The Silver Swan

Delbanco’s whirlwind debut novel immediately immerses readers in the rarefied world of classical music performance. Alexander Feldmann is a world-renowned cellist and the owner of the Silver Swan, a famous centuries-old cello. When he dies, his daughter, Mariana, who had been an up-and-coming cellist herself, assumes that she is going to inherit it. Much to her surprise, her father leaves it to Claude Roselle, a handsome young cellist whom Feldmann dubs his musical heir. Mariana is furious, but she and Claude spend time together to try to understand her father’s decision, and in the process they become lovers. Mariana wants to trust Claude and his intentions, but she is wary, having become accustomed to the egotism and selfishness of top-tier musicians. They draw each other into a web of deception in pursuit of the Swan. Delbanco’s father was a famed cellist, and her immersion in that world is evident on every page. While some aspects of the plot are predictable, readers with an enthusiasm for classical music will be swept away by this detailed, enthralling tale. (May)