From the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Overstory, an emotionally charged novel inspired by the myth of Orpheus.“Bravo, Richard Powers, for hitting so many high notes with Orfeo and contributing to the fraction of books that really matter.” —Heller McAlpin, NPRIn Orfeo, composer Peter Els opens the door one evening to find the police on his doorstep. His home microbiology lab—the latest … find the police on his doorstep. His home microbiology lab—the latest experiment in his lifelong attempt to find music in surprising patterns—has aroused the suspicions of Homeland Security. Panicked by the raid, Els turns fugitive and hatches a plan to transform this disastrous collision with the security state into an unforgettable work of art that will reawaken its audience to the sounds all around it.
more
So I guess people think this book would be up my alley, since in the past few years, I’ve twice been gifted Orfeo. And I can see why, as the main character, Peter Els, is a composer obsessed with music, and in particular 20th century classical. I’m far from obsessed with the topic myself, but it’s something I’ve dabbled in. Indeed, some of the …
Music, chemistry, art, the surveillance state, and terror. From the siege of Munster to modern and very close parallels, from music that rebels against tradition to music that embraces the familiar, this brilliant novel takes on the timeless question of whether art should challenge or reassure and many other fascinating issues. In doing so, the …
Intelligent, well written, complex ,
difficult for me to stay connected to the story.
I’ve never before encountered prose that so convincingly emulated music.