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

433 pages, Kindle Edition

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?