AN AWARD-winning Sutton authors novel debut This Farewell Symphony is a musical tale with a classical twist.
It tells the story of recent widower Edward, desperately seeking closure after the death of his beloved violinist wife. In an attempt to feel closer to her, he follows in the footsteps of Pamela on a European classical music tour, dragging his young children Hamish and Sally along for the ride.
Along the way he meets a string of strange characters including Eastern beauty Anjali and her supposed psychic friend Satma, the Duchess of Poundland and an alcoholic puppeteer.
A few minor mishaps aside, it is when the bus arrives at the Palace of Esterhazy in Hungary, former home to composer Joseph Haydn, that things truly begin to unravel.
The book is chock full of music references for classical fans and is even divided into movements rather than chapters but you dont need a refined musical palette to enjoy it. In fact, many of the biggest laughs of the book come from the crudest of bodily functions. Throw in sex, drugs and a major catastrophe and you have a compelling read which is both funny and heartbreaking.
Edmund Bealby-Wright, who lives in Anchorage Road, Sutton, was inspired to write This Farewell Symphony after a childhood friend and viola player died before the age of 40.
It made me really angry and I dreamt about her which sparked quite an interesting idea to have a husband who is desperate to get his wife back but doesnt believe in ghosts, despite being surrounded by people who do.
The book was awarded the Impress Prize for New Writers in 2010.
This Farewell Symphony is available at bookshops and online.
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