Song of Time

Song of Time

Author: Ian R. MacLeod

Publisher: Jabberwocky Literary Agency, Inc.

Published: 2018-08-15

Total Pages: 366

ISBN-13: 1625673965

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Winner of the Arthur C. Clarke and the John W. Campbell Memorial awards for Best Science-Fiction Novel Song of Time begins with an old woman discovering a half-drowned man on a Cornish beach in the furthest days of this strange century. She, once a famous concert violinist, is close to death herself — or a new kind of life she can barely contemplate. Does death still exist at all, or has finally been extinguished? And who is this strange man she's found? Is he a figure returned from her own past, a new messiah, or an empty vessel? Filled with love, music, death and life, and spanning the world from the prim English suburbs of Birmingham to the wild inventions of a new-Renaissance Paris to a post-apocalyptic India, Song of Time tells the story of this century, and confronts the ultimate leap into a new kind of existence, and whatever lies beyond... Praise for Song of Time: “MacLeod’s quiet, meditative novels and stories have been winning critical acclaim for years, and Song of Time sees him at the height of his powers. At the end of a long and eventful life, celebrated violinist Roushana Maitland orders her memories before she passes from the world of the flesh to a virtual afterlife. When she finds a mysterious stranger washed up on the beach of her Cornish retreat, he facilitates the process of remembrance. In flashback chapters we follow Roushana’s turbulent life through the cataclysmic events of the 21st century, taking in the deaths of loved ones, marriage to a conductor-entrepreneur, and a final heartbreaking revelation, Song of Time is a slow, sensitive first-person account of what it means to be human and vulnerable, and confirms MacLeod as one of the country’s very best literary SF writers.” —The Guardian


Book Synopsis Song of Time by : Ian R. MacLeod

Download or read book Song of Time written by Ian R. MacLeod and published by Jabberwocky Literary Agency, Inc.. This book was released on 2018-08-15 with total page 366 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Winner of the Arthur C. Clarke and the John W. Campbell Memorial awards for Best Science-Fiction Novel Song of Time begins with an old woman discovering a half-drowned man on a Cornish beach in the furthest days of this strange century. She, once a famous concert violinist, is close to death herself — or a new kind of life she can barely contemplate. Does death still exist at all, or has finally been extinguished? And who is this strange man she's found? Is he a figure returned from her own past, a new messiah, or an empty vessel? Filled with love, music, death and life, and spanning the world from the prim English suburbs of Birmingham to the wild inventions of a new-Renaissance Paris to a post-apocalyptic India, Song of Time tells the story of this century, and confronts the ultimate leap into a new kind of existence, and whatever lies beyond... Praise for Song of Time: “MacLeod’s quiet, meditative novels and stories have been winning critical acclaim for years, and Song of Time sees him at the height of his powers. At the end of a long and eventful life, celebrated violinist Roushana Maitland orders her memories before she passes from the world of the flesh to a virtual afterlife. When she finds a mysterious stranger washed up on the beach of her Cornish retreat, he facilitates the process of remembrance. In flashback chapters we follow Roushana’s turbulent life through the cataclysmic events of the 21st century, taking in the deaths of loved ones, marriage to a conductor-entrepreneur, and a final heartbreaking revelation, Song of Time is a slow, sensitive first-person account of what it means to be human and vulnerable, and confirms MacLeod as one of the country’s very best literary SF writers.” —The Guardian


Song of Time

Song of Time

Author: Teri McLaren

Publisher: HarperEntertainment

Published: 1996-05-15

Total Pages: 304

ISBN-13: 9780061056222

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The pieces to a vast, mysterious, and ancient puzzle come together to form the secret society known as the "Circle," but when Cheyne, a young archaeologist, becomes determined to solve the ancient riddle and find the Armageddon clock before the Beast of the Hours awakes. Original.


Book Synopsis Song of Time by : Teri McLaren

Download or read book Song of Time written by Teri McLaren and published by HarperEntertainment. This book was released on 1996-05-15 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The pieces to a vast, mysterious, and ancient puzzle come together to form the secret society known as the "Circle," but when Cheyne, a young archaeologist, becomes determined to solve the ancient riddle and find the Armageddon clock before the Beast of the Hours awakes. Original.


The "Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time"

The

Author: Tim Summers

Publisher:

Published: 2022-03-25

Total Pages: 334

ISBN-13: 9781789385670

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Critical analysis of the music of the iconic 1998 Nintendo 64 video game. More than twenty years after its creation, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is still held in high critical regard as one of the finest examples of the video game medium. The same is true of the game's music, whose superlative reception continues to be evident, whether in the context of the game or in orchestral concerts and recordings of the game's music. Given music's well-established significance for the video game form, it is no coincidence that music is placed at the forefront of this most lauded and loved of games. In Ocarina of Time, music connects and unifies all aspects of the game, from the narrative conceit to the interactive mechanics, from the characters to the virtual worlds, and even into the activity of legions of fans and gamers, who play, replay, and reconfigure the music in an enduring cultural site that has Ocarina of Time at its center. As video game music studies begins to mature into a coherent field, it is now possible to take the theoretical apparatus and critical approaches that have been developed in antecedent scholarship and put these into practice in the context of an extended concrete game example. The most extensive investigation into the music of a single game yet undertaken, this book serves three important primary purposes: first, it provides a historical-critical account of the music of an important video game text; second, it uses this investigation to explore wider issues in music and media studies (including interactivity, fan cultures, and music and technology); and third, it serves as a model for future in-depth studies of video game music.


Book Synopsis The "Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" by : Tim Summers

Download or read book The "Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" written by Tim Summers and published by . This book was released on 2022-03-25 with total page 334 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Critical analysis of the music of the iconic 1998 Nintendo 64 video game. More than twenty years after its creation, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is still held in high critical regard as one of the finest examples of the video game medium. The same is true of the game's music, whose superlative reception continues to be evident, whether in the context of the game or in orchestral concerts and recordings of the game's music. Given music's well-established significance for the video game form, it is no coincidence that music is placed at the forefront of this most lauded and loved of games. In Ocarina of Time, music connects and unifies all aspects of the game, from the narrative conceit to the interactive mechanics, from the characters to the virtual worlds, and even into the activity of legions of fans and gamers, who play, replay, and reconfigure the music in an enduring cultural site that has Ocarina of Time at its center. As video game music studies begins to mature into a coherent field, it is now possible to take the theoretical apparatus and critical approaches that have been developed in antecedent scholarship and put these into practice in the context of an extended concrete game example. The most extensive investigation into the music of a single game yet undertaken, this book serves three important primary purposes: first, it provides a historical-critical account of the music of an important video game text; second, it uses this investigation to explore wider issues in music and media studies (including interactivity, fan cultures, and music and technology); and third, it serves as a model for future in-depth studies of video game music.


The Legend of Zelda Series for Piano

The Legend of Zelda Series for Piano

Author: Koji Kondo

Publisher: Alfred Music

Published: 2011-11-01

Total Pages: 87

ISBN-13: 0739087932

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After decades of anticipation, Alfred is proud to release the officially licensed, collectible sheet music companion folios to The Legend of Zelda™ video game series. The 33 arrangements in this intermediate-advanced piano edition are note-for-note transcriptions of instantly recognizable melodies beloved by generations of gamers around the globe. From Koji Kondo's iconic "The Legend of Zelda™ Main Theme" to The Legend of Zelda™: Spirit Tracks themes, the dozens of pieces in this book represent two and a half decades of Nintendo® video game favorites. Adding to the fun, graphics from the corresponding games grace each page of the sheet music. Impress friends, family, and audiences of all ages by playing from this magnificent collection, which makes a great gift for every pianist. Titles: * The Legend of Zelda™ Title Theme * The Legend of Zelda™ Main Theme * Zelda II™ - The Adventure of Link™ Title Theme * Zelda II™ - The Adventure of Link™ Palace Music * The Legend of Zelda™: A Link to the Past™ Title Screen * The Legend of Zelda™: A Link to the Past™ Hyrule Castle Music * The Legend of Zelda™: A Link to the Past™ Main Theme * The Legend of Zelda™: A Link to the Past™ The Dark World * The Legend of Zelda™: Link's Awakening™ Main Theme * The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ Title Theme * The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ Princess Zelda's Theme * The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ Hyrule Field * The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ Lost Woods (Saria's Song) * The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ Gerudo Valley * The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ Song of Storms * The Legend of Zelda™: Majora's Mask™ Prelude of Majora's Mask * The Legend of Zelda™: Majora's Mask™Termina Field * The Legend of Zelda™: The Wind Waker™ Main Theme * The Legend of Zelda™: The Wind Waker™ Dragon Roost Island * The Legend of Zelda™: The Wind Waker™ Ocean Theme * The Legend of Zelda™: The Wind Waker™ Molgera * The Legend of Zelda™: Four Swords Adventures Village of the Blue Maiden Restored * The Legend of Zelda™: Four Swords Adventures Field Theme * The Legend of Zelda™: Twilight Princess Hyrule Field Main Theme * The Legend of Zelda™: Twilight Princess Hidden Village * The Legend of Zelda™: Twilight Princess Midna's Lament * The Legend of Zelda™: Phantom Hourglass Ciela's Parting Words * The Legend of Zelda™: Spirit Tracks Title Theme * The Legend of Zelda™: Spirit Tracks Field Theme * The Legend of Zelda™: Spirit Tracks Train Travel (Main Theme) * The Legend of Zelda™ Triforce Fanfare * The Legend of Zelda™ Correct Solution * The Legend of Zelda™ Whistle of Warp


Book Synopsis The Legend of Zelda Series for Piano by : Koji Kondo

Download or read book The Legend of Zelda Series for Piano written by Koji Kondo and published by Alfred Music. This book was released on 2011-11-01 with total page 87 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: After decades of anticipation, Alfred is proud to release the officially licensed, collectible sheet music companion folios to The Legend of Zelda™ video game series. The 33 arrangements in this intermediate-advanced piano edition are note-for-note transcriptions of instantly recognizable melodies beloved by generations of gamers around the globe. From Koji Kondo's iconic "The Legend of Zelda™ Main Theme" to The Legend of Zelda™: Spirit Tracks themes, the dozens of pieces in this book represent two and a half decades of Nintendo® video game favorites. Adding to the fun, graphics from the corresponding games grace each page of the sheet music. Impress friends, family, and audiences of all ages by playing from this magnificent collection, which makes a great gift for every pianist. Titles: * The Legend of Zelda™ Title Theme * The Legend of Zelda™ Main Theme * Zelda II™ - The Adventure of Link™ Title Theme * Zelda II™ - The Adventure of Link™ Palace Music * The Legend of Zelda™: A Link to the Past™ Title Screen * The Legend of Zelda™: A Link to the Past™ Hyrule Castle Music * The Legend of Zelda™: A Link to the Past™ Main Theme * The Legend of Zelda™: A Link to the Past™ The Dark World * The Legend of Zelda™: Link's Awakening™ Main Theme * The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ Title Theme * The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ Princess Zelda's Theme * The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ Hyrule Field * The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ Lost Woods (Saria's Song) * The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ Gerudo Valley * The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ Song of Storms * The Legend of Zelda™: Majora's Mask™ Prelude of Majora's Mask * The Legend of Zelda™: Majora's Mask™Termina Field * The Legend of Zelda™: The Wind Waker™ Main Theme * The Legend of Zelda™: The Wind Waker™ Dragon Roost Island * The Legend of Zelda™: The Wind Waker™ Ocean Theme * The Legend of Zelda™: The Wind Waker™ Molgera * The Legend of Zelda™: Four Swords Adventures Village of the Blue Maiden Restored * The Legend of Zelda™: Four Swords Adventures Field Theme * The Legend of Zelda™: Twilight Princess Hyrule Field Main Theme * The Legend of Zelda™: Twilight Princess Hidden Village * The Legend of Zelda™: Twilight Princess Midna's Lament * The Legend of Zelda™: Phantom Hourglass Ciela's Parting Words * The Legend of Zelda™: Spirit Tracks Title Theme * The Legend of Zelda™: Spirit Tracks Field Theme * The Legend of Zelda™: Spirit Tracks Train Travel (Main Theme) * The Legend of Zelda™ Triforce Fanfare * The Legend of Zelda™ Correct Solution * The Legend of Zelda™ Whistle of Warp


The Time Song

The Time Song

Author: Rozanne Lanczak Williams

Publisher: Creative Teaching Press

Published: 1995-03

Total Pages: 20

ISBN-13: 9781574710045

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Measurement of units of time goes from seconds to minutes to hours to days to weeks to months to years.


Book Synopsis The Time Song by : Rozanne Lanczak Williams

Download or read book The Time Song written by Rozanne Lanczak Williams and published by Creative Teaching Press. This book was released on 1995-03 with total page 20 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Measurement of units of time goes from seconds to minutes to hours to days to weeks to months to years.


Time Song

Time Song

Author: Julia Blackburn

Publisher: Vintage

Published: 2019-08-06

Total Pages: 304

ISBN-13: 1101871687

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Julia Blackburn has always collected things that hold stories about the past, especially the very distant past: mammoth bones, little shells that happen to be two million years old, a flint shaped as a weapon long ago. Shortly after her husband’s death, Blackburn became fascinated with Doggerland, the stretch of land that once connected Great Britain to Continental Europe but is now subsumed by the North Sea. She was driven to explore the lives of the people who lived there—studying its fossil record, as well as human artifacts that have been unearthed near the area. In Time Song, Blackburn brings us along on her journey to discover what Doggerland left behind, introducing us to the paleontologists, archaeologists, fishermen and fellow Doggerland enthusiasts she meets along the way. She sees the footprints of early humans fossilized in the soft mud of an estuary alongside the scattered pockmarks made by rain falling eight thousand years ago. She visits a cave where the remnants of a Neanderthal meal have turned to stone. In Denmark she sits beside Tollund Man, who seems to be about to wake from a dream, even though he had lain in a peat bog since the start of the Iron Age. As Doggerland begins to come into focus, what emerges is a profound meditation on time, a sense of infinity as going backward and an intimation of the immensity of everything that has already passed through its time on earth and disappeared.


Book Synopsis Time Song by : Julia Blackburn

Download or read book Time Song written by Julia Blackburn and published by Vintage. This book was released on 2019-08-06 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Julia Blackburn has always collected things that hold stories about the past, especially the very distant past: mammoth bones, little shells that happen to be two million years old, a flint shaped as a weapon long ago. Shortly after her husband’s death, Blackburn became fascinated with Doggerland, the stretch of land that once connected Great Britain to Continental Europe but is now subsumed by the North Sea. She was driven to explore the lives of the people who lived there—studying its fossil record, as well as human artifacts that have been unearthed near the area. In Time Song, Blackburn brings us along on her journey to discover what Doggerland left behind, introducing us to the paleontologists, archaeologists, fishermen and fellow Doggerland enthusiasts she meets along the way. She sees the footprints of early humans fossilized in the soft mud of an estuary alongside the scattered pockmarks made by rain falling eight thousand years ago. She visits a cave where the remnants of a Neanderthal meal have turned to stone. In Denmark she sits beside Tollund Man, who seems to be about to wake from a dream, even though he had lain in a peat bog since the start of the Iron Age. As Doggerland begins to come into focus, what emerges is a profound meditation on time, a sense of infinity as going backward and an intimation of the immensity of everything that has already passed through its time on earth and disappeared.


The Time Garden

The Time Garden

Author: Daria Song

Publisher: Watson-Guptill

Published: 2015-09-01

Total Pages: 82

ISBN-13: 1607749602

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Step into a magical world with this dazzlingly beautiful coloring book for all ages and explore a fantastical cuckoo-clock inspired realm “Intricately drawn . . . [offers] an experience that is both meditative and creatively stimulating.”—The A.V. Club One night, a young girl’s father brings home an antique cuckoo clock. Journey with her through the doors of this mysterious clock into its inky inner workings and discover a magical land of clock gears, rooftops, starry skies, and giant flying owls—all ready for you to customize with whatever colors you can dream up. Cuckoo . . . cuckoo . . . cuckoo . . . When the clock strikes midnight, you’ll wonder—was it all a dream? The Time Garden has extra-thick craft paper and a removable—and colorable!—jacket. Featuring gorgeous gold foil on the cover and a customizable dedication page, The Time Garden is perfect for anyone looking to add some magic into their lives. Unleash your creativity with Daria Song’s whimsical Time series: THE TIME GARDEN • THE TIME CHAMBER • THE NIGHT VOYAGE


Book Synopsis The Time Garden by : Daria Song

Download or read book The Time Garden written by Daria Song and published by Watson-Guptill. This book was released on 2015-09-01 with total page 82 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Step into a magical world with this dazzlingly beautiful coloring book for all ages and explore a fantastical cuckoo-clock inspired realm “Intricately drawn . . . [offers] an experience that is both meditative and creatively stimulating.”—The A.V. Club One night, a young girl’s father brings home an antique cuckoo clock. Journey with her through the doors of this mysterious clock into its inky inner workings and discover a magical land of clock gears, rooftops, starry skies, and giant flying owls—all ready for you to customize with whatever colors you can dream up. Cuckoo . . . cuckoo . . . cuckoo . . . When the clock strikes midnight, you’ll wonder—was it all a dream? The Time Garden has extra-thick craft paper and a removable—and colorable!—jacket. Featuring gorgeous gold foil on the cover and a customizable dedication page, The Time Garden is perfect for anyone looking to add some magic into their lives. Unleash your creativity with Daria Song’s whimsical Time series: THE TIME GARDEN • THE TIME CHAMBER • THE NIGHT VOYAGE


Hal Leonard Ocarina Method

Hal Leonard Ocarina Method

Author: Cris Gale

Publisher: Hal Leonard Corporation

Published: 2016-06-01

Total Pages: 108

ISBN-13: 1495072274

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(Ocarina). The Hal Leonard Ocarina Method is a comprehensive, easy-to-use beginner's guide, designed for anyone just learning to play the ocarina. Inside you'll find loads of techniques, tips and fun songs to learn and play. The accompanying online video, featuring author Cris Gale, provides further instruciton as well as demonstrations of the music in the book. Topics covered include: a history of the ocarina * types of ocarinas * breathing and articulation * note names and key signatures * meter signatures and rhythmic notation * fingering charts * many classic folksongs * and more.


Book Synopsis Hal Leonard Ocarina Method by : Cris Gale

Download or read book Hal Leonard Ocarina Method written by Cris Gale and published by Hal Leonard Corporation. This book was released on 2016-06-01 with total page 108 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: (Ocarina). The Hal Leonard Ocarina Method is a comprehensive, easy-to-use beginner's guide, designed for anyone just learning to play the ocarina. Inside you'll find loads of techniques, tips and fun songs to learn and play. The accompanying online video, featuring author Cris Gale, provides further instruciton as well as demonstrations of the music in the book. Topics covered include: a history of the ocarina * types of ocarinas * breathing and articulation * note names and key signatures * meter signatures and rhythmic notation * fingering charts * many classic folksongs * and more.


Song of Blood & Stone

Song of Blood & Stone

Author: L. Penelope

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Published: 2019-07-16

Total Pages: 383

ISBN-13: 1250258383

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A TIME 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time A Time Magazine Best Fantasy Book of 2018 L. Penelope's Song of Blood & Stone is a treacherous, thrilling, epic fantasy about an outcast drawn into a war between two powerful rulers. The kingdoms of Elsira and Lagrimar have been separated for centuries by the Mantle, a magical veil that has enforced a tremulous peace between the two lands. But now, the Mantle is cracking and the True Father, ruler of Lagrimar and the most powerful Earthsinger in the world, finally sees a way into Elsira to seize power. All Jasminda ever wanted was to live quietly on her farm, away from the prying eyes of those in the nearby town. Branded an outcast by the color of her skin and her gift of Earthsong, she’s been shunned all her life and has learned to steer clear from the townsfolk...until a group of Lagrimari soldiers wander into her valley with an Elsiran spy, believing they are still in Lagrimar. Through Jack, the spy, Jasminda learns that the Mantle is weakening, allowing people to slip through without notice. And even more troubling: Lagrimar is mobilizing, and if no one finds a way to restore the Mantle, it might be too late for Elsira. Their only hope lies in uncovering the secrets of the Queen Who Sleeps and Jasminda’s Earthsong is the key to unravel them. Thrust into a hostile society and a world she doesn’t know, Jasminda and Jack race to unveil an ancient mystery that might offer salvation.


Book Synopsis Song of Blood & Stone by : L. Penelope

Download or read book Song of Blood & Stone written by L. Penelope and published by St. Martin's Griffin. This book was released on 2019-07-16 with total page 383 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A TIME 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time A Time Magazine Best Fantasy Book of 2018 L. Penelope's Song of Blood & Stone is a treacherous, thrilling, epic fantasy about an outcast drawn into a war between two powerful rulers. The kingdoms of Elsira and Lagrimar have been separated for centuries by the Mantle, a magical veil that has enforced a tremulous peace between the two lands. But now, the Mantle is cracking and the True Father, ruler of Lagrimar and the most powerful Earthsinger in the world, finally sees a way into Elsira to seize power. All Jasminda ever wanted was to live quietly on her farm, away from the prying eyes of those in the nearby town. Branded an outcast by the color of her skin and her gift of Earthsong, she’s been shunned all her life and has learned to steer clear from the townsfolk...until a group of Lagrimari soldiers wander into her valley with an Elsiran spy, believing they are still in Lagrimar. Through Jack, the spy, Jasminda learns that the Mantle is weakening, allowing people to slip through without notice. And even more troubling: Lagrimar is mobilizing, and if no one finds a way to restore the Mantle, it might be too late for Elsira. Their only hope lies in uncovering the secrets of the Queen Who Sleeps and Jasminda’s Earthsong is the key to unravel them. Thrust into a hostile society and a world she doesn’t know, Jasminda and Jack race to unveil an ancient mystery that might offer salvation.


Song of the Shank

Song of the Shank

Author: Jeffery Renard Allen

Publisher: Graywolf Press

Published: 2014-06-17

Total Pages: 567

ISBN-13: 1555970923

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A contemporary American masterpiece about music, race, an unforgettable man, and an unreal America during the Civil War era At the heart of this remarkable novel is Thomas Greene Wiggins, a nineteenth-century slave and improbable musical genius who performed under the name Blind Tom. Song of the Shank opens in 1866 as Tom and his guardian, Eliza Bethune, struggle to adjust to their fashionable apartment in the city in the aftermath of riots that had driven them away a few years before. But soon a stranger arrives from the mysterious island of Edgemere—inhabited solely by African settlers and black refugees from the war and riots—who intends to reunite Tom with his now-liberated mother. As the novel ranges from Tom's boyhood to the heights of his performing career, the inscrutable savant is buffeted by opportunistic teachers and crooked managers, crackpot healers and militant prophets. In his symphonic novel, Jeffery Renard Allen blends history and fantastical invention to bring to life a radical cipher, a man who profoundly changes all who encounter him.


Book Synopsis Song of the Shank by : Jeffery Renard Allen

Download or read book Song of the Shank written by Jeffery Renard Allen and published by Graywolf Press. This book was released on 2014-06-17 with total page 567 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A contemporary American masterpiece about music, race, an unforgettable man, and an unreal America during the Civil War era At the heart of this remarkable novel is Thomas Greene Wiggins, a nineteenth-century slave and improbable musical genius who performed under the name Blind Tom. Song of the Shank opens in 1866 as Tom and his guardian, Eliza Bethune, struggle to adjust to their fashionable apartment in the city in the aftermath of riots that had driven them away a few years before. But soon a stranger arrives from the mysterious island of Edgemere—inhabited solely by African settlers and black refugees from the war and riots—who intends to reunite Tom with his now-liberated mother. As the novel ranges from Tom's boyhood to the heights of his performing career, the inscrutable savant is buffeted by opportunistic teachers and crooked managers, crackpot healers and militant prophets. In his symphonic novel, Jeffery Renard Allen blends history and fantastical invention to bring to life a radical cipher, a man who profoundly changes all who encounter him.