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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

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Characters/People edit see section history

  • 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.
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First Sentence edit see section history

A lamp is lit.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This book is in Guardian 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read. (authoritative list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Rose Tremain (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Add the publisher.
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Date: 1999
ISBN: Add the ISBN.
Page Count: Add the page count.

Classification edit see section history


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