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The Variations 2023
The Variations is a 2023 novel written by Patrick Langley. This represents the author's second literary work, after his first novel Arkady. The story opens with the passing of Selda Heddle, a Cornish composer. It becomes clear that she had the ability to hear voices of deceased individuals, and this gift has been inherited by her grandson, Wolf. The narrative explores Wolf's challenges in adjusting to this newfound circumstance.
Following its release, The Times Literary Supplement offered a mixed assessment, commenting that "though music is frequently discussed, the novel rarely feels musical, despite apparent intentions to do so." At the same time, a review in The Guardian commended the work's "thrilling Nabokovian intrigue concerning patterning, form and meaning".
Details
- Publisher
- Fitzcarraldo Editions (UK)
- ISBN
- 9781804270509
- Pages
- 452
