The Ghost of Frederic Chopin

by Éric Faye, Sam Taylor (Translator)

The third book in the Walter Presents Library: a bewitching Prague-set mystery about a woman who claims to transcribe music from the ghost of Chopin

Prague, 1995: journalist Ludvík Slaný is assigned to make a documentary about a truly bizarre case. Věra Foltýnova, a middle-aged woman with no musical training, claims she has been visited by the ghost of great composer Frederic Chopin - and that he has been dictating dozens of compositions to her, to allow the world to hear the sublime music he was unable to create in his own short life.

With media and recording companies taking the bait, Ludvík enlists the help of ex-Communist secret police agent Pavel Černý to expose Věra as a fraud. Soon, however, doubt creeps in, as he finds himself irrationally drawn towards this unassuming woman and the eerily beautiful music she plays. Could he be witnessing a true miracle?

An intricately plotted mystery imbued with the dusky atmosphere of autumnal Prague, The Ghost of Frederic Chopin is an engrossing story of art, faith and the quiet accompaniment of the past.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Music, Historical, Modern, Literary Fiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published August 14, 2019

About the author

Éric Faye est un journaliste de l'agence de presse Reuters1 . Il publie sa première fiction, Le Général Solitude, une nouvelle, dans la revue Le Serpent à Plumes en 1992. Trois ans plus tard, il a développé cette nouvelle en un premier roman, éponyme. Ses premiers livres, parus tous deux en 1991, sont un essai sur Ismail Kadaré et un recueil d'entretiens avec cet écrivain. En 1998, son recueil de nouvelles fantastiques Je suis le gardien du phare obtient le Prix des Deux Magots.

Son œuvre se partage entre des nouvelles, le plus souvent à caractère absurde ou teintées de fantastique, des romans (dont le roman d'anticipation Croisière en mer des pluies, en 1999 - prix Unesco-Françoise-Gallimard), des essais et des récits, parmi lesquels Mes trains de nuit, puisés dans des voyages à travers l'Asie et l'Europe de 1982 à 2005. En 2010, il se rend avec l'écrivain Christian Garcin en Iakoutie, descend la Lena jusqu'à son embouchure dans l'océan Glacial Arctique. Ils en tirent un récit, "En descendant les fleuves - Carnets de l'Extrême-Orient russe".

Ses nouvelles, comme celles des recueils Un clown s'est échappé du cirque, portent un regard souvent ironique et très critique sur le monde du travail et le libéralisme économique.

Eric Faye a dirigé en outre un numéro sur Kafka (Autrement, 1996) et pris part à l'édition des œuvres d'Ismail Kadaré aux éditions Fayard.

Le 28 octobre 2010, il reçoit pour Nagasaki le Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française. Ce roman est traduit dans une douzaine de langues dont le chinois, le coréen, le russe, l'espagnol ou l'italien.

Reviews

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This strange, entertaining and thoughtful book is inspired by a real woman, Rosemary Brown who claimed to be a medium for many dead composers to continue writing music. Faye has transferred his story to Prague in 1995 and his medium is Vera Foltynkova, who has produced a lot of new music she claims is dictated to her by Frederic Chopin. Ludvik Slanty is a reporter tasked with producing a documentary that proves that Vera is a fraud. Interviews and investigations follow. I got drawn into this story and found it hard to put down mainly because it’s not just about Vera and Ludvik. Because of its setting and time, there’s also the atmosphere of a people and country moving on from authoritarianism and this adds another layer of interest particularly in the character of Pavel, a former government agent now working as a private detective, hired to follow Vera. An excellent read.

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was inspired by the life of Rosemary Brown (1916-2001), an English composer who claimed that the spirits of dead composers were dictating works to her. The setting is Prague in 1995 when the country was adjusting to its new status. A television journalist, Ludvik, is tasked with interviewing and investigating Vera Foltynova, a middle aged woman who claims to be transcribing works by Chopin dictated by the composer himself. He employs an ex-secret policeman to spy on Vera as he is sure that someone else is the mastermind behind a scam.

The storyline is as much about the Czech Republic, its recent history and the adjustments people had to make when it became a democracy, as it is about Ludvik’s investigation. It is also his story. He struck me as the kind of disillusioned middle aged lost soul that le Carre tended to write about. To say too much about his investigation is to give away his conclusions which we learn as he shares them with another investigative reporter many years later. The final few paragraphs were simply too, too twee but they made me smile!

With thanks to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for a review copy.

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ghost of Frederic Chopin is the third novel in the Walter Presents series in which publisher Pushkin Press collaborate with Channel 4 to present ’timeless novels with strong international appeal'. This captivating story is inspired by English composer, pianist and spirit medium Rosemary Brown who claimed that dead composers dictated new musical works to her. Prague, 1995: Vera Foltynova, a widow in her late 50s, claims to receive visits from the ghost of great composer Frédéric Chopin. What’s more, she declares that Chopin has dictated dozens of compositions to her, to allow the world to hear the sublime music he was unable to create in his own short life. Many dismiss her story as a ridiculous hoax, while others swear that the music has the same beauty and refinement as the work of the dead master. Ludvik Slany, a secret police agent-turned-television journalist, is assigned to make a documentary debunking Vera’s claims.

He arrives in Prague ready to uncover a scam, but the more he subtly tries to trick her into giving herself away, the more he begins to think he may be witnessing a genuine miracle. This is a compelling, original and beautifully translated story that is rich in the atmosphere of Czech life, the country’s rebuilding after the sweeping scourge of communism and its nascent democracy. It's elegant composed and has enough tension and intrigue throughout to keep you reading this supernatural-tinged tale; there is even some humour interspersed within its pages. An intricately plotted mystery imbued with the foggy atmosphere of post-Communist Prague, The Ghost of Frédéric Chopin is an engrossing and absorbing story of music, faith and the ghosts of the past. Highly recommended.

[Akylina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by Éric Faye and translated from the French by Sam Taylor, The Ghost of Frédéric Chopin is the third book in the ‘Walter Presents’ series published by Pushkin Press. Every book in the series is a standalone (so far), so there is no need to have read the others before delving into this one, although I would highly recommend you do if you’re a fan of mysteries from various corners of the world.

The novel is set in Prague in 1995, where Věra Foltýnova, a middle-aged woman claims to be able to see the ghost of Frédéric Chopin, the famed composer, who dictates some new music to her that he didn’t have time to compose himself before his untimely death. What makes Věra’s story even more intriguing is the fact that she has doesn’t have any particular musical education, apart from some piano lessons she used to take as a very young girl, and yet experts claim the music she produces (upon Chopin’s ghost’s dictation) perfectly fits with the rest of the composer’s oeuvre.

This story grabs the attention of everyone in Prague, and so the journalist Ludvík Slaný is commissioned to create a documentary about Věra and her story, although he doesn’t believe her at all. Set to uncover Věra’s purported fraud, the journalist enlists the help of Pavel Černý, a former secret police agent, who secretly follows the middle-aged woman and investigates her and her past. Is this all a very well thought out plot to deceive everyone, or is Věra truly capable of seeing Chopin’s ghost?

The novel is narrated through the point of view of both Ludvík Slaný, the journalist, and Pavel Černý, the police agent, each one of whom recounts their encounters and experience with Věra. Although it sounds completely fantastical, the plot is actually inspired by the true story of Rosemary Brown (1916-2001), an English composer who claimed that the spirits of several composers dictated their new music to her. It is a very atmospheric story, with the author transporting us to picturesque Prague, with its scenic views and mysterious stories, as we learn more about Věra and are led towards the solution of the mystery that surrounds her.

Delving deeper into Věra’s past, the author very eloquently blends her personal story with the history of Czech Republic itself, as the dissolution of the former nation of Czechoslovakia happened only a couple of years prior to the current events of the novel.

“We were all still in shock, I think, caught between euphoria and bafflement, astounded to wake up one fine morning in two countries when we had gone to sleep the night before in one.

Location 905 (Kindle version)

Faye’s prose is beautifully woven and I especially loved his descriptions, as I truly felt like I was strolling down the cobblestoned streets of Prague along with Černý, all while Chopin’s new musical scores resounded in my ears.

Overall, I really enjoyed this atmospheric mystery which transported me to autumnal Prague in a period where I can’t travel there myself. It’s definitely not a fast-paced mystery, but rather a mellower one, in which the journey of investigating takes the reigns and guides the reader through the characters’ lives and secrets.

This book combines a lovely writing style, an intriguing mystery and an encompassing atmosphere, so if you are a fan of any of those in your books, then you should definitely grab a copy as soon as possible.

You can also read my review over at The Literary Sisters.

A copy of this book was very kindly provided to me by the publisher via NetGalley.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this was a perfect read for me; I loved everything about it.
Atmospheric isn’t the right word, isn’t enough, but the sense of place and time is created so well, lyrical almost, it’s like the novella itself is a classical music composition (which I know sounds OTT!).
A few beautiful lines:

“This damp day, with its lingering odour of dead leaves in puddles, had entered the realm of dusk…”

“Central Europe slowly slid into the heart of winter, as if being pushed down a gentle slope…”

Part of the story takes place in the ‘transitional’ early nineties, when Czechoslovakia was split, a volatile and compelling part of European history. Added to the mix is the fact that there is a grain of truth at its heart – an English spiritualist medium, Rosemary Brown, became known in the seventies for claiming to have contact with famous composers, of which Chopin was only one of many. Intriguing!

Like many people I read lots of translated literature, and to be this great the translator must also be exceptional (Sam Taylor). I will keep an eye out for more of his translations.

I got this ebook on Netgalley, but I have now pre-ordered a physical copy for myself – the first time I have done so with a Netgalley book. I’m a fan of Pushkin Press, but know nothing about this author. I do hope they will translate/publish more of his work.

[Sarah-Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

Éric Faye's The Ghost of Frederick Chopin is inspired by the life of Rosemary Brown, a 20th Century psychic (or not—there are a number of theories) who purportedly "channeled" new, posthumous compositions from a range of well-known composers. You can read about her story here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosemar...

Faye sets his novel in eastern Europe, a few years after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Ludvík Slaný, a journalist and documentary filmmaker, is assigned to produce a documentary about Věra Foltýnova, this novel's Rosemary Brown equivalent. Slaný is determined to unmask what he considers Foltýnova's complex and convincing fraud. Still, every time he sets a "trap" for Foltýnova, she manages not to get caught. Slaný hires Pavel Černý, a member of the former state police, to trail Foltýnova, but he, too, finds no evidence of fraud.

The narrative perspectives shifts repeatedly in the novel in sometimes distracting ways. Much of it is in third person, but the frame for the book seems to be that Slaný is telling another journalist the story of his investigation several decades after he conducted it, so there are sudden shifts to first person in these scenes, then the narrative moved back to third person. The first time the narrative changed over to first person, I was genuinely confused—after this happened again, I could see what Faye was doing, but it wasn't immediately clear.

My overall take on this novel is that it's focusing on the wrong character. Slaný is the hub around which everything revolves and, quite frankly, Slaný is a bit self-obsessed and not all that interesting. We only see Foltýnova through his eyes, which leaves all sorts of possibilities unexplored. And more and more parts of the narrative become obscured as Slaný talks around important steps in his investigative process so that readers never really know how he reached his final conclusion.

If you enjoy novels written around interesting premises, you may enjoy The Ghost of Frederic Chopin. If you prefer character-driven fictions, this novel will disappoint. I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via EdelweissPlus; the opinions are my own.

[Sophie Woodhouse · Rating 2 out of 5]

the protagonist was so unlikeable, and having finished the book i unfortunately conclude that it was not satire. the plot was fine, definitely could’ve been more intriguing, but his perspective was easily the most boring, like pick anyone else and this might’ve gotten 3*. he was sexist, forgettable, uninteresting and i thought maybe that was going to be the point, that we’re supposed to be rooting for her and not him but... the last few chapters made me see that readers were supposed to think this man ingenious and maybe even feel sorry for him at the way life turned out, yikes. other than that the descriptions of prague were quite nice, and the little bits of history kept it interesting i guess

[Thebooktrail · Rating 4 out of 5]

See the literary locations in The Ghost of Frederic Chopin

Prague is the setting for this story inspired by true fact.

Prior to reading this, I had no idea there actually was a woman in real life who believed she had been visited by the ghosts of famous composers, Chopin being one of them. I thought this fantastical and crazy but this intrigued me. When you have a Walter Presents book in your hands, you know this is going to be interesting.

BookTrail destination is Prague. The city is well evoked as we cross the city as the investigators to in order to meet this woman who claims she can see ghosts. The Prague of the 1990s is well suited to this story with its ‘stuck in the past’ vibe and the old fashioned feel of it all. Why would a long dead composer decide to come back and visit anyone least of all a regular woman?

This is a slow read but one which builds to a great level of interest. It’s a bizarre investigation so the style of the slow and steady prose lends itself well to this. You keep wondering what is going on and what is the truth in all this. The characters are fun and quirky. Meanwhile, I kept having to remind myself that this is based on true fact.

Another treat from the Walter Presents studios. Recommended.

[Bandit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once upon a time there was a woman who claimed a long-dead famous composer came to her and dictated her music and there was a man determined to investigate these claims. If this sounds stranger than fiction, it’s because it is. This book is, in fact, based on a true story of a real-life woman who believed these things and has made her life about them.
A very European sort of a novel, not just its Czech Republic setting, but the overall mood, style, and ambiance, it featured a denser narrative than I normally prefer, but despite it, it read very easily and enjoyably.
There was something very engaging about this story and its characters. The woman in question is plain, plain-spoken, with not much education and a very limited music education, which makes her claims all the more spectacular. And the man, the documentary maker, is desperate to prove her to be a fraud and yet fails, time and again. So, is she or isn’t she? You won’t know until the very end and even then, it leaves space for interpretation.
I loved the suspended ambiguity of it all. Is it a ghost visitation or an elaborate put-on affair? And if the latter, then to what end? The woman didn’t seem interested in fame or fortune.
At any rate, a strangely enjoyable mystery about this world…the next. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.

This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/

[Zoe Radley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical, haunting and atmospheric. There were moments of some hilarious goings on and moments of a strange and uncanny feeling. This is one to read on cold nights. And also to listen to Chopin’s music.

[Agnès · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pérégrinations au cœur de Prague dans les années 90, dans une enquête à la limite du réel et du connu.

[Bagus · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ghost of Frederic Chopin is the third book in the Walter Presents series in which the publisher Pushkin Press partners with Channel 4 to present a series of ‘timeless novels with strong international appeal'. Walter Iuzzolino, the curator of the Walter Presents programme at Channel 4 curated several titles that originated from several places around the world along with the background stories of how he discovered them. I personally think that this is a good form of partnership between a small publisher whose mission is to bring literature in translation to English and a TV programme specialising in curating foreign-language drama with English subtitles. The result is this interesting novel which chronicles the tale of Chopin’s posthumous publication using a medium in the form of Věra Foltýnová.

The story begins in 1995 with a brief introduction of how Ludvík Slaný, a former-secret-agent-turned-television-journalist, got a task from his boss Filip Novák to create a documentary about a woman who claimed to have a conversation with the ghost of Chopin. The task seems impossible to Ludvik at first, and he had an initial guess that his boss might be giving him this task in the hope of seeing his failure due to the fact that he dated his boss’ ex-girlfriend, Zdeňka. But Ludvík finally takes his job due to his curiosity. Along with his cameraman, Roman, he visits Mrs Foltýnová’s apartment in Londýnská, Prague to interview her and see with his own eyes whether the woman is indeed a con or a real deal.

Despite the fact that it was written by a French author, this novel describes vividly how the Czechs try to cope with its recent communist past in 1995. At that time, it was only 6 years after the Velvet Revolution which deposed the communist dictatorship and 2 years after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. Many people are still wary of the surveillance method employed by StB, the secret police force in communist Czechoslovakia. Officially, the communist government condemned anything related to mysticism as being represented by Mrs Foltýnová in this story. Ludvík Slaný and his collaborator, Pavel Černý, also an ex-StB agent employ many methods to tail Mrs Foltýnová from day to night, even go as far as intercepting her letters and phone calls to get to know the mastermind of the posthumous Chopin compositions that Mrs Foltýnová claim to be dictated by the composer himself.

Around the second half of the book, the timeline shifts from 1995 to 2015 and the way the story is presented becomes a form of confession by Ludvík Slaný as he recounts his case of filming documentary about Mrs Foltýnová. It is said that the interlocutor is a woman called Dana, but I did not catch any introduction about this character except that he is described as significantly younger than him. It is hardly crime fiction, but many of the methods employed in this book to tell the story are really as intriguing as following the footsteps of a detective as he is unmasking the real face of the criminal, except for the fact that there is no real criminal in this story.

I do not want to spill the beans about the plots and conclusions, but this is a hidden gem in European literature that questions the mode of inquiry from the 20th century which trusts science as a method of advancement in human civilisation. In some ways, this is also the way the author tries to rebuke Soviet communism in Central and Eastern Europe by showing that the experiment in socialism did not bring good impact and there are other unknown forces at play in this world. I also want to praise the literary translation of Sam Taylor which could bring the mysticism in the story into play. Besides that, I would recommend reading this novel while having a cup of tea at night and listening to Chopin’s nocturnes or mazurkas. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Pushkin Press for providing the electronic advance reading copy through NetGalley.

[Vansa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a strange, whimsical little book on belief, the tricks your mind can play on you, set in Prague immediately after the Velvet Revolution. Inspired by the story of Rosemary Brown, this book revolves around a journalist trying to expose a hoax- Vera Foltynova claims to be visited by the ghost of Frederic Chopin, who dictates compositions to her. There are some excellent passages on how complicit the media is in an authoritarian state, with the Secret Police drawing many informers from among journalists. Very relevant in a world where there are softwares used by governments to spy on their citizens. I didn't much care for the book, though- I'm not a fan of magical realism, and the journalists willingness to put an innocent citizen under surveillance was treated with far too much flippancy for my liking. If you want a light, reasonably interesting quick read, this is the book for you!

[Rebecca Clark Lightcap · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a slow start, this became an oddly compelling - if overly self-conscious - story. It’s not really my cup of tea, but I’m not sorry I read it.

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

More like 4.5

[Emilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book got me out of a reading slump. As I was walking out of Waterstones, after a failed book shopping trip, my eyes fell upon this book. Almost possessed, I felt my intuition telling me to fetch it and buy it. I did just that without reading the blurb (I know!) and I'm so grateful I did.

We find ourselves thrown into the bewitching investigation of journalist Ludvik Slany. I found that the setting (1990s Prague in the beginning of winter), coupled with perfect descriptive writing, created the kind of atmosphere in which you can only really imagine reading this book with a blanket thrown over you like a sheet and a cinnamon herbal tea in your other hand.

The book starts off fairly normally, in medias res, and it appeared to be a simple, delightful read. When I didn't think it could get any better, Eric Faye started to adopt different perspectives, at times a whole chapter was a flashback (or a flash forward too!). It was an exhilarating read. You don't have to be interested in spiritualism or ghosts to appreciate this book: I'm not really into either.

I give it 4 stars, because at times I was a bit confused I'll be honest, at one point there was a chapter around the middle of the book which just seemed irrelevant and it could have been written in about 2 paragraphs. Also the ending surprised me but in a weird unsatisfying way? Overall I did love reading it and as I write this the ending is 100% growing on me.

I would recommend this book for people who like:
- short reads
- post-communist history
- journalism
- espionage
- music!!
- ghosts
- winter
- escapism

[Sophie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Il y avait tant de choses à faire de ce sujet. Broder plus sur l'époque soviétique, trancher sur le fond de la chose, créer une belle machination...
Alors que là, c'est plat. Les personnages sont creux, sans intérêt. La fin n’éclaircit pas les quelques mystères existants mais pourtant, on s'en fiche un peu.

[Chris Browning · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s not really the book’s fault that it’s published as a crime novel, when the author’s real intent is given away in a throwaway reference to Paul Auster’s New York Trilogy, but I found myself very indisposed towards it because it was published as a genre piece and instead resolved as a literary thing, with hints of the supernatural and postmodernism. It felt too clever for its own good and somehow not quite as clever as it thinks it is. It’s probably beautifully written in the original language, but the translation is occasionally a bit gloopy. Generally speaking I feel a little frustrated and disappointed by it and wish it had been published not with heavy hints that it’s a mystery novel because it really isn’t

[Nanou · Rating 3 out of 5]

À Prague, en 1995, Ludvík Slaný, journaliste à la télévision, est chargé par son rédacteur en chef, Filip Novák, de réaliser un documentaire sur une femme qui prétend que Frédéric Chopin lui rend régulièrement visite et lui dicte des œuvres inédites. Des experts se sont penchés sur ces morceaux, certains y voient la patte du maître, d’autres crient au plagiat et à la manipulation. En tout cas, l’affaire passionne les foules et une maison d’édition musicale annonce la sortie prochaine d’un disque où un interprète réputé jouera ces œuvres posthumes. La direction de la chaine de télévision a décidé d’éclaircir l’affaire avant la sortie du disque et de prouver qu’il ne s’agit que d’une supercherie.

Voici donc Ludvík Slaný et son cameraman qui passent de longues après-midis chez Věra Foltýnova, une veuve dans la cinquantaine, une femme modeste, tentant de la confondre, de débusquer ses dons de faussaire, de dénoncer la machination. Mais rien dans ces séances ne leur permet de mettre la sincérité de Věra en cause, même s’ils sont eux-mêmes incapables de percevoir la présence de Chopin dans la pièce lorsque Věra retranscrit les partitions sous la dictée du compositeur. Ludvík en vient alors à se faire aider par un détective, Pavel Černý, ancien agent des services secrets. Commence alors une enquête digne de l’époque de la Guerre Froide, avec filatures, écoutes téléphoniques, interception du courrier, fouilles et autres méthodes d’un temps révolu.

Je n’ai encore jamais été déçue par mes lectures d’Éric Faye, et ce roman-ci n’a pas failli, lui non plus. Éric Faye nous décrit un phénomène surnaturel, la visite de Chopin chez une femme sans compétences musicales particulières pour lui dicter des œuvres qu’il aurait composé depuis sa mort et on finit par l’accepter, tellement l’évènement est raconté de façon naturelle et crédible. Enfin, on accepte de croire ce que raconte Věra, elle est si humble, si sincère dans son propos et dans son attitude. Et on compatit aux états d’âme de Ludvík, journaliste scientifique, qui lutte contre l’incroyable mais qui n’arrive pas à trouver de preuves lui permettant d’arriver aux conclusions attendues par sa rédaction.

Ce qui est bien perceptible aussi, c’est la difficulté pour tous dans cet ancien pays du bloc de l’Est de rompre avec les habitudes du passé. On sent la chape de plomb qui pèse encore sur les relations entre les individus en 1995, aussi bien dans l’environnement professionnel que dans la vie de tous les jours. On perçoit les craintes, la paranoïa, la tendance facile à utiliser des méthodes qui ne respectent pas les libertés dès qu’il y a un rouage qui se grippe plutôt que de mettre les problèmes sur la table et d’en parler clairement.

Ce n’est que vingt ans plus tard, alors que sa vie professionnelle aura évolué, qu’il aura connu d’autres horizons, que Ludvík pourra passer la main à une jeune journaliste qui s’intéresse à l’affaire. À elle, il pourra enfin exprimer sincèrement ce qu’il a ressenti, raconter son trouble de l’époque, le dilemme où il se trouvait, les contradictions à résoudre.

Pour ce roman, Éric Faye s’est inspiré de la vie de Rosemary Brown, médium britannique qui prétendait communiquer avec des compositeurs décédés.

Comme je l’ai déjà dit, je ne suis pas adepte de sciences occultes mais je me suis laissée entrainer sans difficulté dans cette histoire surnaturelle. C’est la magie de la lecture ! Et je trouve qu’Éric Faye est très doué pour nous emmener loin de nos habitudes, en douceur et sans sensationnalisme.

N’hésitez pas, laissez-vous surprendre !
Sur mon blog

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Czech Republic, in the 1990s, and a woman is being investigated by a journalist because of the claim that she is channelling Chopin, and presenting to the world brand new pieces of music he's still composing whilst long dead. While this seems to be about music, and about messages from beyond the grave, it's about more, too. Our main journalist – and the private eye he employs to tail the woman – know that neither the Communist leaders the country has just disposed of, nor the commercial leaders the country has replaced them with, would allow anything other than scepticism in the matter, yet all roads lead to the fact she's the real deal. I never expected the book to be concerning itself with the death of Eastern Europe, or making links between the death of a body with the 'death' someone stuck in Czechoslovakia would have felt when someone left for the West.

Still, for all those high-and-mighty literary ideas, there are frissons of genre treats – especially when the plot starts taking us around cemeteries, and imposing the deadline for the documentary's readiness. The main journalist character is a great one, too – it's rare to find someone in his job so blinkered and one-sided on the page. But I think this quirky read – one played with deadly seriousness – will be remembered for the surprising breadth it has, factoring both Chopin and the Czech version of the STASI into the plot.

What it won't be remembered for is the stodgy final third, which proves to some extent that the author had no idea how to juggle all his story elements and provide a perfect justification for the intrigue he'd given us. It certainly cost the book a star. But after a serious misfire with its sophomore effort, the Walter Presents curated strand of Pushkin Books has bounced back onto the upward path, and this gets three and a half stars.

[Clarissa Hubert · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5⭐️

I could not get past the main character we were following. Their point of view was very skewed as it took place in Prague while the paranoia of Communism was still present. Even though it says the book takes place in 1995, the timeline jumped around so much under the guise of flashbacks and also years in the future towards the end. I’m not opposed to time jumps but these jumps felt very random and were not woven into the plot or scenes well at all. The character we were following, as he was uncovering a potential paranormal mystery, was almost too biased. I understand using perspectives and experiences from characters with all types of background and opinions are part of the messages the author is trying to send, but with this character it seemed to make no sense to me. I was also expecting some autumnal atmosphere as mentioned in the synopsis but maybe a whole 2 sentences throughout the entire book said anything about an atmosphere let alone one for autumn. There was one scene that explored the theme of death that got extra stars from me but everything else just felt disjointed, confusing, unearned, and disappointing. As this book is translated, maybe some stuff was not translated well or maybe it was the author’s writing but either way I don’t really recommend this one. Had a really cool premise but did not deliver😑

[Darius Ostrowski · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, out of the four "Walter Presents" books this is the one I had the most hope for, and unfortunately it's the least of the bunch.

Prague, 1995. Ludvík Slaný is a television journalist, recovering from his breakup with his girlfrined (who used to date his boss), gets an open-ended assignment to make a documentary exposing Věra Foltýnova, an older woman who claims to be channeling the ghost of Frederic Chopin, the great Polish composer, who dictates his latest work to her from beyond the grave. Věra has had no formal musical training to be able to fake her way through this, Ludvík is convinced it's a scam and goes out of his way to try to prove it. He even hires ex-Communist secret police agent Pavel Černý to follow her around and dig into her past.

And so begins a game of cat and mouse, as Ludvík tries to catch Věra while she seems to play the role on an innocent. As time goes by and the deadline to present the documentary approaches, will Ludvík have to consider that maybe she's telling the truth?

An interesting meditation on life and death, truth and lies, with a bit of Eastern European mysticism thrown in for fun. Not breathtaking, but interesting.

[Siobhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ghost of Frédéric Chopin is a mysterious novel about a woman who is apparently transcribing music from the ghost of Chopin. In Prague in 1995, a television journalist is tasked with making a strange documentary: something unravelling the mystery of Vera Foltynova, a widow who claims the ghost of Chopin is dictating compositions to her. As he tries to catch her out to uncover the truth, he starts to believe the answer might not be so obvious.

This is an atmospheric novel from the Walter Presents Library (similar to the Walter Presents strand on Channel 4) that paints a picture of post-Communist Prague and of what happens when someone tries to make a cynical documentary, only to not find the 'gotcha' moment so easily. It has a noir feel, with a lot of investigation and following the widow, and I enjoyed all the references to places in Prague and the changes that had occurred in the country. Overall, it's engaging and fairly short, making it easy to get momentarily immersed in the strange snapshot of a mystery.

[The Grim Reader Podcast · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eric Faye paints a picture of the post-communist era Prague in 1995 and introduces us to our protagonist Ludwik Slany. He is tasked with the job of producing a documentary on Vera Fotynova. She's a widow in her 50's, who claims to be visited by the ghosts of dead composers. Despite claiming to have never had a music lesson, Vera now dictates works which she claims were composed by the late and great Frederic Chopin. All of the melodies she begins to release into the world feel eerily similar to the iconic composer, but...How could it be so?

Overall, I was excited by this book, but more excited to learn that it's actually inspired by the true story of Rosemary Brown! After reading the inspiration behind the book, I actually left this disappointed as not a lot of details were really created, merely just copied from the real-life story. I was also expecting a bit more music history on the life of Chopin and it came up a bit flat for me (pardon the pun!).

Nikki, 1/3 of The Grim Readers

[Kena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this very unique ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher.
I hadn’t heard of the author or the book, but was aware that ‘Walter Present’s…’ had started to promote European Literature. Being a fan of ‘Water Present’s…’ television programming, I thought I’d give the book a go.
The premise of a retired dinner lady, Vera, who despite having no musical training was claiming to transcribe new music from Chopin’s ghost was a little bizarre, but it piqued my curiosity.
The story follows Ludvik, a journalist, tasked with making a documentary to definitively prove whether Vera is a fraud or not. With the help of his cameraman and investigator (former Secret Police) they investigate Vera. The backdrop of Prague, the investigation which at times was like a game of cat and mouse, was very atmospheric.
I enjoyed Ludvik’s trajectory of belief - from complete sceptic to a journeyman into neuroscience, mysticism, psychics, perception and what it it is to believe and suspend disbelief.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another quirky French novel in the best quirky French style, something that French literature seems to be very partial to. Set in Prague in 1995, not long after the fall of Communism but with echoes of that oppressive regime, it tells the story of an investigative journalist tasked with making a documentary about a woman who claims to be visited by the composer Chopin, who dictates his new compositions to her. It’s got to be a fraud, right? A scam? Or maybe not….? This is a gentle mystery, a whimsical tale, but not completely without a serious side, as after all this is the newly democratic Czech Republic and the bad old days of state surveillance and spying on your neighbours are still very much in everyone’s mind. If the story seems to be far-fetched, then there’s the real life case of Rosemary Brown, who also claimed to be channelling dead composers, and who is partly the inspiration for this original and charming novel. And of course sometimes truth is indeed stranger than fiction…..

[Jennifer Li · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is quite a relaxing and uneventful read despite the strange happenings of this story which seems difficult to believe. But while harbouring scepticism as to Vera’s story like Pavel does, there is a sense of optimism in the afterlife and a sense of celebration of the past which makes the read somewhat nostalgic and poignant.

This is a relatively quick read and there isn’t much of a plot but it feels intriguing to follow on the journey of understanding and processing what doesn’t seem to be tangible or logical but potentially still have an element of truth and reality in the spiritual world and in the influences of the past. It feels somewhat reflective when I was reading this. It’s also made me think more about the great artists of our past that continue to live on in our present culture and while tastes evolve their work still continue to exist in some shape or form.

This read has piqued my interest of great composers like Chopin and ghostwriters of our days that help to endure our living memory of such talented artists.

[Georgia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so underwhelmed by what sounded like a great premise — an elderly woman claims she can she Chopin and that he is dictating new pieces to her. A journalist named Lidvik is sent to do a documentary on her and uncover the truth.

The blurb sets this up as a mystery, and therein lies much of the disappointment. The journalist is so paranoid. Did his boss give him this assignment because he’s sleeping with the guy’s ex-girlfriend? Is he going to become a laughing stock? Is this old woman trying to hoodwink him and everyone else?

For a short novel, it seemed to go on in endless loops of repetition. Part 3 skips ahead 20 years after the documentary has aired when a young journalist approaches Ludvik for his intel. He recounts basically everything that happened plus a little extra and , in my opinion, proves that this could have just been a short story or novella.

Had I more of an understanding of post Soviet Prague, I think I’d have appreciated more about Ludvik’s paranoia and the general climate of the novel, but overall this was too slow for me.

[Maya E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on a true story, the concept of this book is really interesting. In reality, a pianist and medium named Rosemary Brown claimed that composers such as Debussy, Chopin, Lizst, and Beethoven, visited her and dictated posthumous works which she transcribed and published. The angle of this book is, what if she really was?

Sort of a mystery/detective novel, this story follows journalist Ludvik Slany as he looks to answer that very question. A woman named Vera Foltynova claims that Chopin regularly visits her and dictates new works. Slany is determined to uncover the hoax this woman is involved in and find the true way she’s “writing” these pieces.

I thought the concept was interesting and the book was fairly well written, I just thought some things were rather drawn out. I understand why the book ended the way it did and to avoid spoilers I’ll just say that although I understand it, I’m not incredibly satisfied with it.

All in all, I’d give this book 3.5/5 stars, it was a good read.

[A J HOOPER · Rating 3 out of 5]

Journalist and documentary maker Ludvik sets out to debunk a woman claiming to be a channel for long dead composer Chopin. Trouble is he can't find any evidence that Vera Foltynova is a fraud. She's certainly writing down musical composition in the style of Chopin and gives every appearance of being genuine . This strikes the investigator so hard that he almost suffers a breakdown. For if Vera is genuine what does this say about our understanding of how the universe works. It is ground shifting stuff. But it can't be genuine. Can it?
The novel is based on real life composer Rosemary Brown who claimed to be a creative conduit for a medley of famous composers. The nearest psychological explanation was that Brown was suffering from a type of schizophrenia, almost a split personality. If that's right, it's still pretty extraordinary and anyway the jury is still out. Very atmospheric of old Prague. But generally maddening because the mystery never does get solved.