The Nocturne Trilogy

Acclaimed Pulitzer-Prize finalist Yiyun Li, returns with a sweeping epic, bringing us two unforgettable characters based on two extraordinary musicians on the rise.

In Dublin, as the eighteenth century nears its end, a young composer comes of age. John Field, thought of as “the new Mozart,” is socially awkward, slight in stature and often ill. But he is able to hear notes in the air and turn them into sweeping arrangements. His talent sets him apart from the rest and it takes him far – to Italy, France, then Russia, where he becomes one of the leading pianists of his era. His artistry also reaches new heights: he invents lyrical, serenade-like compositions, the first set of pieces ever to be called “nocturnes.”

Oceans away in French Pondicherry, Adelaide Percheron has a startling rise of her own. Orphaned as a young child, she is raised by her imperious, eccentric grandmother, who provides her with an unusual education: Adelaide learns to read not just books but people. She enters other households, where she makes friends and breathes in art and science and music. But without her own aristocratic family or the luxury of riches, Adelaide has only ambition to fuel her and marriage to offer prosperity – until she sets her sights on a pianoforte.

Peopled by rival prodigies, irate tutors and begrudging guardians, and ringing with the melodies of music rooms and concert halls, Yiyun Li’s epic, polyphonic novel depicts two aspiring musicians – destined to be husband and wife – in pursuit of success. Their struggles unfold in the midst of great political and artistic upheaval and pit them against the forces of their time. Drawing inspiration from the past but finding entirely new forms, Music Against the Night comes to life with the sweep of a great Russian novel and a deep understanding of the demands of living and of art.