Patrick Langley's 'The Variations' Reviewed
Patrick Langley's novel 'The Variations' is reviewed, blending fantasy, gothic elements, and grief. Set at Agnes's Hospice for Acoustically Gifted Children, it follows Ellen, the aging dean, who takes in Wolf, a catatonic boy with 'the gift' of hearing voices from the past. Wolf is the grandson of Selda, a renowned composer whose mysterious death—found in snow, echoing Robert Walser—sparks disembodied voices. The three-part structure shifts between characters and voices, causing disorientation. The novel's tone varies unevenly, with prose sometimes plodding and dialogue wooden. However, digressions into music theory (John Cage, Arnold Schoenberg, Felix Mendelssohn), politics as musical dynamics, and heredity as variations showcase Langley's best writing. Published by Fitzcarraldo Editions, £14.99.
Key facts
- Patrick Langley's novel 'The Variations' is reviewed.
- The novel is set at 'Agnes's Hospice for Acoustically Gifted Children'.
- Ellen is the aging dean of the hospice.
- Wolf is a catatonic boy with 'the gift' of hearing voices from the past.
- Wolf is the grandson of Selda, a renowned composer.
- Selda's death is found prone in the snow, a callback to Robert Walser.
- The novel has a three-part episodic structure with italicized voices in verse.
- The novel includes references to John Cage, Arnold Schoenberg, and Felix Mendelssohn.
- Published by Fitzcarraldo Editions, £14.99 (softcover).
Entities
Artists
- Patrick Langley
- Selda
- John Cage
- Arnold Schoenberg
- Felix Mendelssohn
- Robert Walser
Institutions
- Fitzcarraldo Editions