The award-winning Music & Silence is one of Tremain's most popular works. Set in the court of Christian IV of Denmark during the 17th century, it is a beautiful and enduring tale of love, intrigue and betrayal. Part history, part imagination, Music & Silence lyrically evokes the rich tapestry of court life.

The obsessions and secret woes of a host of memorable characters are brilliantly realised by Tremain, who deftly weaves together the numerous sub-plots. We encounter a king, tormented by his quest for perfection; the raucous and spoilt Kirsten, raging against the constraints of her queenly situation; and the silently grieving Emilia.

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Product details

Listening Length	7 hours and 54 minutes
Author	Rose Tremain
Narrator	Michael Praed, Clare Wille, Alison Dowling
Audible.com.au Release Date	16 November 2009
Publisher	Naxos AudioBooks
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Abridged
Language	English
ASIN	B00NPBJGH4

Customer reviews

5 star		59%
4 star		25%
3 star		6%
2 star		7%
1 star		3%

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Mr. D. M. Fishel

this is a literary masterpiece (or, at least, great story-telling!)

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 May 2020

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For me, a masterpiece, how she can adopt the voices of so many different characters and make them unique, how she has depicted so many different kinds of relationships, lover to lover, father to son, mother to daughter, sibling to sibling, master to servant and servant to master, of course, work colleague to work colleague (as in the musicians), a King to his court and people, a family with a child displaying difficulties… all covered brilliantly so that, what we lack in terms of modernity, we gain in terms of the eternal unfolding of our relationships. And what a wonderfully intricate but increasingly transparent plot that draws you in, deeper and deeper with every page you turn… Her descriptions, with many philosophical layers, filled my soul and having experienced the music of her words, I’m now left with its ensuing, sweet silence…

One person found this helpful

Amazonian Customer

Rich & sumptuous storytelling

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 December 2019

Verified Purchase

Rose Tremain is a consummate storyteller. In Music & Silence she weaves a tale from a number of different, distinct but interlinked points of view.

Set in Denmark in the 17th century, the narrative meanders between many voices, including:

A music-loving king
His sensual but music-loathing wife
A man who dreams of divine music and drives himself to the brink of madness trying to recreate it
An English lutenist
A small boy who can hear the whisperings and mutterings of the creatures of the fields and forests

All these, and their families, add to a rich and absorbing story about loyalty and betrayal, love and lust and of course, music and silence.

One person found this helpful

Mal Ballinger

Multifaceted

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 August 2018

Verified Purchase

I've read a few Rose Remain books, Gustav Sonata, The Road Home, The Way I found Her. Many of the characters in Music and Silence are based on historical fact with the setting being The Court of King Christian of Norway. The characters are totally believable, the behaviour of the King's Consort, Kirsten ,made me laugh out loud at times but she is also intensely selfish and sometimes cruel. The prose is beautiful;few paint a picture in words as graphically as Rose Tremain. She is knowledgable,insightful and empathetic in her writing. At the conclusion of the book I felt a real sense of loss,I was so engrossed and familiar with the characters. A brilliant read that I have recommended to many friends.

3 people found this helpful

Zoro

I learned nothing from this book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 May 2020

Verified Purchase

I thought the book was going to illucidate life in the court of Christian the 4th of Denmark. Instead it concentrates on csome unbelievable characters streching from Ireland to Britain and to Jutland. The vast majority of characters are shallow poorly constructed and sadly predictable. Although Kirsten Munk, nearly queen, is known to have taken a lover, I would sue if I was her for all the things she has alegedly said and did. Many little titbits of stories around the characters are so obviously pading. Much as I am very fond of reading historical novels, the characters here are bikering and boring. Sorry not for me.

Elaine

Exquisite writing

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 May 2019

Verified Purchase

I love everything Rose Tremain writes, but this is especially good.
Rose researches the period she writing about so well. She has the ability to allow you to see into the souls of her characters, and engage deeply with them. She writes with such a light touch. I had tears at the end, both for the characters and that the book was ending. Beautiful.

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Music & Silence Audible Audiobook – Abridged

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