• Is it autobiographical?

    • Not directly. The author is too young to have lived through World War Two, but he was brought up by three elder sisters who survived the Blitz.

  • Is Dovidl a real character?


    • No, he’s wholy invented.

  • Was there ever a violinist who disappeared on the day of his debut?

    • Yes, but his is a very different story.

  • Are there real people in the novel?

    • Yes: the violinists Fritz Kreisler, Albert Sammons, Joseph Hasid and Ida Haendel.

  • Was there a real Song of Names?

    • No, it’s an invention.

  • Is the book going to be made into a film?

    • It’s under discussion.

    The song of names; Winner of the 2002 Whitbread First Novel Award
    buy on madaboutbooks.com