The Queen of the Night
by Alexander Chee
Being a trained classical singer who knows a great deal about the world of opera during the period in which this book takes place, I grabbed it as soon as I saw the TIMES review and found it fascinating. I am not sure, however, how much it would interest the general reader of historical fiction novels. The historical detail is exquisite, but the lengthy section in the middle about the Paris Commune needed tightening up (it detracted from the main thrust and mood of the plot) and the last few paragraphs were confusing, That being said, for anyone passionate about opera it is a must read.
Review by Rebecca MacLeanon
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