Ravel - by Jean Echenoz (Paperback)

About the Book

"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 Ravel--dandy, eccentric, curmudgeon--crosses 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 Ravel's personal life--sartorially and socially splendid--as well as his most successful compositions from 1927 to 1937.
Illuminated by flashes of Echenoz's 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 that's a deeply touching farewell to a dignified and lonely man going reluctantly into the night.

Book Synopsis

"A tiny miracle of a biographical novel" inspired by the life of the brilliant French composer (Booklist).

Shortlisted for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award

This beguiling and original evocation of the last ten years in the life of a musical genius opens in 1927 as Maurice Ravel-dandy, eccentric, curmudgeon-crosses the Atlantic aboard the luxury liner the SS France to begin his triumphant grand tour of the United States. With flashes of sly, quirky humor, this novel captures the folly of the era as well as its genius, and the personal and professional life of the sartorially and socially splendid ravel over the course of a decade. From a winner of the prestigious Prix Goncourt, Ravel is a touching literary portrait of a dignified and lonely man going reluctantly into the night.

"A beautifully musical little novel." -The New York Times Book Review

"The most distinctive voice of his generation." -The Washington Post

Review Quotes

"A beautifully musical little novel."
-The New York Times Book Review

"Echenoz's prose is stylish and delightfully soft-pedaled... leaving the sensation of a life lived exclusively for the creation of art."
-Publisher's Weekly

"Every word is perfectly placed; the writing is fluid... like a garment that fits beautifully even inside-out."
-Elle (Paris)

About the Author

Jean Echenoz won France's prestigious Prix Goncourt for I'm Gone (The New Press). He is the author of five previous novels in English translation and the winner of numerous literary prizes. Linda Coverdale is a past winner of the Scott Moncrieff Prize, a French-American Foundation Translation Prize, and the International IMPAC Dublin Award. She has translated almost fifty books, many of them for the New Press.