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Lessons in Harmony
Not yet published
Expected 12 Nov 26The year is 1907 and Maurice Ravel is one of the most admired but also most controversial composers in France. An aloof, dandyish figure, he is at the centre of a group of rebellious artists who call themselves the Apaches. It is considered a scandal that he has never won the Prix de Rome, despite entering compositions for it several times. As for his personal life, he has no known attachments, and no one seems to know whether his romantic leanings incline him towards men, or women, or neither.
In December, Ravel takes on a new pupil: a rising British composer who is two years his senior, and has come to Paris for three months specifically to study with him. His name is Ralph Vaughan Williams.
The two men could hardly be more different. Ralph is down-to-earth, married, and currently engaged in a long-term project of collecting forgotten British folk songs – a musical form in which Ravel has no interest. All they have in common is their left-wing politics. That, and the fact that in clear but indefinable ways, each of them seems an archetypal representative of his own country. One of them ‘typically French’, the other ‘so English’. And yet this will be the beginning of a deep friendship – one which will come to symbolise the new, tentative alliance between France and Britain in the run-up to the First World War.
In December, Ravel takes on a new pupil: a rising British composer who is two years his senior, and has come to Paris for three months specifically to study with him. His name is Ralph Vaughan Williams.
The two men could hardly be more different. Ralph is down-to-earth, married, and currently engaged in a long-term project of collecting forgotten British folk songs – a musical form in which Ravel has no interest. All they have in common is their left-wing politics. That, and the fact that in clear but indefinable ways, each of them seems an archetypal representative of his own country. One of them ‘typically French’, the other ‘so English’. And yet this will be the beginning of a deep friendship – one which will come to symbolise the new, tentative alliance between France and Britain in the run-up to the First World War.
240 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication November 12, 2026
About the author
Jonathan Coe
106 books2,719 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Jonathan Coe, born 19 August 1961 in Birmingham, is a British novelist and writer. His work usually has an underlying preoccupation with political issues, although this serious engagement is often expressed comically in the form of satire. For example, What a Carve Up! reworks the plot of an old 1960s spoof horror film of the same name, in the light of the 'carve up' of the UK's resources which some felt was carried out by Margaret Thatcher's right wing Conservative governments of the 1980s. Coe studied at King Edward's School, Birmingham and Trinity College, Cambridge, before teaching at the University of Warwick where he completed a PhD in English Literature. In July 2006 he was given an honorary degree by The University of Birmingham.
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Retrieved 10:55, February 2, 2009 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan...
Jonathan Coe, born 19 August 1961 in Birmingham, is a British novelist and writer. His work usually has an underlying preoccupation with political issues, although this serious engagement is often expressed comically in the form of satire. For example, What a Carve Up! reworks the plot of an old 1960s spoof horror film of the same name, in the light of the 'carve up' of the UK's resources which some felt was carried out by Margaret Thatcher's right wing Conservative governments of the 1980s. Coe studied at King Edward's School, Birmingham and Trinity College, Cambridge, before teaching at the University of Warwick where he completed a PhD in English Literature. In July 2006 he was given an honorary degree by The University of Birmingham.
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Retrieved 10:55, February 2, 2009 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan...
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
" Why, Monsieur Ravel, what a curious thing to say. This landscape will never change. Never. It is permanent. Timeless. No amount of war, or famine, or bloodshed could ever do away with it. It will survive all that. Just like my brother's music." She smiled and added politely but with absolute sincerity: "And you own."
This is a story of a friendship, an admiration and an emotional connection between two of the twentieth century's greatest composers; one French -Maurice Ravel and the other English- Ralph Vaughan Williams ( RVW).
Early in the 1990s , a relatively new composer -RVW- is searching for a teacher ; a person to motivate and inspire him and support him in his desire for the wider recognition of traditional folk songs. It is through Ravel's close friend Pierre Vicente Mylonas ( Mylo) that the contact is made and the Englishman makes his way to Paris to meet the somewhat curiously eccentric figure of Ravel- a man who is becoming revered for his virtuosity and talent as a composer. but emotionally is often adrift within himself. Two different characters and two very different cultural backgrounds but something special happens.
Told from the voice of Mylo, the bond between the two composers is explored with affection, humour and respect for the talents of both men. Set against a changing world, the story explores a friendship that at first glance should not have worked but through mutual respect and a deep love of musical composition an alliance is formed that continued for many years.
It is the narrator's voice that truly makes this novel special - battling with his own inner insecurities and direction, Mylo follows the lives of both men ; their successes and challenges and especially during the period of WWI when both men became actively involved.
Jonathan Coe is a superb writer and this a welcome addition to his catalogue of brilliant reads. The power of friendship and the passion of artists to create is palpable. This is an homage to the talent of musical composition and in many senses an exploration as to what may give music its own national identity but without being in any sense nationalistic - RVW's desire to create music for all and draw energy and understanding from the most humble locations that are fundamental to life- the rural community. It is also a story about sacrifices made in the name of creating and achieving "eternal" artistic beauty.
Lessons in Harmony is truly moving and engaging novel - a top novel of Winter of 2026
Reading this novel has resulted in both composers being further explored, listened to and appreciated in a different light.
Thank you to Viking Publishers and NetGalley for the advance copy for an honest review.
This is a story of a friendship, an admiration and an emotional connection between two of the twentieth century's greatest composers; one French -Maurice Ravel and the other English- Ralph Vaughan Williams ( RVW).
Early in the 1990s , a relatively new composer -RVW- is searching for a teacher ; a person to motivate and inspire him and support him in his desire for the wider recognition of traditional folk songs. It is through Ravel's close friend Pierre Vicente Mylonas ( Mylo) that the contact is made and the Englishman makes his way to Paris to meet the somewhat curiously eccentric figure of Ravel- a man who is becoming revered for his virtuosity and talent as a composer. but emotionally is often adrift within himself. Two different characters and two very different cultural backgrounds but something special happens.
Told from the voice of Mylo, the bond between the two composers is explored with affection, humour and respect for the talents of both men. Set against a changing world, the story explores a friendship that at first glance should not have worked but through mutual respect and a deep love of musical composition an alliance is formed that continued for many years.
It is the narrator's voice that truly makes this novel special - battling with his own inner insecurities and direction, Mylo follows the lives of both men ; their successes and challenges and especially during the period of WWI when both men became actively involved.
Jonathan Coe is a superb writer and this a welcome addition to his catalogue of brilliant reads. The power of friendship and the passion of artists to create is palpable. This is an homage to the talent of musical composition and in many senses an exploration as to what may give music its own national identity but without being in any sense nationalistic - RVW's desire to create music for all and draw energy and understanding from the most humble locations that are fundamental to life- the rural community. It is also a story about sacrifices made in the name of creating and achieving "eternal" artistic beauty.
Lessons in Harmony is truly moving and engaging novel - a top novel of Winter of 2026
Reading this novel has resulted in both composers being further explored, listened to and appreciated in a different light.
Thank you to Viking Publishers and NetGalley for the advance copy for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
любимый автор лучше всяких "дипломированных лекторов" способен пробудить интерес к европейской (в частности) музыке 19-20 (в частности) веков, потому что слушать хочется все, кого он упоминает. так же делал и сэнсэй, но в меньшей мере. и это такая "Повесть о двух городах" из начала 20 века с поправкой на ебанутый мир начала 21го и нынешний станс Великобритании, которую Коу не устает критиковать
ну и комические сцены превосходны. здесь, как и в другом своем музыкальном романе, "Карликах смерти", Коу устраивает настоящий балаган с крупным клавишным инструментом
а роман в целом очень нежный и музыкальный, как мы любим
ну и комические сцены превосходны. здесь, как и в другом своем музыкальном романе, "Карликах смерти", Коу устраивает настоящий балаган с крупным клавишным инструментом
а роман в целом очень нежный и музыкальный, как мы любим
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
After a momentary dip in his popularity in the decades following his death in 1958, at the venerable age of 85, the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams has regained its prominence, and he can now be considered one of the best-known, most-performed and most emblematically British of composers. His love of and deep knowledge of Tudor motets, hymn tunes (he edited The English Hymnal between 1904 and 1906), and English folksongs (which he collected and recorded in a manner comparable to Bartók and Kodály’s contemporary ethnomusicological efforts in Hungary) profoundly influenced his development and style as a composer and led to memorable works such as his cycle of nine symphonies and, just to mention my favourite RVW composition, the Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis.
Yet it took quite a while for RVW to find his own voice. Ironically, it was another – and quite different – composer who would help set him on the path to self-discovery. In 1907, wishing to rid himself of the “lumpy and stodgy” facets of his music, remnants of the heavy Romantic and Germanic style of his teachers, Vaughan Williams considered taking lessons from the French composer Vincent D’Indy. Music critic Edwin Evans introduced RVW to a fellow critic, Dimitri Calvocoressi, who came up with a different suggestion: Calvocoressi’s close friend Maurice Ravel, more progressive in outlook and musical style, would, in his view, be a better fit for what Vaughan Williams had in mind.
RVW, who was the older composer by three years, spent three months as Ravel’s student in Paris – not a terribly long time, but long enough to infuse the English composer with a mastery of a more transparent “Gallic” approach to harmony and orchestration and, more importantly, to give him the freedom to forge a style rooted in English tradition while remaining recognisably personal. Vaughan Williams’s works tap into the same strand of English mysticism that gave us John Bunyan and William Blake (both, incidentally, writers whose works RVW set to music) and, in this regard, seem worlds away from the refined and world-savvy Parisian elegance of Ravel. No wonder, then, that the latter himself admitted that RVW was “the only one of my pupils who doesn’t try to write my music”. Yet those three months left a permanent mark on the older composer, besides giving rise to a musical friendship that would last for much longer.
From the bare bones of this episode of musical history, Jonathan Coe fleshes out his latest novel, Lessons in Harmony. And what a delightful book I found it to be. Coe leaves the key biographical facts about both composers intact but, in true postmodern fashion, has the story narrated through the memoirs and journals of Ravel’s close friend Pierre Vicente “Mylo” Mylonas, a heavily fictionalised version of the real-life Calvocoressi. The novel is based on the conceit that Mylo’s fictional journals are discovered, edited and published by the also fictional Justine La Chasse, granddaughter of the housekeeper of the Tavernes, who did exist and were the heirs of Maurice Ravel’s music.
Mylo is an inspired creation, because he becomes the voice through which we are given a glimpse into both composers’ private and family lives, taking us well beyond the momentous three months they spent together. We see them navigate personal and public tragedies at first hand – both men were on the front lines in the First World War, an experience that leads Ravel to state that “we’re all different people now”.
A particularly poignant aspect of the narrative is the loving yet challenging relationship between Ralph and his ailing first wife, Adeline, which becomes more complicated when, in his later years, he falls in love with the much younger Ursula (whom Adeline would invite into their home, and who would eventually marry Ralph after Adeline’s death).
The fictional narrator Mylo himself becomes a key character – and an interesting one at that – as we see him coming to terms with his attraction towards Ravel. This is not simply a novel about two famous composers, but also one about love, friendship and community.
Indeed, without becoming overly technical, political or philosophical, the novel addresses some deeper themes: whether there can be a “national” school or style of composition; whether patriotism is, by definition, parochial; and whether art and music have any role to play in advancing ideas of peace and fraternity.
Wisely, Coe rarely tries to evoke or describe the composers’ actual music – a notoriously difficult endeavour in fiction. Instead, readers are directed to a playlist containing all the music mentioned in the novel, available on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Qobuz and other streaming platforms. The author also provides an afterword detailing those aspects of the novel that are actually documented. A detailed bibliography at the end tantalisingly lists several reference and biographical works for those interested in further exploring the lives of both composers and their cultural milieu.
https://endsoftheword.blogspot.com/20...
Yet it took quite a while for RVW to find his own voice. Ironically, it was another – and quite different – composer who would help set him on the path to self-discovery. In 1907, wishing to rid himself of the “lumpy and stodgy” facets of his music, remnants of the heavy Romantic and Germanic style of his teachers, Vaughan Williams considered taking lessons from the French composer Vincent D’Indy. Music critic Edwin Evans introduced RVW to a fellow critic, Dimitri Calvocoressi, who came up with a different suggestion: Calvocoressi’s close friend Maurice Ravel, more progressive in outlook and musical style, would, in his view, be a better fit for what Vaughan Williams had in mind.
RVW, who was the older composer by three years, spent three months as Ravel’s student in Paris – not a terribly long time, but long enough to infuse the English composer with a mastery of a more transparent “Gallic” approach to harmony and orchestration and, more importantly, to give him the freedom to forge a style rooted in English tradition while remaining recognisably personal. Vaughan Williams’s works tap into the same strand of English mysticism that gave us John Bunyan and William Blake (both, incidentally, writers whose works RVW set to music) and, in this regard, seem worlds away from the refined and world-savvy Parisian elegance of Ravel. No wonder, then, that the latter himself admitted that RVW was “the only one of my pupils who doesn’t try to write my music”. Yet those three months left a permanent mark on the older composer, besides giving rise to a musical friendship that would last for much longer.
From the bare bones of this episode of musical history, Jonathan Coe fleshes out his latest novel, Lessons in Harmony. And what a delightful book I found it to be. Coe leaves the key biographical facts about both composers intact but, in true postmodern fashion, has the story narrated through the memoirs and journals of Ravel’s close friend Pierre Vicente “Mylo” Mylonas, a heavily fictionalised version of the real-life Calvocoressi. The novel is based on the conceit that Mylo’s fictional journals are discovered, edited and published by the also fictional Justine La Chasse, granddaughter of the housekeeper of the Tavernes, who did exist and were the heirs of Maurice Ravel’s music.
Mylo is an inspired creation, because he becomes the voice through which we are given a glimpse into both composers’ private and family lives, taking us well beyond the momentous three months they spent together. We see them navigate personal and public tragedies at first hand – both men were on the front lines in the First World War, an experience that leads Ravel to state that “we’re all different people now”.
A particularly poignant aspect of the narrative is the loving yet challenging relationship between Ralph and his ailing first wife, Adeline, which becomes more complicated when, in his later years, he falls in love with the much younger Ursula (whom Adeline would invite into their home, and who would eventually marry Ralph after Adeline’s death).
The fictional narrator Mylo himself becomes a key character – and an interesting one at that – as we see him coming to terms with his attraction towards Ravel. This is not simply a novel about two famous composers, but also one about love, friendship and community.
Indeed, without becoming overly technical, political or philosophical, the novel addresses some deeper themes: whether there can be a “national” school or style of composition; whether patriotism is, by definition, parochial; and whether art and music have any role to play in advancing ideas of peace and fraternity.
Wisely, Coe rarely tries to evoke or describe the composers’ actual music – a notoriously difficult endeavour in fiction. Instead, readers are directed to a playlist containing all the music mentioned in the novel, available on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Qobuz and other streaming platforms. The author also provides an afterword detailing those aspects of the novel that are actually documented. A detailed bibliography at the end tantalisingly lists several reference and biographical works for those interested in further exploring the lives of both composers and their cultural milieu.
https://endsoftheword.blogspot.com/20...
September 30, 2026
This is quite an interesting read but I suspect, as I am not very familiar with Ravel’s music (except the Boléro which coincidently was the first record I ever bought in my teens!), the story would be much more meaningful to someone who is familiar with both his and Ralph Vaughan William’s music. It’s the story of their friendship told from the POV of a good friend of Ravel.
I did find the human story, the details of both their characters and lives to be entertaining. I’m not sure how much of the detail is true though. I would have liked to have got to know RVW’s wife, Adeline Fisher who he married in 1897. She was incapacitated throughout her life by severe arthritis but was one of his inspirations and constant supporter even when he may have been unfaithful to her.
I recommend this book to readers familiar with the music of both composers but I also think it will be interesting to people like me who have little or no knowledge of their work, but love music and are interested in the creative process.
Thanks to NetGalley for the kindle ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
I did find the human story, the details of both their characters and lives to be entertaining. I’m not sure how much of the detail is true though. I would have liked to have got to know RVW’s wife, Adeline Fisher who he married in 1897. She was incapacitated throughout her life by severe arthritis but was one of his inspirations and constant supporter even when he may have been unfaithful to her.
I recommend this book to readers familiar with the music of both composers but I also think it will be interesting to people like me who have little or no knowledge of their work, but love music and are interested in the creative process.
Thanks to NetGalley for the kindle ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The gentlest and most graceful Belle Époque France/England story of music and the love of it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Viking for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I own other Coe books but this is the first I'm reading.
I found it confusing at first, the format, it made me question whether it was a fictional novel or a factual historical book, but overall I found it an interesting choice.
I know very little about the characters - Maurice Ravel and Ralph Vaughan Williams - other than the bare bones of their compositions. So I don't know how much of this is true, but it feels very well researched and the story feels grounded in truth.
It's written in first person which I generally don't like, unless it's a thriller, but because it's written in the form of a manuscript, it wouldn't feel right if it was in third person when the writer is talking about himself.
It's predominately character based which I generally like. There's not huge character development because it's not a very long book, but I think there is enough to give the reader a clear ideas as to who they are and how they fit into hte story.
The plot is lacking somewhat. What's there is interesting and it shouldn't be a surprise to hear that it's predominately about music, compositions etc. which is fine, but there's very little else. So I think only the real diehard classical music fans will really get much out of it. I would have liked a bit more about the goings-on around the music.
It was good and I did enjoy it but I wasn't blown away. I didn't get the WOW I was expecting from what I've seen in other people's reviews.
I own other Coe books but this is the first I'm reading.
I found it confusing at first, the format, it made me question whether it was a fictional novel or a factual historical book, but overall I found it an interesting choice.
I know very little about the characters - Maurice Ravel and Ralph Vaughan Williams - other than the bare bones of their compositions. So I don't know how much of this is true, but it feels very well researched and the story feels grounded in truth.
It's written in first person which I generally don't like, unless it's a thriller, but because it's written in the form of a manuscript, it wouldn't feel right if it was in third person when the writer is talking about himself.
It's predominately character based which I generally like. There's not huge character development because it's not a very long book, but I think there is enough to give the reader a clear ideas as to who they are and how they fit into hte story.
The plot is lacking somewhat. What's there is interesting and it shouldn't be a surprise to hear that it's predominately about music, compositions etc. which is fine, but there's very little else. So I think only the real diehard classical music fans will really get much out of it. I would have liked a bit more about the goings-on around the music.
It was good and I did enjoy it but I wasn't blown away. I didn't get the WOW I was expecting from what I've seen in other people's reviews.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
advance review copy received from NetGalley in return for an honest review
Lessons in Harmony takes us into the world of composers Maurice Ravel and Ralph Vaughan Williams, exploring their relationship and the period Vaughan Williams spent studying with Ravel in Paris. It’s a relatively short novel, blending real people and events with Coe’s fictionalised account of their lives, relationships and the world of music around them.
I normally really enjoy Jonathan Coe’s work, particularly because his novels are so deeply character focused. His characters tend to feel incredibly vivid and real as a result, and while I enjoyed Lessons in Harmony, it didn’t quite reach the heights of something like Bournville for me. Perhaps that’s partly because it’s such a short novel, giving Coe less time to really plumb the depths of the characters and their relationships in the way he does so well elsewhere.
There’s still plenty here to enjoy, particularly for readers interested in Ravel, Vaughan Williams or classical music more generally, and Coe’s talent for bringing historical figures to life is very much present. Fans of his work should certainly find something to enjoy here, although for me it felt a little slighter than some of his other novels.
Lessons in Harmony takes us into the world of composers Maurice Ravel and Ralph Vaughan Williams, exploring their relationship and the period Vaughan Williams spent studying with Ravel in Paris. It’s a relatively short novel, blending real people and events with Coe’s fictionalised account of their lives, relationships and the world of music around them.
I normally really enjoy Jonathan Coe’s work, particularly because his novels are so deeply character focused. His characters tend to feel incredibly vivid and real as a result, and while I enjoyed Lessons in Harmony, it didn’t quite reach the heights of something like Bournville for me. Perhaps that’s partly because it’s such a short novel, giving Coe less time to really plumb the depths of the characters and their relationships in the way he does so well elsewhere.
There’s still plenty here to enjoy, particularly for readers interested in Ravel, Vaughan Williams or classical music more generally, and Coe’s talent for bringing historical figures to life is very much present. Fans of his work should certainly find something to enjoy here, although for me it felt a little slighter than some of his other novels.
July 21, 2026
The story of the relationship between Ravel and Vaughn Williams presented through the eyes of a fictional mutual acquaintance (tho based on a real person). Considering that the novel is set pre and post the First World War with the consequent impact on the characters portrayed and society as a whole I found it rather slight. There is as you might expect a lot of chat about music and how everyone who composes and plays it thinks that they’re really great and how those that listen to it think that they’re really discerning but there’s not too much else to it. There are some amusing moments but overall it’s just a bit meh. The book includes a direction to music streaming services where a playlist of all the works mentioned is available. That was a nice touch.
Thanks to Penguin and NetGalley for the review copy.
Thanks to Penguin and NetGalley for the review copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A fictional story of friends, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Maurice Ravel and Pierre Vicento Mylonas who was instrumental in introducing them.
Although it is based on fact, it has to be remembered that it actually is fiction even if it has a feel of reality about it. Being who they are, music is always going to be central to the narrative, but to have every piece of music described and all the people attending at every concert does get a bit tedious after a while if music is not your particular interest. There was a chapter about their time in uniform, what each of them did during the war and how it changed them which I found most interesting.
I haven’t read anything by Jonathan Coe before but I will try one of his other titles as I don’t think this was the right choice for me.
Many thanks to Jonathan Coe, Viking and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy.
Although it is based on fact, it has to be remembered that it actually is fiction even if it has a feel of reality about it. Being who they are, music is always going to be central to the narrative, but to have every piece of music described and all the people attending at every concert does get a bit tedious after a while if music is not your particular interest. There was a chapter about their time in uniform, what each of them did during the war and how it changed them which I found most interesting.
I haven’t read anything by Jonathan Coe before but I will try one of his other titles as I don’t think this was the right choice for me.
Many thanks to Jonathan Coe, Viking and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Very excited to read the brilliant Jonathan Coe's latest novel, 'Lessons in Harmony' and wasn't disappointed. Coe is such an excellent writer and this novel tackles a meld of non-fiction and fiction driving the theme of the power of friendship and the energy of creativity. The novel explores the passion of musicians, specifically, but Coe tackles the potential complexity of that focusing on the way in which music, and the creation of it was fundamental to the lives of Ravel and Vaughan-Williams. There is a real poignancy in the way in which Coe reveals the relationship between the two. A superb novel and highly recommended. My grateful thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the advance copy.
October 3, 2026
This is the first Jonathan Coe novel I have not enjoyed. This is probably because it is a departure from his usual fiction and I don’t enjoy biographies and this, in essence, is what this is.
Coe fictionalises a relationship between Maurice Ravel and Ralph Vaughn Williams. This is based on facts as they are known to have met but, obviously, conversations and events are imagined. The tone of this account is serious with many references to actual pieces of classical music which some readers will enjoy. I didn’t which I blame on my woeful ignorance of classical music.
I read an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publishers for which I am grateful. I will continue to read Jonathan Coe.
Coe fictionalises a relationship between Maurice Ravel and Ralph Vaughn Williams. This is based on facts as they are known to have met but, obviously, conversations and events are imagined. The tone of this account is serious with many references to actual pieces of classical music which some readers will enjoy. I didn’t which I blame on my woeful ignorance of classical music.
I read an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publishers for which I am grateful. I will continue to read Jonathan Coe.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐
I have to admit I went into this knowing nothing about Vaughan Williams or Ravel. But I did know that I like a Jonathan Coe book.
He's quite the writer, and seems to turn his hand to any story.
This was engaging, had moments that made me smile, or stop and think, or even Google the actually music of one of the men.
Mr Coe has such an easy way with words, that this is entertaining, even for those that don't enjoy the compsers.
Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy
I have to admit I went into this knowing nothing about Vaughan Williams or Ravel. But I did know that I like a Jonathan Coe book.
He's quite the writer, and seems to turn his hand to any story.
This was engaging, had moments that made me smile, or stop and think, or even Google the actually music of one of the men.
Mr Coe has such an easy way with words, that this is entertaining, even for those that don't enjoy the compsers.
Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews