"A symphonic masterpiece...Wringing a glorious & painful chorus of human voices from the mute facts of history - this is what fiction is for." - Alan Moore, author of Watchmen and V for Vendetta
"An impressive piece of work. An unforgettable book." - Historical Novel Society

Leningrad 1941. German forces surround the city at the start of the most harrowing winter in its history. The siege becomes a battle for survival. Bodies fill the streets, and the crushing horror of cold, starvation and bone-deep fear is relentless.

Set against this background of tragedy and suffering, a remarkable group of musicians - soldiers and civilians, all of whom have been wasted by war and hunger - come together to perform Shostakovich's Seventh Symphony. They scarcely have the strength to carry their instruments, but their performance of this haunting and defiant new piece provides a rare light of hope in the darkness. Friendship, love and a vibrant passion for music combine in this ambitious, absorbing and richly sensuous masterpiece.

About the Author
Jessica Gregson was born in London in 1978. She is a humanitarian education specialist and a writer, with occasional forays into other careers. She has lived and worked in a variety of places, including South Sudan, Myanmar and Azerbaijan, and currently divides her time between Glasgow and everywhere else.

Reviews

"Beautiful human story of music and war" Amazon, 5*

"Really worth reading and so relevant to the Ukraine situation" Amazon, 5*

"Terrific! Beautifully written with a deft touch and careful attention to period detail. Go read it!" Amazon, 5*

"A superb book - music in words" Amazon, 5*

"The beauty of the narrative is a pleasure to read" Amazon, 4*

"I loved the story although at times it made me sad. Beautifully written, it is very readable and worth taking time over" Amazon, 5*

"It is almost impossible to describe how good this book is, it is so well-written and unique. I urge you to read it for a fascinating picture of history and humanity, it is brilliant!" Amazon, 5*

"An extremely compelling and well-written novel that fantastically portrays love, loss, survival, and how much music can be a saving grace" Amazon, 4*

"A powerful read for those interested in history. Recommended" Amazon, 4*

"This book is beautifully written; it reminds me of listening to Hilary Hahn play Bach - it feels effortless" Amazon, 5*

"This is a beautifully written story and is well worth reading, thinking about, and discussing with a friend or a book club" Amazon, 5*

"Elegant, beautiful, well-crafted and so much heart" Amazon, 5*

"An extremely compelling and well-written novel that fantastically portrays love, loss, survival, and how much music can be a saving grace" Amazon, 5*

"The author's descriptions at times are so vivid that I felt as if I were living through the terror" Amazon, 5*

"Compelling, immersive and exquisitely written" Amazon, 5*

"An absolutely vivid, gripping portrait of a city and its people descending into the nightmare of war" Amazon, 5*

"A phenomenal story about hope and healing in absolutely dire circumstances, and music bringing people together" Amazon, 5*

"Woven together as beautifully as the music at its core" Amazon, 5*

Book Information
ISBN 9781838498764
Author Jessica Gregson
Format Paperback
Page Count 474
Imprint Deixis Press
Publisher Deixis Press