About the book
Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2014
'A virtuoso performance' SUNDAY TIMES
'Extraordinary and confounding, mind-spinning and wonderful' INDEPENDENT
'A magnificent and moving novel' LOS ANGELES TIMES
Seventy-year-old avant-garde composer Peter Els opens the door one evening to find the police on his doorstep. His home microbiology lab - where he is conducting the latest experiment in his lifelong attempt to find musical patterns in surprising places - has aroused the suspicions of Homeland Security.
Panicked by the raid, Els turns fugitive, earning him the moniker 'Bioterrorist Bach'. He hatches a daring plan to transform this disastrous collision with the security state into an unforgettable work of art that will reawaken its audience to the sounds all around it.
A gripping escape narrative filled with lyrical wonder, Orfeo is both a portrait of a creative, obsessive man, and a reflection on finding melodies in everyday life.
Editions of Orfeo
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781804951767
- EBook
- ISBN 9781804951774
Read an Excerpt
Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2014
'A virtuoso performance' SUNDAY TIMES
'Extraordinary and confounding, mind-spinning and wonderful' INDEPENDENT
'A magnificent and moving novel' LOS ANGELES TIMES
Seventy-year-old avant-garde composer Peter Els opens the door one evening to find the police on his doorstep. His home microbiology lab - where he is conducting the latest experiment in his lifelong attempt to find musical patterns in surprising places - has aroused the suspicions of Homeland Security.
Panicked by the raid, Els turns fugitive, earning him the moniker 'Bioterrorist Bach'. He hatches a daring plan to transform this disastrous collision with the security state into an unforgettable work of art that will reawaken its audience to the sounds all around it.
A gripping escape narrative filled with lyrical wonder, Orfeo is both a portrait of a creative, obsessive man, and a reflection on finding melodies in everyday life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Orfeo about?
Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2014
'A virtuoso performance' SUNDAY TIMES
'Extraordinary and confounding, mind-spinning and wonderful' INDEPENDENT
'A magnificent and moving novel' LOS ANGELES TIMES
Seventy-year-old avant-garde composer Peter Els opens the door one evening to find the police on his doorstep. His home microbiology lab - where he is conducting the latest experiment in his lifelong attempt to find musical patterns in surprising places - has aroused the suspicions of Homeland Security.
Panicked by the raid, Els turns fugitive, earning him the moniker 'Bioterrorist Bach'. He hatches a daring plan to transform this disastrous collision with the security state into an unforgettable work of art that will reawaken its audience to the sounds all around it.
A gripping escape narrative filled with lyrical wonder, Orfeo is both a portrait of a creative, obsessive man, and a reflection on finding melodies in everyday life.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Orfeo?
Fiction > Science fiction
Where can I read a sample of Orfeo?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781804951767
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Orfeo?
Richard Powers
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Orfeo is available as paperback(ISBN 9781804951767) and ebook(ISBN 9781804951774)
Where can I buy Orfeo online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Orfeo from below