres: Historical Fiction

402 pages, Paperback

First published May 24, 2011

About the author

This author also writes under the name A.C. Koning

Reviews

[Christina Koning · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A beautifully and carefully written book, well researched and imaginative, about a fascinating woman, and the tension, even then, that existed between a woman’s emotional life and her ‘career’.” Fay Weldon

“Christina Koning has written the very best sort of historical novel. She takes the little-known stories of the astronomer siblings Caroline and William Herschel and their friend Edward Pigott and fashions a poignant fiction on the mutability of human life and its reflection in the heavens… Highly recommended.” Michael Arditti

“Koning’s elegant novel traces Caroline’s journey; summoned from Hannover to Bath to grind mirrors, do the housework and sing the principal soprano parts in the oratorios her brother put on. It’s a wonderfully empathetic view of the indignities of playing second fiddle to genius.” Alfred Hickling, The Guardian

❝Koning deploys her extensive research skilfully to tell a fascinating and moving story about the longing for knowledge and the nature of love.❞ Kate Saunders, The Times

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not normally one for historical fiction; I tend to prefer my history and my fiction clearly separate. In this case, though, the historical context functions as a convincing context for the more speculative aspects of the book, and the line between what "really" happened and what *might* have happened is generally (and, I think, intentionally) clearly drawn throughout. The novel focuses on the 18th-century astronomer William Herschel's sister Caroline, who probably deserves as much credit as her brother, but (as the _Guardian_ reviewer puts it) suffers "the indignities of playing second fiddle to genius". This human drama played out against the backdrop of the stars is well worth a read.

[Jenny Hemming · Rating 4 out of 5]

Combination of astronomy, unrequited love, thwarted passion & tragedy - what's not to like?