Music Against the Night

Yiyun Li’s "Music Against the Night" is a richly woven, polyphonic novel that follows two young musicians—John Field and Adelaide Percheron—as they navigate the ambitions, struggles, and sacrifices of their burgeoning careers amid the political and artistic upheavals of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. From Dublin to Paris and Moscow, their journeys are marked by a passion for music, personal growth, and the pursuit of legacy against a backdrop of historical change. The story masterfully explores themes of talent, genius, love, and the costs of artistic and personal fulfillment.