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Ghost Variations
The strangest detective story in the history of music – inspired by a true incident.
A world spiralling towards war. A composer descending into madness. And a devoted woman struggling to keep her faith in art and love against all the odds.
1933. Dabbling in the fashionable “Glass Game” – a Ouija board – the famous Hungarian violinist Jelly d’Arányi, one-time muse to composers such as Bartók, Ravel and Elgar, encounters a startling dilemma. A message arrives ostensibly from the spirit of the composer Robert Schumann, begging her to find and perform his long-suppressed violin concerto.
She tries to ignore it, wanting to concentrate instead on charity concerts. But against the background of the 1930s depression in London and the rise of the Nazis in Germany, a struggle ensues as the “spirit messengers” do not want her to forget.
The concerto turns out to be real, embargoed by Schumann’s family for fear that it betrayed his mental it was his last full-scale work, written just before he suffered a nervous breakdown after which he spent the rest of his life in a mental hospital. It shares a theme with his Geistervariationen (Ghost Variations) for piano, a melody he believed had been dictated to him by the spirits of composers beyond the grave.
As rumours of its existence spread from London to Berlin, where the manuscript is held, Jelly embarks on an increasingly complex quest to find the concerto. When the Third Reich’s administration decides to unearth the work for reasons of its own, a race to perform it begins.
Though aided and abetted by a team of larger-than-life personalities – including her sister Adila Fachiri, the pianist Myra Hess, and a young music publisher who falls in love with her – Jelly finds herself confronting forces that threaten her own state of mind. Saving the concerto comes to mean saving herself.
In the ensuing psychodrama, the heroine, the concerto and the pre-war world stand on the brink, reaching together for one more chance of glory.
REVIEWS OF GHOST
The Jewish Chronicle
"Schumann's lost concerto and a virtuoso femme fatale keep you gripped and guessing in Ghost Variations. Set in 1930s London, this musical mystery by Jessica Duchen strikes a hot-blooded tune with grace notes from beyond the grave. The story centres on Jelly d’Aranyi, Hungarian, part-Jewish violinist and siren muse of Bartok, Ravel and Elgar."
The Daily Mail – John Suchet's Best Read of the Year, 2016
"A thrilling read set in Thirties London and Germany. It’s the true story of Robert Schumann’s lost violin concerto, and the race between a Hungarian violinist and the Third Reich to find and perform the work."
A world spiralling towards war. A composer descending into madness. And a devoted woman struggling to keep her faith in art and love against all the odds.
1933. Dabbling in the fashionable “Glass Game” – a Ouija board – the famous Hungarian violinist Jelly d’Arányi, one-time muse to composers such as Bartók, Ravel and Elgar, encounters a startling dilemma. A message arrives ostensibly from the spirit of the composer Robert Schumann, begging her to find and perform his long-suppressed violin concerto.
She tries to ignore it, wanting to concentrate instead on charity concerts. But against the background of the 1930s depression in London and the rise of the Nazis in Germany, a struggle ensues as the “spirit messengers” do not want her to forget.
The concerto turns out to be real, embargoed by Schumann’s family for fear that it betrayed his mental it was his last full-scale work, written just before he suffered a nervous breakdown after which he spent the rest of his life in a mental hospital. It shares a theme with his Geistervariationen (Ghost Variations) for piano, a melody he believed had been dictated to him by the spirits of composers beyond the grave.
As rumours of its existence spread from London to Berlin, where the manuscript is held, Jelly embarks on an increasingly complex quest to find the concerto. When the Third Reich’s administration decides to unearth the work for reasons of its own, a race to perform it begins.
Though aided and abetted by a team of larger-than-life personalities – including her sister Adila Fachiri, the pianist Myra Hess, and a young music publisher who falls in love with her – Jelly finds herself confronting forces that threaten her own state of mind. Saving the concerto comes to mean saving herself.
In the ensuing psychodrama, the heroine, the concerto and the pre-war world stand on the brink, reaching together for one more chance of glory.
REVIEWS OF GHOST
The Jewish Chronicle
"Schumann's lost concerto and a virtuoso femme fatale keep you gripped and guessing in Ghost Variations. Set in 1930s London, this musical mystery by Jessica Duchen strikes a hot-blooded tune with grace notes from beyond the grave. The story centres on Jelly d’Aranyi, Hungarian, part-Jewish violinist and siren muse of Bartok, Ravel and Elgar."
The Daily Mail – John Suchet's Best Read of the Year, 2016
"A thrilling read set in Thirties London and Germany. It’s the true story of Robert Schumann’s lost violin concerto, and the race between a Hungarian violinist and the Third Reich to find and perform the work."
279 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 20, 2016
10 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Duchen
16 books35 followersJessica is a music journalist, author and librettist. She contributes to the Sunday Times, the I News and BBC Music Magazine, among others, and was formerly with the Independent for 12 years.
Her latest novel 'Immortal' tells the (probably) true story behind Beethoven's famous 'Immortal Beloved' letter, exploring a tragic secret that was long concealed. "A revelation" (Daniel Hope, president of the Beethoven-Haus, Bonn).
'Ghost Variations' is based on the bizarre discovery of the suppressed Schumann Violin Concerto in the 1930s, with the great violinist Jelly d'Arányi as its heroine. "A thrilling read" (John Suchet, The Daily Mail).
Earlier novels focus on tensions between family generations, including the story of a child prodigy pianist ('Alicia's Gift') and the long-term effects of displacement and cultural clashes ('Hungarian Dances').
Jessica's librettos for composer Roxanna Panufnik include two operas commissioned by Garsington: 'Silver Birch', which was shortlisted for an International Opera Award in 2018, and 'Dalia', which won an Excellence in Music Theatre Education award in 2023. Among other pieces are 'Across the Line of Dreams' for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Chorus with conductors Marin Alsop and Valentina Peleggi, and a new song cycle, 'Gallery of Memories', which was premiered in Presteigne and Oxford festivals in 2023. More librettos include two youth operas based on Oscar Wilde stories: 'The Happy Princess' with composer Paul Fincham and 'The Selfish Giant' with John Barber.
Jessica creates and presents concert dramas and narrated concerts, with numerous appearances at festivals around the UK, France and Australia. Her non-fiction books include biographies of the composers Gabriel Fauré and Erich Wolfgang Korngold, and a centenary celebration of the London Chamber Orchestra.
She lives in London with her violinist husband and cat.
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/jessicawords...
Her latest novel 'Immortal' tells the (probably) true story behind Beethoven's famous 'Immortal Beloved' letter, exploring a tragic secret that was long concealed. "A revelation" (Daniel Hope, president of the Beethoven-Haus, Bonn).
'Ghost Variations' is based on the bizarre discovery of the suppressed Schumann Violin Concerto in the 1930s, with the great violinist Jelly d'Arányi as its heroine. "A thrilling read" (John Suchet, The Daily Mail).
Earlier novels focus on tensions between family generations, including the story of a child prodigy pianist ('Alicia's Gift') and the long-term effects of displacement and cultural clashes ('Hungarian Dances').
Jessica's librettos for composer Roxanna Panufnik include two operas commissioned by Garsington: 'Silver Birch', which was shortlisted for an International Opera Award in 2018, and 'Dalia', which won an Excellence in Music Theatre Education award in 2023. Among other pieces are 'Across the Line of Dreams' for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Chorus with conductors Marin Alsop and Valentina Peleggi, and a new song cycle, 'Gallery of Memories', which was premiered in Presteigne and Oxford festivals in 2023. More librettos include two youth operas based on Oscar Wilde stories: 'The Happy Princess' with composer Paul Fincham and 'The Selfish Giant' with John Barber.
Jessica creates and presents concert dramas and narrated concerts, with numerous appearances at festivals around the UK, France and Australia. Her non-fiction books include biographies of the composers Gabriel Fauré and Erich Wolfgang Korngold, and a centenary celebration of the London Chamber Orchestra.
She lives in London with her violinist husband and cat.
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/jessicawords...
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 12, 2017
Music, mystery, beautiful writing and a story that proves reality is weirder than fiction I’m writing this review on behalf of Rosie’s Book Review Team. I was given an ARC copy of this book and I voluntarily chose to review it.
I enjoy reading in a variety of genres but have recently realised that I really enjoy historical fiction, as it offers me both, great stories and a background that’s interesting in its own right and that often offers me insight into eras and situations I know little about.
When I read the description of this novel I thought it sounded very different to what I usually read, but fascinating at the same time. A mystery surrounding a piece of music (a violin concerto) by a famous composer (Robert Schuman) that has been hidden for a long time. I love music but I’m not a deep connoisseur, and I didn’t realise when I read about the novel that the story was based on facts (it follows quite closely the events that took place in the 1930s, involving Hungarian (later nationalised British) violinist Jelly d’Arányi, and a concert Schuman wrote whilst already interned in an asylum) and included an element of the paranormal. It’s one of those cases when reality upstages fiction.
Despite the incredible story, that’s fascinating in its own right, Jessica Duchen does a great job of bringing all the characters to life. The story is told in the third person mostly from Jelly’s point of view, although later in the book we also get to hear about Ully, a character that although not based on a real person brings much to the equation, as it offers us a German perspective on the story. Jelly, who lives with her sister, brother-in-law, niece and their dog, despite her many admirers and some failed romances, is single and dedicated heart and soul to her music. I easily identified with Jelly, although our vocations and personal circumstances are very different, but I appreciated her dedication and love for music and for her family, her horror at the social and historical circumstances she was living through, her difficulties fitting in, as a foreigner living abroad, and her awareness of the challenges and limitations she was facing due to her age. There are very touching moments, for example when Jelly goes to visit her secretary and friend at the hospital and gives an impromptu concert there, when she organises a tour of concerts in cathedrals, free for everybody, not matter their social class, to collect funds for the poor, and when she becomes plagued by self-doubt, due to her personal circumstances and to her failing health. Jelly is not perfect, and she appears naïve at times, showing little understanding of issues like race or politics, limited insight into her own beliefs about the spirit world, her feelings and hesitating about what to do in her personal life, but she is a credible and passionate human being, and she gets to confront many of her fears by the end of the book.
Apart from the gripping story and the background behind the discovery of the concert, there is the historical context of the 1930s. As Schuman was a German composer, somehow it became a matter of national importance to recover the concert and claim it as a German work. The changes in Germany, the atmosphere of menace and threat, the rise of dangerous nationalism, and how that was also reflected in Britain, where the sisters lived, was well reflected and built into the book, especially when, at first sight, it seems to be only marginally relevant to the central mystery. As several characters observe in the novel, a piece of music is not ‘just a piece of music’ any longer and everything becomes vested with particular significance, thanks to manipulation and propaganda, no matter what the original intention of the composer might have been. I suspect most people who read this book won’t be able to resist comparing the historical situation then to our current times and worry.
This novel is a joy to read, one of these cases when the story and the writing style are perfectly matched and one can almost hear the music flowing from the pages. A wonderful novel that I recommend to anybody interested in the period and in good writing. I’ll be closely watching this author in the future.
I enjoy reading in a variety of genres but have recently realised that I really enjoy historical fiction, as it offers me both, great stories and a background that’s interesting in its own right and that often offers me insight into eras and situations I know little about.
When I read the description of this novel I thought it sounded very different to what I usually read, but fascinating at the same time. A mystery surrounding a piece of music (a violin concerto) by a famous composer (Robert Schuman) that has been hidden for a long time. I love music but I’m not a deep connoisseur, and I didn’t realise when I read about the novel that the story was based on facts (it follows quite closely the events that took place in the 1930s, involving Hungarian (later nationalised British) violinist Jelly d’Arányi, and a concert Schuman wrote whilst already interned in an asylum) and included an element of the paranormal. It’s one of those cases when reality upstages fiction.
Despite the incredible story, that’s fascinating in its own right, Jessica Duchen does a great job of bringing all the characters to life. The story is told in the third person mostly from Jelly’s point of view, although later in the book we also get to hear about Ully, a character that although not based on a real person brings much to the equation, as it offers us a German perspective on the story. Jelly, who lives with her sister, brother-in-law, niece and their dog, despite her many admirers and some failed romances, is single and dedicated heart and soul to her music. I easily identified with Jelly, although our vocations and personal circumstances are very different, but I appreciated her dedication and love for music and for her family, her horror at the social and historical circumstances she was living through, her difficulties fitting in, as a foreigner living abroad, and her awareness of the challenges and limitations she was facing due to her age. There are very touching moments, for example when Jelly goes to visit her secretary and friend at the hospital and gives an impromptu concert there, when she organises a tour of concerts in cathedrals, free for everybody, not matter their social class, to collect funds for the poor, and when she becomes plagued by self-doubt, due to her personal circumstances and to her failing health. Jelly is not perfect, and she appears naïve at times, showing little understanding of issues like race or politics, limited insight into her own beliefs about the spirit world, her feelings and hesitating about what to do in her personal life, but she is a credible and passionate human being, and she gets to confront many of her fears by the end of the book.
Apart from the gripping story and the background behind the discovery of the concert, there is the historical context of the 1930s. As Schuman was a German composer, somehow it became a matter of national importance to recover the concert and claim it as a German work. The changes in Germany, the atmosphere of menace and threat, the rise of dangerous nationalism, and how that was also reflected in Britain, where the sisters lived, was well reflected and built into the book, especially when, at first sight, it seems to be only marginally relevant to the central mystery. As several characters observe in the novel, a piece of music is not ‘just a piece of music’ any longer and everything becomes vested with particular significance, thanks to manipulation and propaganda, no matter what the original intention of the composer might have been. I suspect most people who read this book won’t be able to resist comparing the historical situation then to our current times and worry.
This novel is a joy to read, one of these cases when the story and the writing style are perfectly matched and one can almost hear the music flowing from the pages. A wonderful novel that I recommend to anybody interested in the period and in good writing. I’ll be closely watching this author in the future.
October 5, 2016
A captivating and enticing read.
At the heart of this book is a poignant story of a great violinist, Jelly d'Aranyi, or "An Artist of the Floating World"( to borrow from Ishiguro) trying to come to terms with an ever alienating society and the world as it is rapidly approaching another Great War. Although the main plot is the search for a Schumann violin concerto, it seems almost secondary, an effect rather than a cause.
As Jelly is getting older she laments times past, with a brilliantly successful career surrounded by famous musicians and close friends who admire her. She is anxious about a decline in her career, bitterly remarking that were she a man she would be at the height of her power at this age; her close friends are scattered around the country, one battling old age and another taken by a horrible illness. Still grieving for the man she loved who died in the First World War, she thinks it's inconceivable that another war should be coming so soon. Jelly is deeply unsettled by the anti-foreigner mood around her, despite living in this country for a long time she starts to feel like an unwelcome outsider.
Faced with the task of dealing with the rapid changes around her, Jelly finds herself " losing the ground" as if being swept away by a wave of change. At last she is forced to re-evaluate her whole existence.
Her quest to find the Schumann Concerto becomes her only way out, a way to keep the spirits of all the people she loved as well as herself alive. The music becomes her salvation.
I consider it a sign of how far we have come as a society (although arguably we still have a lot further to go) when we take for granted the difficulties of having a career as a woman. The impossibility of having both a family as well as being a successful musician doesn't cross our mind immediately nowadays, which is a stark contrast to 1930s. Deciding on being a concert musician meant Jelly and many other female artists including the legendary Myra Hess chose to not settle down.
Everywhere else in the novel the author devotes time on highlighting "the plight" of women, one such example being the inability of women to study at certain high institutions as they weren't allowed. The subject of woman's condition so well brought up in this book was an extra bonus to me. Elsewhere the undoubtedly realistic backdrop of the book is beautifully crafted; the general mood of anxiety and alarm as of the uncertainty of the near future is daunting, making one somewhat queasy.
This book will be of great interest not only to musicians but a general reader looking for a gripping read, because that is exactly what this is.
Highly recommended.
At the heart of this book is a poignant story of a great violinist, Jelly d'Aranyi, or "An Artist of the Floating World"( to borrow from Ishiguro) trying to come to terms with an ever alienating society and the world as it is rapidly approaching another Great War. Although the main plot is the search for a Schumann violin concerto, it seems almost secondary, an effect rather than a cause.
As Jelly is getting older she laments times past, with a brilliantly successful career surrounded by famous musicians and close friends who admire her. She is anxious about a decline in her career, bitterly remarking that were she a man she would be at the height of her power at this age; her close friends are scattered around the country, one battling old age and another taken by a horrible illness. Still grieving for the man she loved who died in the First World War, she thinks it's inconceivable that another war should be coming so soon. Jelly is deeply unsettled by the anti-foreigner mood around her, despite living in this country for a long time she starts to feel like an unwelcome outsider.
Faced with the task of dealing with the rapid changes around her, Jelly finds herself " losing the ground" as if being swept away by a wave of change. At last she is forced to re-evaluate her whole existence.
Her quest to find the Schumann Concerto becomes her only way out, a way to keep the spirits of all the people she loved as well as herself alive. The music becomes her salvation.
I consider it a sign of how far we have come as a society (although arguably we still have a lot further to go) when we take for granted the difficulties of having a career as a woman. The impossibility of having both a family as well as being a successful musician doesn't cross our mind immediately nowadays, which is a stark contrast to 1930s. Deciding on being a concert musician meant Jelly and many other female artists including the legendary Myra Hess chose to not settle down.
Everywhere else in the novel the author devotes time on highlighting "the plight" of women, one such example being the inability of women to study at certain high institutions as they weren't allowed. The subject of woman's condition so well brought up in this book was an extra bonus to me. Elsewhere the undoubtedly realistic backdrop of the book is beautifully crafted; the general mood of anxiety and alarm as of the uncertainty of the near future is daunting, making one somewhat queasy.
This book will be of great interest not only to musicians but a general reader looking for a gripping read, because that is exactly what this is.
Highly recommended.
November 17, 2021
Ghost Variations tells the story of famous Hungarian violinist, Jelly d’Arányi, from 1933 to approximately 1939. This is the story of the rediscovery of Robert Schumann's "lost" violin concerto with the help of messages from the dead via an Ouija board and numerous friends... Of Jelly's determination to find the missing concerto and to play it despite obstacles from politicians and surviving Shumann family members... Of life and loss. The historical fiction story is a slow started and a slow burner, but provides a fairly entertaining look at Miss d’Arányi life and society at that time.
The piece of music that all the fuss was about: Robert Schumann’s “Violin Concerto in D minor, WoO 1"
https://youtu.be/RlItfujbIjE
The piece of music that all the fuss was about: Robert Schumann’s “Violin Concerto in D minor, WoO 1"
https://youtu.be/RlItfujbIjE
February 5, 2017
As the title suggests, this certainly is one hell of a strange story. It’s also quite captivating and beautifully written – I had to abandon my other two reads (also historical fiction set in a similar period) to see this one through to the end.
The novel is a skillful re-imagination of historical events, telling the story of the rediscovery of the last work of Robert Schumann (the violin concerto in D minor) from the night it came to the attention of renowned Hungarian violinist Jelly d’Aranyi in 1933 to her performance of the piece in London in 1938. After Schumann’s death, his wife Clara instructed that the violin concerto be removed from public view for 100 years, due apparently to concerns that his last work might reveal the unstable mental state in which it was written. (Schumann completed the piece in 10 days in 1854 then attempted to drown himself, and was confined to an asylum until he died in 1856.) By the 1930s, the existence and location of the written music seems to have been forgotten by virtually everyone.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the story is how Jelly d’Aranyi (the grandniece of famous violinist Joseph Joaquim) finds out that this piece of music existed. She was playing ‘the glass game’ (Oujia board) with her sister Adila, an avid spirit-world believer who frequently hosted séances. (Jelly lived in London with Adila and Adila’s husband and daughter.) Believing she has been urged to do so by Schumann’s spirit, Jelly makes it her mission to track down the music and bring it to the attention of the world. Whether or not you believe that the restless spirit of Schumann actually descended on the d’Aranyi sisters, the early chapter of Duchen’s novel describing that night is compelling and it’s hard not to keep on reading.
The novel follows what becomes Jelly’s mission to perform the work that she feels such a deep connection with, despite the many obstacles in her path. These include the media and political storm that broke out in 1937 when the world learned of the ‘spirit messages’ and the violinist’s intention to premiere the German-written concerto. Duchen paints a vivid, sympathetic portrait of a renowned musician who feels compelled to see her self-appointed task through despite public criticism and her struggles with self-doubt, loss of confidence in her abilities and increasing physical frailty.
Jelly d’Aranyi never married, reluctant to put her violin second to some chap who might want her to look after him instead of her own talent. Another reason she stays single is no doubt her great sense of loss after her Australian love Sep Kelly dies in World War I. Years later, her other close male friend becomes seriously ill – there’s a heartrending scene in the book when Jelly plays the violin to him. Like many of that era who were deeply affected by the early deaths of loved ones, the woman in this book is seeking ways to reconnect with those she has lost, and find meaning in life without them.
The backdrop to Ghost Variations is Britain and Germany in the 1930s, a period which has ominous resonances with today’s dire political climate. The Nazis are targeting Jews in Germany; the intending publishers of Schumann’s last work attempt to resist Nazi plans to use it for their own purposes. One of the novel’s fictional characters, Ulli, works in Germany for the concerto’s eventual publishers and promises to help Jelly – to do this he must face his fears of the ruthless Nazi regime and in particular Goebbels, the Nazi’s head of propaganda. This strand of the novel is full of tension and poignancy, and brings an interesting unpredictability to the storyline.
I would definitely recommend Ghost Variations to all those who enjoy a vividly-told story based on real events, with touch of the inexplicable – and to anyone who is like me fascinated by the lives of great composers and musicians. Apart from d’Aranyi herself, the novel contains a host of prominent musical figures – the conductor Sir Adrian Boult, musicologist Sir Donald Tovey, pianist Myra Hess, violinist Yehudi Menuhin and others. The author’s extensive knowledge of music and music history informs the writing in the best way possible, leaving room for her characters to come wonderfully to life within the richly evoked pre-war setting. Duchen also refers to the much written about, tragically-entwined trio of Robert and Clara Schumann and their friend Brahms, also in love with Clara. (Schuman originally used a five-note melody to send ‘musical messages’ to Clara early on in their relationship when they were forbidden to see each other; this became a mode of communication between all four. The so-called ‘ghost theme’ reappears on the slow movement of his violin concerto.)
Since finishing Ghost Variations, I’ve been inspired to listen to Schumann’s violin concerto for the first time (the 1938 Menuhin recording and a recent one by Baiba Skride with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra). I found it stirring as well as melancholy, also unexpectedly moving. (Did Clara, unable to bear listening to it, need to put it as far away from her as possible?) To think that this music might still be languishing in a library had not Schumann’s spirit (or some more down-to-earth explanation) compelled Jelly d’Aranyi to find it! I’m very glad she did – and that Ms Duchen decided to share the fascinating story in her novel.
I pre-ordered a copy of Ghost Variations from Unbound.
The novel is a skillful re-imagination of historical events, telling the story of the rediscovery of the last work of Robert Schumann (the violin concerto in D minor) from the night it came to the attention of renowned Hungarian violinist Jelly d’Aranyi in 1933 to her performance of the piece in London in 1938. After Schumann’s death, his wife Clara instructed that the violin concerto be removed from public view for 100 years, due apparently to concerns that his last work might reveal the unstable mental state in which it was written. (Schumann completed the piece in 10 days in 1854 then attempted to drown himself, and was confined to an asylum until he died in 1856.) By the 1930s, the existence and location of the written music seems to have been forgotten by virtually everyone.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the story is how Jelly d’Aranyi (the grandniece of famous violinist Joseph Joaquim) finds out that this piece of music existed. She was playing ‘the glass game’ (Oujia board) with her sister Adila, an avid spirit-world believer who frequently hosted séances. (Jelly lived in London with Adila and Adila’s husband and daughter.) Believing she has been urged to do so by Schumann’s spirit, Jelly makes it her mission to track down the music and bring it to the attention of the world. Whether or not you believe that the restless spirit of Schumann actually descended on the d’Aranyi sisters, the early chapter of Duchen’s novel describing that night is compelling and it’s hard not to keep on reading.
The novel follows what becomes Jelly’s mission to perform the work that she feels such a deep connection with, despite the many obstacles in her path. These include the media and political storm that broke out in 1937 when the world learned of the ‘spirit messages’ and the violinist’s intention to premiere the German-written concerto. Duchen paints a vivid, sympathetic portrait of a renowned musician who feels compelled to see her self-appointed task through despite public criticism and her struggles with self-doubt, loss of confidence in her abilities and increasing physical frailty.
Jelly d’Aranyi never married, reluctant to put her violin second to some chap who might want her to look after him instead of her own talent. Another reason she stays single is no doubt her great sense of loss after her Australian love Sep Kelly dies in World War I. Years later, her other close male friend becomes seriously ill – there’s a heartrending scene in the book when Jelly plays the violin to him. Like many of that era who were deeply affected by the early deaths of loved ones, the woman in this book is seeking ways to reconnect with those she has lost, and find meaning in life without them.
The backdrop to Ghost Variations is Britain and Germany in the 1930s, a period which has ominous resonances with today’s dire political climate. The Nazis are targeting Jews in Germany; the intending publishers of Schumann’s last work attempt to resist Nazi plans to use it for their own purposes. One of the novel’s fictional characters, Ulli, works in Germany for the concerto’s eventual publishers and promises to help Jelly – to do this he must face his fears of the ruthless Nazi regime and in particular Goebbels, the Nazi’s head of propaganda. This strand of the novel is full of tension and poignancy, and brings an interesting unpredictability to the storyline.
I would definitely recommend Ghost Variations to all those who enjoy a vividly-told story based on real events, with touch of the inexplicable – and to anyone who is like me fascinated by the lives of great composers and musicians. Apart from d’Aranyi herself, the novel contains a host of prominent musical figures – the conductor Sir Adrian Boult, musicologist Sir Donald Tovey, pianist Myra Hess, violinist Yehudi Menuhin and others. The author’s extensive knowledge of music and music history informs the writing in the best way possible, leaving room for her characters to come wonderfully to life within the richly evoked pre-war setting. Duchen also refers to the much written about, tragically-entwined trio of Robert and Clara Schumann and their friend Brahms, also in love with Clara. (Schuman originally used a five-note melody to send ‘musical messages’ to Clara early on in their relationship when they were forbidden to see each other; this became a mode of communication between all four. The so-called ‘ghost theme’ reappears on the slow movement of his violin concerto.)
Since finishing Ghost Variations, I’ve been inspired to listen to Schumann’s violin concerto for the first time (the 1938 Menuhin recording and a recent one by Baiba Skride with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra). I found it stirring as well as melancholy, also unexpectedly moving. (Did Clara, unable to bear listening to it, need to put it as far away from her as possible?) To think that this music might still be languishing in a library had not Schumann’s spirit (or some more down-to-earth explanation) compelled Jelly d’Aranyi to find it! I’m very glad she did – and that Ms Duchen decided to share the fascinating story in her novel.
I pre-ordered a copy of Ghost Variations from Unbound.
November 29, 2017
The overall idea for this is interesting but I found this a bit more romantic than I prefer. It wasn’t a page turner and for me got interesting just past halfway. If you like this time and music, this will be of high interest. Also sad to see so much of history of the past repeating itself now. Would love to hear the work now.
February 9, 2017
There are so many strands to this book, so many different things that have their own unique appeal. Firstly, it is beautifully written and an absolute pleasure to read. Secondly, its subject matter is intriguing, and a book that mixes fact and fiction is something that really appeals to me. The mystery of the concerto, the story around its discovery, the back story about Schumann himself which is heart-breaking, and the historical detail that seems so particularly relevant today - all these things are brought together in an intelligent, compelling narrative.
The story is told mainly from the viewpoint of Jelly herself, a violinist from Hungary, living in London, and, later on, from the point of view of Ulli, a young music publisher, in love with Jelly, living in Germany as the Nazis climb to power.
This sense of impeding horror and war is portrayed so clearly. These people don’t just suddenly come to power – they take it, little by little, piece by piece. For Ulli, in the midst of it, the realities become terrifying. For Jelly, feeling the rise of anti-Semitism and fascism in her adopted home country, the prejudice and intolerance is subtle, but still horrifying.
So this is a timely book too. This is what one character says about the Daily Mail, who have published an article with the headline ‘Hurrah for the Blackshirts’:
‘”This paper’s feeding us nothing but lies, lies, lies,” Alec said, “yet we gulp it down without questioning it, while there’s real suffering, real danger, out there.”’
And on the appeal of the Blackshirts themselves:
‘Anybody could be drawn to them, Alec said, from the unemployed to Eton lads, some believing they had the answer to keeping out the communists, others determined to restore the glory of British imperialism, or some such guff, which meant reasserting their superiority over filthy foreigners.’
While the author has obviously researched thoroughly, and also has a formidable knowledge of the world of which she is writing, this isn’t highbrow, or inaccessible – it is intelligent and knowledgeable, lyrical in places, but it is also very readable.
There is a real sense of time and place, with little details that bring authenticity to the story. Jelly is warm, talented, intelligent but not perfect – she has her flaws, her insecurities, she makes mistakes. But she comes across as wholly believable, a talented, intelligent woman, striving for success and happiness both personal and professional.
An excellent book.
The story is told mainly from the viewpoint of Jelly herself, a violinist from Hungary, living in London, and, later on, from the point of view of Ulli, a young music publisher, in love with Jelly, living in Germany as the Nazis climb to power.
This sense of impeding horror and war is portrayed so clearly. These people don’t just suddenly come to power – they take it, little by little, piece by piece. For Ulli, in the midst of it, the realities become terrifying. For Jelly, feeling the rise of anti-Semitism and fascism in her adopted home country, the prejudice and intolerance is subtle, but still horrifying.
So this is a timely book too. This is what one character says about the Daily Mail, who have published an article with the headline ‘Hurrah for the Blackshirts’:
‘”This paper’s feeding us nothing but lies, lies, lies,” Alec said, “yet we gulp it down without questioning it, while there’s real suffering, real danger, out there.”’
And on the appeal of the Blackshirts themselves:
‘Anybody could be drawn to them, Alec said, from the unemployed to Eton lads, some believing they had the answer to keeping out the communists, others determined to restore the glory of British imperialism, or some such guff, which meant reasserting their superiority over filthy foreigners.’
While the author has obviously researched thoroughly, and also has a formidable knowledge of the world of which she is writing, this isn’t highbrow, or inaccessible – it is intelligent and knowledgeable, lyrical in places, but it is also very readable.
There is a real sense of time and place, with little details that bring authenticity to the story. Jelly is warm, talented, intelligent but not perfect – she has her flaws, her insecurities, she makes mistakes. But she comes across as wholly believable, a talented, intelligent woman, striving for success and happiness both personal and professional.
An excellent book.
January 11, 2017
Set in 1930s Britain and strongly based on real events, Ghost Variations is resonant with attitudes and feelings relevant to us now. Jessica Ducheny tells the story of renowned violinist Jelly d’Aranyl towards the end of her career. At 42, she feels the need for a new purpose which is partly fulfilled by a series of free concerts, open to everyone, in the finest cathedrals in the land.
Jelly and her sister had been brought to England from Hungary, when she was in her teens and Jelly’s considerable talent had already been acknowledged. She had been the muse of Bartok and Ravel and was in great demand for concert venues. But while her sister, Adila chose marriage to a prominent diplomat, Jelly decided that the demands of her art meant total devotion, excluding marriage. But this decision may have been finalised by the tragic death of Sep Kelly, her one true, but unconsummated love, during the First World War.
One cannot help feeling empathy for Jelly, who shows great affection for her erstwhile assistant and companion, Anna and kindness to strangers such as a Jewish pianist who has fled from Germany. Her life is taken over by the desire to obtain and perform the long hidden violin concerto of Robert Schumann, a close friend of her great-uncle, violinist Joseph Joquem. The manuscript is traced to Berlin but Jelly’s partially Jewish ancestry makes it impossible for her to follow up, so against her inclinations she enlists the help of her sister’s close friend Erik Palmstierna, the Swedish ambassador to England.
The novel recreates the glamorous environment of the London cognoscenti, where Jelly and Adila socialise with pianist, Myra Hess, Sir Adrian Boult and all the fashionable people of culture. In contrast we glimpse through a window into Hitler’s pre-war Germany, seeing the manipulation of values made by Goebbels. The increasingly anti-foreign atmosphere in England and the corrosive effect of newspaper articles, build up the tension as the story moves towards 1938.
This novel provokes thought on so many topics; the problems for a female artist in her mature years, the sad waste of lives in both wars and in Hitler’s Germany and observations of the philosophies of spiritualism and eugenics. But it is also the story of the fascinating Jelly d’Aranyl, her friends and her passions, at perhaps one of the most interesting times in history.
Jelly and her sister had been brought to England from Hungary, when she was in her teens and Jelly’s considerable talent had already been acknowledged. She had been the muse of Bartok and Ravel and was in great demand for concert venues. But while her sister, Adila chose marriage to a prominent diplomat, Jelly decided that the demands of her art meant total devotion, excluding marriage. But this decision may have been finalised by the tragic death of Sep Kelly, her one true, but unconsummated love, during the First World War.
One cannot help feeling empathy for Jelly, who shows great affection for her erstwhile assistant and companion, Anna and kindness to strangers such as a Jewish pianist who has fled from Germany. Her life is taken over by the desire to obtain and perform the long hidden violin concerto of Robert Schumann, a close friend of her great-uncle, violinist Joseph Joquem. The manuscript is traced to Berlin but Jelly’s partially Jewish ancestry makes it impossible for her to follow up, so against her inclinations she enlists the help of her sister’s close friend Erik Palmstierna, the Swedish ambassador to England.
The novel recreates the glamorous environment of the London cognoscenti, where Jelly and Adila socialise with pianist, Myra Hess, Sir Adrian Boult and all the fashionable people of culture. In contrast we glimpse through a window into Hitler’s pre-war Germany, seeing the manipulation of values made by Goebbels. The increasingly anti-foreign atmosphere in England and the corrosive effect of newspaper articles, build up the tension as the story moves towards 1938.
This novel provokes thought on so many topics; the problems for a female artist in her mature years, the sad waste of lives in both wars and in Hitler’s Germany and observations of the philosophies of spiritualism and eugenics. But it is also the story of the fascinating Jelly d’Aranyl, her friends and her passions, at perhaps one of the most interesting times in history.
August 5, 2017
In this novel, Jessica Duchen manages a neat trick, and I don't quite know how she did it. On the one hand, it is a very persuasive reconstruction of an extraordinary true story from the music world - namely, the apparent discovery of a 'lost' Schumann concerto via spirit messages, and the subsequent premieres in Germany, the US and the UK in the 1930s. It's a fascinating story filled with fascinating characters, struggling to maintain their roles in a world that is becoming increasingly hostile to them.
But it's also a chilling commentary on our own times - on what people are prepared to turn a blind eye toward, and on the importance of art when freedoms are being threatened. The mystery lies in the timing. Presumably the novel was finished before the frightening shifts in the political landscape on both side of the Atlantic that seem to echo the rise of those old autocracies. I suppose it's possible that the wonderful details - the book comes with an impressive list of sources - simply speak for themselves. The parallels are simply there, and in being true to the story, Jessica Duchen has presented larger truths.
But it's also a chilling commentary on our own times - on what people are prepared to turn a blind eye toward, and on the importance of art when freedoms are being threatened. The mystery lies in the timing. Presumably the novel was finished before the frightening shifts in the political landscape on both side of the Atlantic that seem to echo the rise of those old autocracies. I suppose it's possible that the wonderful details - the book comes with an impressive list of sources - simply speak for themselves. The parallels are simply there, and in being true to the story, Jessica Duchen has presented larger truths.
November 7, 2020
A fascinating tale, based on real characters and real events. Some of the best bits are fiction - the Nazi committee, the Savoy Hotel - but though this is not a great novel, its power is in the music and musicians it introduces us to. I've bought the [widely recommended] Kremer recording of the concerto, and for background reading - and listening - would highly recommend The Right Notes: https://www.therightnotes.org/jelly-d...
August 14, 2020
Really interesting story, based on real events. Compelling reading, and beautifully told.
July 14, 2017
This is a fascinating work of fiction that makes such an interesting story it is difficult to remember it's based on very real events! Set in London in 1933, this novel opens with a Ouija board game which reveals to the Hugarian violinist, Jelly d'Aranyi, a message from the composer Schumann asking her to find a missing violin concerto. This search for the concerto then takes us to Germany as it is discovered that the Nazi's are also intrigued by the power of this piece of music and how they might use it for future propaganda.
Duchen's novel has clearly been extensively researched and the historical setting, level of detail and over all convincing evocation of time, place and society is very impressive. It is a complex storyline, travelling across Europe and including many real figures from music and history. This novel will appeal to any musician or fans of historical fiction but there are also many universal themes explored through the emotional and physical journey of the main character. Duchen looks at the prejudices of the time, the role of women, mental health and the role of music in society. It is also a mystery story - it is about a quest to find the forgotten manuscript and the compulsion to perform it. There is intrigue, suspense and tension and there is threat, danger and excitement as Jelly delves deeper into the history of Schumann's piece and it's significance in a time of increasing social unrest.
There is a huge list of characters in this novel and many of them are complex individuals who existed in the real world. Duchen shows skill in creating characters that feel authentic and is also able to recreate not only relatable and believable characters but also reflect how their feelings, emotions and behaviour is influenced by the social and historical context in which they live. There are some very interesting observations about madness and delusion and the role of women. I thought the idea that Schumann believed the melody of this concerto was dictated to him in his sleep by spirits very interesting and a great premise for an ambitious but original story.
Duchen shows herself to be an accomplished writer as she manages all these characters, concepts and themes and weaves them together in an intriguing plot. Not only is the storyline flawless and tightly constructed, she also manages to ensure her presentation of the 1930s and Europe is flawless, and used as a compelling backdrop to an unknown but fascinating story.
Duchen's novel has clearly been extensively researched and the historical setting, level of detail and over all convincing evocation of time, place and society is very impressive. It is a complex storyline, travelling across Europe and including many real figures from music and history. This novel will appeal to any musician or fans of historical fiction but there are also many universal themes explored through the emotional and physical journey of the main character. Duchen looks at the prejudices of the time, the role of women, mental health and the role of music in society. It is also a mystery story - it is about a quest to find the forgotten manuscript and the compulsion to perform it. There is intrigue, suspense and tension and there is threat, danger and excitement as Jelly delves deeper into the history of Schumann's piece and it's significance in a time of increasing social unrest.
There is a huge list of characters in this novel and many of them are complex individuals who existed in the real world. Duchen shows skill in creating characters that feel authentic and is also able to recreate not only relatable and believable characters but also reflect how their feelings, emotions and behaviour is influenced by the social and historical context in which they live. There are some very interesting observations about madness and delusion and the role of women. I thought the idea that Schumann believed the melody of this concerto was dictated to him in his sleep by spirits very interesting and a great premise for an ambitious but original story.
Duchen shows herself to be an accomplished writer as she manages all these characters, concepts and themes and weaves them together in an intriguing plot. Not only is the storyline flawless and tightly constructed, she also manages to ensure her presentation of the 1930s and Europe is flawless, and used as a compelling backdrop to an unknown but fascinating story.
December 9, 2017
This is a novel based on a true story, and the true story reads better than the novel. A musician gets a message from the spirit world about a missing composition by Robert Schumann and sets about finding it. The problem is that it's in a German museum, she's part-Jewish and Hitler is consolidating his grip on power. The novel mixes fact and fiction and, unfortunately, allows a lot of the interesting parts to take place off-screen (so to speak). It's quite readable, but could have been a lot better.
May 10, 2018
A just okay endeavor for me but obviously the product of thorough research and great fondness/love for the subject. Perhaps this could be adapted into a lovely BBC production, as its got all the elements (period-piece, mystery, love, good music) but it hangs together a touch awkwardly. A recommend, but with a bit of a warning.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 27, 2021
While I really enjoyed the first half of this book, the second half lost a little too much steam to keep me invested. I loved Jelly as a character, and learning her true history at the end of the novel was really interesting, as I wasn't aware to what extent the novel was based on true events. Definitely an interesting concept with well fleshed out characters, but it was just a hair too slow for me.
May 31, 2020
This book is not as good as Odette which was a shame as I really enjoyed that. The element of mystery and fantasy was there but it was not as refined or as good. The premise was interesting and it needed a little bit more work for it to be fully functional for me.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 28, 2018
Excellent novel about the discovery of a Violin Concerto by Robert Schumann that was discovered back in the 1930's. based on a true story.
February 24, 2017
Ghost Variations is created from real people and true events which occurred during their lives; history dramatised into a rich and enchanting narrative.
Jelly d’Arányi, the central character, is a renowned Hungarian violinist, living in 1930s London with her sister, Adila and her family. Jelly has been the muse for several famous composers and is dedicated to her music, to the exclusion of her personal life, especially since she lost the man she loved at the Battle of the Somme during WWI. The sisters have lived in London since Jelly was sixteen and now as she approaches her fortieth birthday, Jelly is aware she is (unfairly) considered past her prime as a musician.
Adila’s close friend, Baron Erik Palmstierna, is involved in aspects of psychic research and spiritualism, and often play what they call ‘the glass game’, a form of the Ouija board. It was during one of these sessions, with Adila, Jelly (against her better judgement) and her assistant, Anna, that a message came through about a lost violin concerto by Robert Schumann.
This is an extraordinary and vividly written story when, as the author says, the truth is stranger than fiction. That the concerto should come to light in such a fashion is incredible. Jelly is finding the changes, within herself and the distant rumblings in Europe, difficult to come to terms with. How can there be another war, and so soon? Finding the concerto becomes Jelly’s quest and her lifeline.
Jelly is a very sympathetic and engaging character, not without flaws, but warm-hearted and genuine. Her kindness is shown in her behaviour toward Anna and the free cathedral concerts she performed to allow music and pleasure into the lives of those less fortunate. Jessica Duchen brings the characters to life and captures the atmosphere of the era perfectly. I like the realistic way Jelly’s life as a touring musician is portrayed and her intense enthusiasm for her craft despite the hardships.
The story is told mostly from Jelly’s perspective in the third person, with several segments from Ulli Schultheiss, a music publisher from Germany (one of the few fictional characters) who falls under Jelly’s spell during his stay in London. Persuaded to help in the liberation of the concerto, Ulli returns to Germany only to be met with a wall of bureaucracy, followed by interference by the Third Reich who wish to use the manuscript for their own purposes.
There are several subjects in this intriguing story which give pause for thought, not least the restrictions placed on women; the choice between career or family and the fact women were not allowed to attend certain of the better institutes of learning. The impending Nazi threat and the resulting fascism and growing prejudice against Jews is represented in all its horror. At its heart a touching, sensitively told story creating a wonderful read.
I chose to read and review Ghost Variations for Rosie Amber’s book review team, based on a digital copy from the author.
Jelly d’Arányi, the central character, is a renowned Hungarian violinist, living in 1930s London with her sister, Adila and her family. Jelly has been the muse for several famous composers and is dedicated to her music, to the exclusion of her personal life, especially since she lost the man she loved at the Battle of the Somme during WWI. The sisters have lived in London since Jelly was sixteen and now as she approaches her fortieth birthday, Jelly is aware she is (unfairly) considered past her prime as a musician.
Adila’s close friend, Baron Erik Palmstierna, is involved in aspects of psychic research and spiritualism, and often play what they call ‘the glass game’, a form of the Ouija board. It was during one of these sessions, with Adila, Jelly (against her better judgement) and her assistant, Anna, that a message came through about a lost violin concerto by Robert Schumann.
This is an extraordinary and vividly written story when, as the author says, the truth is stranger than fiction. That the concerto should come to light in such a fashion is incredible. Jelly is finding the changes, within herself and the distant rumblings in Europe, difficult to come to terms with. How can there be another war, and so soon? Finding the concerto becomes Jelly’s quest and her lifeline.
Jelly is a very sympathetic and engaging character, not without flaws, but warm-hearted and genuine. Her kindness is shown in her behaviour toward Anna and the free cathedral concerts she performed to allow music and pleasure into the lives of those less fortunate. Jessica Duchen brings the characters to life and captures the atmosphere of the era perfectly. I like the realistic way Jelly’s life as a touring musician is portrayed and her intense enthusiasm for her craft despite the hardships.
The story is told mostly from Jelly’s perspective in the third person, with several segments from Ulli Schultheiss, a music publisher from Germany (one of the few fictional characters) who falls under Jelly’s spell during his stay in London. Persuaded to help in the liberation of the concerto, Ulli returns to Germany only to be met with a wall of bureaucracy, followed by interference by the Third Reich who wish to use the manuscript for their own purposes.
There are several subjects in this intriguing story which give pause for thought, not least the restrictions placed on women; the choice between career or family and the fact women were not allowed to attend certain of the better institutes of learning. The impending Nazi threat and the resulting fascism and growing prejudice against Jews is represented in all its horror. At its heart a touching, sensitively told story creating a wonderful read.
I chose to read and review Ghost Variations for Rosie Amber’s book review team, based on a digital copy from the author.
September 29, 2017
I wish I'd liked this book more. There are some very nice reviews here about it.
I just thought it was ok.
Violinist Jelly d'Aranyi does one of those glass-moving-to-various-letters on a Ouji board things and finds herself in receipt of a message from the dead composer Richard Schumann. She is to find his lost final concerto.
You know when you have something unbelievable to explain to folk (like, the bloke living next door is really a werewolf) and everyone you tell thinks you are quite daft. Well, you keep on your guard but stop telling people. Jelly doesn't. She tells everyone. She gets the You're nuts, reaction but that doesn't hold her or her compatriots back from repeating. Needless to say there is a backlash when she confirms the story to a journalist. Clever!
She keeps going back in her mind to her great love Sep, who died in the war. I found this a little tedious. Sep had never said he loved her, he'd never kissed her or been romantic and she is hurt and annoyed when it is suggested Sep, perhaps, preferred men. So we feel Jelly harbours this unrequited love and can't move on. However, we then find out that not only is she famed abroad as a great violinist but she is known to be a flirt and was possible the lover of Bartok (was it him?) for a while.
Apart from that, I found the historical setting interesting but wasn't I really wasn't so interested in the plot.
I just thought it was ok.
Violinist Jelly d'Aranyi does one of those glass-moving-to-various-letters on a Ouji board things and finds herself in receipt of a message from the dead composer Richard Schumann. She is to find his lost final concerto.
You know when you have something unbelievable to explain to folk (like, the bloke living next door is really a werewolf) and everyone you tell thinks you are quite daft. Well, you keep on your guard but stop telling people. Jelly doesn't. She tells everyone. She gets the You're nuts, reaction but that doesn't hold her or her compatriots back from repeating. Needless to say there is a backlash when she confirms the story to a journalist. Clever!
She keeps going back in her mind to her great love Sep, who died in the war. I found this a little tedious. Sep had never said he loved her, he'd never kissed her or been romantic and she is hurt and annoyed when it is suggested Sep, perhaps, preferred men. So we feel Jelly harbours this unrequited love and can't move on. However, we then find out that not only is she famed abroad as a great violinist but she is known to be a flirt and was possible the lover of Bartok (was it him?) for a while.
Apart from that, I found the historical setting interesting but wasn't I really wasn't so interested in the plot.
September 20, 2016
Jessica Duchen’s 'Ghost Variations' is an evocative and beautifully-crafted story inspired by real-life events.
It’s 1933, and Jelly d’Arányi – the famed Hungarian violinist – is tapping the boards when she receives an abrupt message from the late Robert Schumann. The composer wants her to track down and play an unknown violin concerto, which he had apparently written in life.
Shumann’s mysterious concerto turns out to be real – its existence having been concealed by the composer’s family due to it being written in the midst of a mental breakdown.
The piece is also linked to a piano composition known as 'Geistervariationen' – or 'Ghost Variations' – which the late composer had claimed had been gifted to him from the spirit-world.
A fast-paced, intelligent thriller, 'Ghost Variations' immerses us in a world on the brink of its darkest hour, masterfully adds in wit and intrigue and textures with a good number of famous cameos.
A truly compelling read.
It’s 1933, and Jelly d’Arányi – the famed Hungarian violinist – is tapping the boards when she receives an abrupt message from the late Robert Schumann. The composer wants her to track down and play an unknown violin concerto, which he had apparently written in life.
Shumann’s mysterious concerto turns out to be real – its existence having been concealed by the composer’s family due to it being written in the midst of a mental breakdown.
The piece is also linked to a piano composition known as 'Geistervariationen' – or 'Ghost Variations' – which the late composer had claimed had been gifted to him from the spirit-world.
A fast-paced, intelligent thriller, 'Ghost Variations' immerses us in a world on the brink of its darkest hour, masterfully adds in wit and intrigue and textures with a good number of famous cameos.
A truly compelling read.
February 1, 2019
An unusual insight into the world of classical music
I enjoyed this unusual book immensely and loved the believable characters. It's not often you find a story that combines history and music in such a refreshing way.
I enjoyed this unusual book immensely and loved the believable characters. It's not often you find a story that combines history and music in such a refreshing way.
April 29, 2017
Loved the revaluation at the end that the book is in fact based on a true story.
June 19, 2018
Ghost Variations by Jessica Duchen is wonderfully written. I loved the mystery of this historical book. I found it hard to put down. This book combined three of my favorite things, mystery, history, and music. There was also a bit of paranormal. I loved this book.
Iwould like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of it.
Iwould like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of it.
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