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Description edit
Set in seventeenth-century Denmark, Rose Tremain's dazzling, prize-winning tale is a pungently atmospheric, richly provocative, and masterfully orchestrated romance of point and counterpoint: loyalty and deception...tenderness and violence...community and alienation...peace and conflict...... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Characters/People edit
- Peter Claire: an English lutenist playing in the Danish court.
- Kirsten Munk: King Christian's wife but not crowned queen, obsessed with sexual pleasure.
- Marcus: The disturbed younger brother of Emilia.
- Magdalena: The cruel step-mother of Marcus, Emilia, and the other children and usurper of Karen's affections in Johann Tilsen's heart.
- Johann Tilsen: Emilia and Marcus' father.
- Otto: The name given to Marcus' cat, but also the name of Kirsten's lover.
- Emilia Tilsen: One of the central protagonists - floating woman of Kirsten Munk, purchased by her mother, and love of Peter Claire, as well as sister to Marcus and step-daughter to Magdalena.
- George Middleton: The eventual husband of Peter Claire's sister Charlotte.
- Boller: The house at which Ellen Marsvin (Kirsten Munk's mother) resides, a neighbour of the Tilsen estate in Jutland.
- Johnnie O'fingal: The husband of Francesca O'Fingal, driven mad by the music in his head which necessitates the arrival of Peter Claire.
- Wilhelm: A son of Johann Tilsen.
- Francesca: Countess O'Fingal.
- Sofie: A maid of Charlotte Claire while staying with her fiance George Middleton.
- Karen: Johann's wife and Emilia's mother who died during child-birth with Marcus.
- Moller: The vicar at the Isfoss who writes to the king.
- Ingmar: A son of Johann Tilsen.
- Ellen Marsvin: The scheming mother of Kirsten Munk. She obtained Emilia for her daughter.
- Jens Ingemann: The music-master at King Christian's court.
- Bror Brorson: The King's best-friend in childhood who haunts Christian's dreams with his death.
- King Christian: King of Denmark.
- Daisy: A pet name given to Charlotte Claire by George Middleton.
- Krenze: The German violist in the King's orchestra.
- Dorothea: Kirsten's last baby with her lover Rhenish Count Otto.
- Boris: A son of Johann Tilsen.
- Madam: Add a description of this character.
- Matti: A son of Johann Tilsen.
- Gerda: The name given to two pet chickens of Emilia, one of which she saves from the cellars at Rosenborg.
- Giulietta: A daughter of Francesca O'Fingal.
- Rosenborg: The palace built for Kirsten by Christian IV, and which housed the special cellar where the music was able to permeate from below the floor.
- Mikkelson
- Erik Hansen: The pastor whom Johann Tilsen would like Emilia to marry.
- Johanna
- Alexander
- Anna Catherine: Christian's first wife.
- Langton Smythe: The English ambassador for Denmark.
- Emmanuel: One of the slaves from Tortuga given to Kirsten.
- Ulla: Magdalena and Johann's child.
- Charles: The King of England.
Setting & Locations edit
- Denmark
- Charlotte
- Copenhagen
- Jutland
- Frederiksborg
- England
- Numedal
- Cookham
- Sweden
- Bologna
- Cloyne
- Ireland
- Kronborg
- Iceland
- Norfolk
- Norway
- Harwich
- Germany
- Vinterstue
- Herredag
- Europe
- Arhus
- London
- Skagerrak
- Koldinghus
- St. Benedict
- Head
- Russia
- Bornehus
- Dublin
- Christiania
First Sentence edit
A lamp is lit.
Series & Lists edit
This book is in Guardian 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read. (authoritative list)
Authors & Contributors edit
- Rose Tremain (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Add the publisher.
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Date: 1999
ISBN: Add the ISBN.
Page Count: Add the page count.
Publisher: Add the publisher.
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Date: 1999
ISBN: Add the ISBN.
Page Count: Add the page count.
Awards edit
- Whitbread Book Award (1999: Novel)
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 823.914
Subjects edit
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