The Devil in Music

The Devil in Music (1997) Kate Ross

Set in 1821 and 1825.

This story is told in two parts. The first in 1821 is the story of Orfeo, a young Englishman studying music in Italy, and of Lodovico Malvezzi, an Milanese.

The second part, set in 1825, is how Julian Kestrel, traveling in Italy, searches for Orfeo’s sponsor.

As always when reading historicals, I am struck by how different the world is now.

Demanding a constitution! Any idiot ought to be able to see that a ruler could not apply the same laws to everyone—nobles and peasants, enemies and friends.

“It isn’t a crime for a man to guard his privacy,” Carlo declared.
“On the contrary, Signor Conte,” Grimani said sternly, “no one within the realm of His Imperial Majesty Francis the First of Austria is entitled to keep his name, activities, or opinions secret.”

“These Bow Street Runners are not police. As I understand it, they work for hire, and their power is greatly restricted.”
“If you mean that they can’t make a search or arrest without cause, that’s true,” said Julian.
“Our police are more efficient,” said Grimani. “They make the search or arrest in order to find the cause.”

There is also a rather distressing reminder of the rights–or rather lack thereof–of women at that time period. Which serves to remind me how glad I am to live in the future.

But the best bits, of course, were learning more bits and pieces about Julian Kestrel, and his interactions with various people.

“I seem to have risen in the world,” Julian observed to Dipper.
“It’s on account of these, sir.” Dipper handed him two letters. “They come for you while you was out. The waiters didn’t want to fork ’em out to me without a buonamano”—he rubbed his fingers together to signify money—“but I said if they didn’t, you’d be glimflashy, and your bigwig pals’d darken their daylights.”
“I should have liked to hear how that translated into Milanese.”

Of the new characters, I especially liked Donati.

“I suppose I expect less of life, and so enjoy what pleasures I do find all the more.

Reading this book made me melancholy. I read it slowly, trying to enjoy and savor it, but still it ended, and there are no more to follow.

Random learned bits:
Capability (Lancelot) Brown
The Simplon Highway
sediola
Antonio Canova
dolce far niente (Delicious idleness)
All Lombard Street to ninepence

As always, I finish this series saddened that the author died so young.
Rating: 10/10

Published by Felony & Mayhem Press

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