Facing the Music is the debut novel of F M Wilson (AKA The Cross-Eyed Pianist).
…a novel that could only have been written by someone with a genuine understanding of music and the life of a musician. Frances is a pianist herself, and this shines through in the way she writes about playing, practising and the complex relationship between a musician and their instrument. The musical detail feels entirely authentic and adds real depth to the storytelling. Strongly recommended – a beautiful book! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Caroline Swinburne, author & pianist
Reader offer: buy Facing the Music direct from the author at the special price of £10 (a saving of £3 on the RRP). Signed copies available on request.
ABOUT THE BOOK
LONDON, 1914
Gifted pianist Theo Browne and brilliant violinist Jonathan Lane-Fox stand on the threshold of the careers they have always dreamed of. Their friendship, forged through years of making music together, culminates in a triumphant London debut. For Theo, there is also Alison, whose love becomes as precious to him as music itself.
Then Europe descends into war.
Commissioned as officers in the British Army, Theo and Jonathan are swept into the brutal reality of the Western Front, where friendship, courage and compassion are tested to their limits. As war threatens not only their lives but the musical identities that have shaped them, both men are changed in ways neither could have imagined.
Separated from the world that once defined them, Theo and Jonathan must confront questions for which neither talent nor courage offers easy answers.
Moving between the concert halls and drawing rooms of Edwardian London, the sweeping coastline of Dorset and the shattered battlefields of Flanders, Facing the Music is an epic story of love, friendship, sacrifice and resilience. At its heart lies a profound belief in the enduring power of music.
Facing the Music is published by Nine Barrow Press and available in paperback and eBook from Amazon or direct from the author at the special price of £10.
‘A love letter to music’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘a moving story of friendship in peace and war’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘fascinating musical detail. Strongly recommended’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Fantastic novel, especially for music lovers, and very readable. I thoroughly enjoyed it’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
THE MUSIC OF FACING THE MUSIC
Music carries meaning throughout the novel, in particular works by Beethoven, Brahms, Bach and Schubert which accompany the characters through different stages of their lives, acquiring new resonances as those lives change. Music evokes the people they once were, preserves friendship and memory, and offers consolation. But it cannot undo experience. Read more here
