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An Equal Music

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An Equal Music

By: Vikram Seth
Narrated by: Alan Bates
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About this listen

Michael is a violinist from Rochdale. He plays in a trio in Vienna with Julia, a pianist, and they are much taken with each other. But the trio splits up and they go their separate ways. One day in London, from the top of a double-decker bus, Michael catches a glimpse of Julia. They eventually meet up, and she tells him that she is contentedly married and has a child. Michael persuades her to visit Vienna and Venice with him. He discovers that Julia has become deaf, though her deafness comes and goes. When Michael reads a letter from Julia to her husband, he realises that Julia is never going to give herself to him.

©2005 Vikram Seth (P)2011 Orion Publishing Group Limited
Contemporary Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction
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I read this many years ago. Listening now, its beautifully constructed, but Michael comes across as an immature spoilt brat which constantly grates. I think Alan Bates has god like status as an actor, but the enunciation is not always very clear and I need it turned well up to avoid missing words.

Well...but

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I was given this on two tapes. Fortunately I was able to download on audible. Alan Bates was of course excellent. I would have liked more music but… maybe a little long! Well worth a credit.

A chance meeting

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Outstanding narration by Alan Bates. A quiet slow story - I'm glad it was abridged even though my choice is usually for an unabridged version of any book.

Narration

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Alan Bates reads this most poignant of books do well. Music, love and the anguish of both. A treasure.

Brilliant

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The inclusion of the relevant music is a master stroke. Alan Bates’ reading perfection in what is anyway a masterpiece of writing

Story telling of the first order.

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