The Queen of the Night

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Pub Date 22 Feb 2018 | Archive Date 30 Jun 2018

Description

From a writer praised by Junot Díaz as 'the fire, in my opinion, and the light', a mesmerizing novel that follows one woman's rise from circus rider to courtesan to world-renowned star Paris, 1882. Lilliet Berne is a sensation, a legendary soprano with every accolade except an original role. When one is finally offered to her, she realizes with alarm that the libretto is based on a hidden piece of her past. Only four could have betrayed her: one is dead, one loves her still, one wants only to own her. And one, she hopes, never thinks of her at all. As Lilliet mines her memories for clues, she recalls her life as an orphan who left the American frontier for Europe and was swept up into the glitzy, gritty world of Second Empire Paris. In order to survive, she transformed herself from circus rider to courtesan, from empress's maid to stage ingénue,all the while weaving a web of passion and intrigue. Will the truth secure Lillet's fate - or destroy her with the secrets it reveals? Fifteen years in the writing, The Queen of the Night is a literary tour de force that is also ferociously readable. A blazing tale of lust, ambition, betrayal and revenge, it will captivate readers right up to its final electrifying denouement. 'Epic, gorgeous, haunting' Hanya Yanagihara, Man Booker shortlisted author of A Little Life 'Astonishing' Karen Russell, New York Times best-selling author of Swamplandia 'Luminous' J. Courtney Sullivan, New York Times best-selling author of Maine 'Glittering' Wall Street Journal 'Brilliantly extravagant' Vogue 'Lush and sweeping' Publishers Weekly 'Plotted like a fine embroidery' NPR 'Completely engrossing' Library Journal, STARRED 'Richly researched, ornately plotted' Kirkus, STARRED 'Dramatic, audacious and extravagant' Chicago Review of Books ALEXANDER CHEE won a Whiting Award for his first novel, Edinburgh, and is a recipient of the NEA Fellowship in Fiction and residencies from the MacDowell Colony, Ledig House, and Civitella Ranieri. His writing has appeared in the New York Times Book Review, Tin House, Slate, and NPR, among others, and he is a Contributing Editor at The New Republic. He lives in New York City.

From a writer praised by Junot Díaz as 'the fire, in my opinion, and the light', a mesmerizing novel that follows one woman's rise from circus rider to courtesan to world-renowned star Paris...


Advance Praise

‘This is a masterfully written book… There is so much story here and I absorbed all of it, greedily.’ Roxanne Gay

‘This is a masterfully written book… There is so much story here and I absorbed all of it, greedily.’ Roxanne Gay


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9780718185091
PRICE £8.99 (GBP)

Average rating from 33 members


Featured Reviews

A beautifully written and marvellously atmospheric book. A book where you can lose yourself in its world and one I file under my own personal category of "Yes I would go past my train stop to continue reading this". Lilliet Berne is a world renowned opera singer at the top of her profession and whose world is suddenly turned upside down when a new opera bears a startling resemblance to the life story she has worked so hard to keep secret. The novel then becomes part mystery and part historical fiction as Lilliet tries to work out who has betrayed her while recounting her own tumultuous past. My opera knowledge is minimal but a few well known names pop up in the extensive cast of characters and its so enjoyable to watch the author's obviously detailed research come to life. It's the kind of book which makes you want to immediately rush off and read a further five books for background knowledge. There's a lot of characters, a labyrinth plot but feel free to get lost in the descriptive passages. It's a sweeping story which travels the world and leaves no clue as to what or who, we will come across next and that makes it tremendously enjoyable. Fantastic stuff.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

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