Synopses & Reviews
Ravel is a beguiling and original evocation of the last ten years in the life of the musical genius Ravel, written by novelist Jean Echenoz.
The book opens in 1928 as Maurice Raveldandy, eccentric, curmudgeoncrosses the Atlantic abroad the luxury liner the SS France to begin his triumphant grand tour of the United States. A master magician of the French novel” (The Washington Post), Echenoz captures the folly of the era as well as its genius, including Ravels personal lifesartorially and socially splendidas well as his most successful compositions from 1927 to 1937.
Illuminated by flashes of Echenozs characteristically sly humor, Ravel is a delightfully quirky portrait of a famous musician coping with the ups and downs of his illustrious career. It is also a beautifully written novel thats a deeply touching farewell to a dignified and lonely man going reluctantly into the night.
Review
Echenoz puts his enchanting imagination to work exploring the mundane, the curmudgeonly, the quirky. . . . [A] beautifully musical little novel.
the New York Times Book Review
Rarely has the difficult craft of storytelling been as well mastered.
the Times Literary Suplement (London)
[A] fascinating portrait of a musical genius, a strange and lonely character who was never at peace with himself.
France Today
An exquisitely written novel.
Kirkus
Echenozs prose is stylish and delightfully soft-pedaled . . . leaving the sensation of a life lived exclusively for the creation of art.
Publishers Weekly
Every word is perfectly placed; the writing is fluid . . . like a garment that fits beautifully even inside-out.
Elle (Paris)
Review
A beautifully musical little novel.”
—The New York Times Book Review
Echenozs prose is stylish and delightfully soft-pedaled
leaving the sensation of a life lived exclusively for the creation of art.”
—Publishers Weekly
Every word is perfectly placed; the writing is fluid
like a garment that fits beautifully even inside-out.”
—Elle (Paris)
Synopsis
A bestseller in France, Ravel opens in 1927 as Maurice Raveldandy, eccentric, and curmudgeonvoyages across the Atlantic aboard the luxurious ocean liner the France to begin his triumphant grand tour across the United States. Illuminated by flashes of Echenozs characteristically sly humor, Ravel is not just a delightfully quirky portrait of a famous musician coping with the ups and downs of his professional and personal life, but a truly touching farewell to a dignified and lonely old man going reluctantly into the night. Along the way, he meets and greets luminaries including Stravinsky, Satie, Mahler, Bartok, Gershwin, and Charlie Chaplin.
Synopsis
Winner of the worlds premier literary awards, as well as a French-American Foundation Translation Prize,
Ravel is a beguiling and original evocation of the last ten years in the life of the musical genius Ravel, written by novelist Jean Echenoz.
The book opens in 1927 as Maurice Raveldandy, eccentric, curmudgeoncrosses the Atlantic aboard the luxury liner The France to begin his triumphant grand tour of the United States. Ravel travels across America, playing in grand concert halls from Boston to Chicago to California, meeting luminaries of the day including Stravinsky, Mahler, Bartók, Toscanini, Gershwin, and even Charlie Chaplin.
In this tiny miracle of a biographical novel” (Booklist), Echenoz captures the folly of the era as well as its genius, concentrating both on Ravels personal lifesartorially and socially splendidand on his most successful compositions across a tumultuous decade. Illuminated by flashes of Echenozs characteristically sly humor, Ravel is not just a delightfully quirky portrait of a famous musician coping with the ups and downs of his illustrious career but a truly touching farewell to a dignified and lonely man going reluctantly into the night.
About the Author
Jean Echenoz won Frances prestigious Prix Goncourt for
Im Gone (The New Press). He is the author of five previous novels in English translation and the winner of numerous literary prizes, among them the Prix Medicis and the European Literature Jeopardy Prize. He lives in Paris.
Linda Coverdales most recent translation for The New Press was Jean Echenozs Running. She was the recipient of the French-American Foundations 2008 Translation Prize for her translation of Echenozs Ravel. She lives in Brooklyn.