Jeanne-Martine Vacher's 'Silence' Explores Music Bans in Fictional City

In her novel 'Silence', Jeanne-Martine Vacher imagines Mongour, a city where music has been banned for twenty years. The story follows Lynn Lagunitas, a radio host who rebels against the prohibition. Vacher, host of France Culture's music program 'Décibels', draws parallels to real-world suppression of raves and techno music. The title nods to John Cage. The protagonist's quest leads to the 'Citadelle des sons', a hidden sanctuary for music lovers. The narrative traverses music history from Monteverdi to La Monte Young, including Hildegard von Bingen, Abbey Lincoln, Bach, North Indian musicians, Mozart, and Schoenberg. The novel is published by Éditions du Seuil.