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Ragazzo
Welcome, dear reader, to my greatest production since my death!
This Opera Seria, this Opera Buffa, this tragedy, this comedy is the story of two millionaires whose wager destroyed an innocent boy, creating the greatest singer and the greatest killer who ever lived. It is also the story of how the greatest composer in history was relaunched in the musical minds of the populace.
Should you wish to sing any of it, feel free, but you will have to write your own music. I gave that up two hundred and fifty years ago.
George Frideric Handel
This Opera Seria, this Opera Buffa, this tragedy, this comedy is the story of two millionaires whose wager destroyed an innocent boy, creating the greatest singer and the greatest killer who ever lived. It is also the story of how the greatest composer in history was relaunched in the musical minds of the populace.
Should you wish to sing any of it, feel free, but you will have to write your own music. I gave that up two hundred and fifty years ago.
George Frideric Handel
258 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 26, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 12, 2025
Ragazzo is one of those rare novels that manages to be outrageous, moving, and strangely profound all at once. Told through the sharp, witty voice of George Frideric Handel, yes, the composer himself, speaking from beyond the grave, the story draws you into a strange wager between two millionaires that spirals into tragedy, artistry, and madness.
The heart of the book is the boy at its centre, transformed from an innocent into both the greatest singer and the most chilling killer the world has ever known. Elkon depicts him with complexity, so you find yourself torn between admiration, pity, and horror. There’s also a delightful theatricality in the way the tale unfolds, part opera, part dark comedy, with moments of biting satire about art, wealth, and human folly.
The idea of Handel narrating could have been a gimmick, but here it’s executed brilliantly. His commentary is charming, sharp, and insightful, making you feel like you’re in the wings with a master who’s seen it all and has nothing left to lose.
If you enjoy stories blending the absurd with the tragic, and music with murder, Ragazzo is worth every page. It’s as flamboyant as an opera finale and just as unforgettable.
The heart of the book is the boy at its centre, transformed from an innocent into both the greatest singer and the most chilling killer the world has ever known. Elkon depicts him with complexity, so you find yourself torn between admiration, pity, and horror. There’s also a delightful theatricality in the way the tale unfolds, part opera, part dark comedy, with moments of biting satire about art, wealth, and human folly.
The idea of Handel narrating could have been a gimmick, but here it’s executed brilliantly. His commentary is charming, sharp, and insightful, making you feel like you’re in the wings with a master who’s seen it all and has nothing left to lose.
If you enjoy stories blending the absurd with the tragic, and music with murder, Ragazzo is worth every page. It’s as flamboyant as an opera finale and just as unforgettable.
December 2, 2024
Since I wrote it obviously I award myself at least 5 stars, probably 6. My rating is irrelevant. The book took me 7 or 8 years to write and is an expression of delight and insanity.
Your rating is what counts!
This is the craziest book I have written, and bear in mind my first novel included an alien who causes wars so he can harvest the bodies for meat.
This one is about two spoilt rich millionaires who cause at least seven deaths. For a bet.
Written by the ghost of GF Handel, I hope you will enjoy reading the book at least as much as I enjoyed writing it...
Your rating is what counts!
This is the craziest book I have written, and bear in mind my first novel included an alien who causes wars so he can harvest the bodies for meat.
This one is about two spoilt rich millionaires who cause at least seven deaths. For a bet.
Written by the ghost of GF Handel, I hope you will enjoy reading the book at least as much as I enjoyed writing it...
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews