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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 28, 2016
I'll have to say that this book combined my love of sixteenth-century history, literature, and music in a way that has not engaged me since Dorothy Dunnett's Lymond Chronicles. Some really good prose and lots of musical name dropping of ballads, spinet, and virginal music with some odd organ pieces thrown in for good measure.
Francis Tregian, is credited by many to be the copyist of the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book. It includes music dating from approximately 1562 to 1612 by John Bull, William Byrd, Orlando Gibbons, Giles Barnaby, Martin Peerson, Peter Philips and Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, as well as many others
The music from these composers is mentioned throughout and caused me to youtube the pieces so that I could experience them while I read about them or the scene they were accompanying at that point in the story. Some of these composers show up as characters in the novel.
The Tregian family is Catholic at a time when England is currently under Queen Elizabeth and as such Protestant. Francis's father is a figurehead of that faith and is persecuted for his particular resistance. Francis himself is one who manages to straddle the religious wars. The whole back and forth of religion in Europe and England during these years I always find fascinating. Because the Tregian fortune and property is seized, Francis is left without his birthright and must make his own way in the world. His abilities are varied and although finely honed come easily to him. Language, musician, soldier, composer, writer, and loyal recusant although he finds that both sides of the religious question are not acting in a Christian way.
As much as I enjoyed the book's story, the real way that I tell how much a book means to me is when I am nearing the end and am dreading the end of a friendship that I have just made and is seemingly moving out slowly out of my reach forever. That being said I plan both to research further into the life of Francis Tregian, and learn of the man who provided us the single greatest record of some of the greatest music of the age, without which, we would have lost the provenance of these treasures of music. Being able to reread books that are meaningful for you is one of the joys of life.
This book is a joy.
Francis Tregian, is credited by many to be the copyist of the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book. It includes music dating from approximately 1562 to 1612 by John Bull, William Byrd, Orlando Gibbons, Giles Barnaby, Martin Peerson, Peter Philips and Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, as well as many others
The music from these composers is mentioned throughout and caused me to youtube the pieces so that I could experience them while I read about them or the scene they were accompanying at that point in the story. Some of these composers show up as characters in the novel.
The Tregian family is Catholic at a time when England is currently under Queen Elizabeth and as such Protestant. Francis's father is a figurehead of that faith and is persecuted for his particular resistance. Francis himself is one who manages to straddle the religious wars. The whole back and forth of religion in Europe and England during these years I always find fascinating. Because the Tregian fortune and property is seized, Francis is left without his birthright and must make his own way in the world. His abilities are varied and although finely honed come easily to him. Language, musician, soldier, composer, writer, and loyal recusant although he finds that both sides of the religious question are not acting in a Christian way.
As much as I enjoyed the book's story, the real way that I tell how much a book means to me is when I am nearing the end and am dreading the end of a friendship that I have just made and is seemingly moving out slowly out of my reach forever. That being said I plan both to research further into the life of Francis Tregian, and learn of the man who provided us the single greatest record of some of the greatest music of the age, without which, we would have lost the provenance of these treasures of music. Being able to reread books that are meaningful for you is one of the joys of life.
This book is a joy.
April 5, 2015
This novel is based on the life of Francis Tregian the younger, a 'Cornish Recusant’ born during the reign of Elizabeth I. His family suffered for their faith and lost most of their estates. With his father imprisoned at The Fleet, young Francis was send abroad to study at the Catholic seminary in Douai. Although a gentleman, Francis loved music and had an ear for languages, both of which helped him forge a life outside England.
This was an age when musical scores weren’t printed, but hand written, passed from hand to hand and could be controversial. Knowing and playing certain songs could get you into a lot of trouble. Francis cared little for money, status or religion, although he stuck to his Catholic upbringing, never regarding it as an obstacle to love, friendships or earning a living. A majority of the story is about the famous musicians he met in the countries he visited with an emphasis on sharing musical scores which opened doors everywhere.
This novel was very long, mainly because the same theme is repeated throughout the story, but with different characters and countries. However, I found it difficult not to like Francis, with his compassionate nature and his altruistic outlook. A worthy main character and I wanted the best for him, even when I felt he made the wrong choices.
This was an age when musical scores weren’t printed, but hand written, passed from hand to hand and could be controversial. Knowing and playing certain songs could get you into a lot of trouble. Francis cared little for money, status or religion, although he stuck to his Catholic upbringing, never regarding it as an obstacle to love, friendships or earning a living. A majority of the story is about the famous musicians he met in the countries he visited with an emphasis on sharing musical scores which opened doors everywhere.
This novel was very long, mainly because the same theme is repeated throughout the story, but with different characters and countries. However, I found it difficult not to like Francis, with his compassionate nature and his altruistic outlook. A worthy main character and I wanted the best for him, even when I felt he made the wrong choices.
September 3, 2015
A truly amazing book. The mix of fiction and non-fiction is especially fine. I trust the translation is worthy of the work written in its original language. Indeed the life of Francis Tregian is a rollicking good story. Although I have to confess that the last postscript was slightly flawed to the overall tale, however, it was all beautifully rendered. Though some of us or a lot of us may question the love of Shakespeare but this is a relatively minor detail.
October 28, 2015
I thought this book was a tremendous read despite being somewhat disappointed in the ending, which was a little too fanciful. The description of Francis Tregian is very much how I see my great grandfather and how his family might have been if circumstances had been different.
June 3, 2023
Not an easy read, but a most rewarding read about Francis Tregian, a Cornish Catholic royal, who, because of his father's hard-core Catholic stand during the reign of Elizabeth I, is forced to live without the Queen's favor, and always on the run. Nevertheless, the author takes the reader on an unforgettable historical voyage of what life was like during Europe's upheaval based on religion--Catholic versus Reformist. Francis, unlike his father, is tolerant of all, but never renounces his religion. He is a gifted organist, virginal afficiando who can build both and often earns his living by playing in the greatest cathedrals in Europe from Italy to the Netherlands. He encounters some of the greatest names of the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries including Elizabeth the first, Henri IV and Shakespeare. His claim to fame, and his importance to us centuries later is that he copied and maintained some of the best music written and played during the time he lived. Sounds maybe tedious? Not at all. Absolutely fascinating life and times.
January 24, 2021
Serendipity. A Facebook friend was tempted by the English translation in a charity shop. I was tempted to find the original.
A huge, vaguely picaresque novel based, with much embroidery, on the life of Francis Tregian the Younger, who, it used to be thought, collected the music we now know as the Fitzwilliam Virginal book. Many real musician of the period take cameo roles, and there's Shakespeare, too. Francis gives him the inspiration for Hamlet's dark thoughts.
Fascinating, and even plausible, a memorable evocation of turbulent times.
A huge, vaguely picaresque novel based, with much embroidery, on the life of Francis Tregian the Younger, who, it used to be thought, collected the music we now know as the Fitzwilliam Virginal book. Many real musician of the period take cameo roles, and there's Shakespeare, too. Francis gives him the inspiration for Hamlet's dark thoughts.
Fascinating, and even plausible, a memorable evocation of turbulent times.
February 21, 2021
Not a book you can easily dip in and out of, but one to commit and get lost in. Loved the subtle links to events and people of the time. Like history come to life.
January 25, 2023
Never a dull moment. Jammer dat een tweede deel niet mogelijk is.
September 18, 2025
Magnifique fresque d’une époque.
December 9, 2019
There were times when I thought this book endless, but thank goodness I stuck with it till the very end. Most of the questions I had for this book were answered by the writer herself in the last chapter, which was a pleasant touch. But overall, I forgive everything for bittersweet and beautiful ending
July 5, 2016
Regretfully did not finish -- I think the translation doesn't do justice to the ambitious, epic scope of the story. Ultimately, I just tired of the slow pace and episodic nature of the narrative, which didn't have enough psychological complexity or interesting prose style to make up for the length of the story.
June 16, 2015
A well researched and fascinating book. Although I was familiar with the Fitzwilliam virginal book I was not aware that it was collected by Francis Tregian.
Credit must be given to the translators for a very fine job.
Credit must be given to the translators for a very fine job.
January 21, 2016
Love love love it
January 20, 2013
Un des meilleurs livres que j'aie jamais lus !
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews