At twenty years old, Delhomme is still living with his parents. He is bored with his clerical work, his father, who is a doctor, wants him to follow his profession, but Delhomme dreams about music. He leaves the house for the city of Paris gladly, but not so much for studying anatomy. His father’s sudden death puts the family in dire situation. He needs money and quickly. He gets apprenticed as a piano tuner. Next, he is pulled into becoming a spy for the king, but he needs to get a job of piano tuner for Chopin first. At the time, Chopin is involved with George Sand. And she is a real troublemaker, writing fanatical drivel against the king.

His story is intertwined with the diary of George Sand and her revealing the relationship with Chopin. Her voice at times sounds immature or not believable. That’s not the George Sand I’ve read about before.

The style of writing is a lot of telling, which sounds as it’s done without catching a breath, which is actually needed to put some feelings in, in order to add some dimensions to the story. I didn’t connect with any of the characters or the style of writing.

There is so much historic fiction set in France during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars but this is a unique book in that it is sent slightly later. At a time when France was still tumultuous, a young provincial man, Beaulieu Delhomme, moves to Paris. After getting kicked out of two schools, he finds his place as an apprentice piano tuner. With little money and no family left, he is pulled in to a life of spying. As part of his spy mission he is sent to befriend Chopin and become Chopin's piano tuner. A second branch of this mission involves getting close to George Sand, Chopin's lover. Spying isn't the life Beaulieu wants, but spying isn't as easy to get out of as he would like.

Chopin, Sand, and various other historic figures are brought to life in this delightful book. The characters are the main focus of the novel, and they're incredibly well rounded. A wonderful book that explores friendship as well as the politics of the time.