Ellen Wroe, a celebrated biographer, sets her sights on Cecil Woodbridge, the legendary conductor whose name reverberates through concert halls and conservatories. But Woodbridge—maestro, cellist, conductor-king—rebuffs her approach and works to thwart her efforts. Undeterred, Wroe pursues the maestro across continents—through the archives of his correspondence, into the confidences of his colleagues, and deeper still into the long shadow of his past.
With lyrical precision and atmospheric sweep, Concert Black echoes the psychological depth of Ian McEwan’s Atonement and the philosophical resonance of Julian Barnes’ The Noise of Time. From the frostbitten avenues of postwar London to the symphonic stages of Boston and Chicago, biographer and subject circle each other in an elegiac dance—until they collide in a reckoning.
“An intriguing novel of secrets, conducted with as many satisfying shifts of tempo and tone as any Romantic concerto.” Alix Christie, author of Gutenberg’s Apprentice
“Masterful…Though music resonates poetically through these pages, the flaws and virtues of human nature stand at the book’s core.” Howard Reich, Emmy Award-winning author of Van Cliburn and former Chicago Tribune music critic
“A thrilling novel that stretches effortlessly across decades and continents…A deeply resonant and intelligent page-turner.” Debbie Urbanski, author of After World and Portalmania
Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award, Above the Fire follows a father and son into the crucible of the mountains. Laboring under a shared loss, Doug and Tim set out on a backpacking trip in New Hampshire. When reports of war and social collapse reach the trail, parent and child withdraw into the backcountry, where they endure an alpine winter, solitude, and the fear of outsiders. As their isolation intensifies, their bond grows only more fierce–until the day they must decide whether to confront a changed world.
“A tenderly wrought father-son novel…a solid read for anyone who appreciates the stark beauty of New England.” The Boston Globe
“A captivating exploration of who we become when the world goes dark… Spellbinding.” Washington Independent Review of Books
“An utterly gripping debut novel.” Booklist (starred review)
“A bleak yet beautiful portrait of a world in crisis…poetic and crisp.” Apple Books
