Books Set in Europe: England

The Song of Names by Norman Lebrecht

The Song of Names is the story of two young boys who are brought together in England shortly before the beginning of World War II. One boy, Martin, is the son of Mortimer Simmonds, a very successful owner of a music store and talent agency. The other boy, David, is a young violin prodigy from Warsaw who has come to stay with the Simmonds so that he can study with a famous violinist residing in England. The Simmonds serve as David’s surrogate family, his own family remaining in Poland. Soon, however, David’s family becomes trapped in Warsaw as the war escalates.

David and Martin become fast friends. Martin, however, is the follower and David is the leader. The relationship is decidedly one-sided, with Martin worshipping his friend.

As the boys become men, David becomes adventurous and explores London, tasting its seamier side ~ gambling and prostitution. His music, however, continues to consume his being.
At the age of 21, Mortimer Simmonds arranges for David to make his big musical debut at the famous Albert Hall. David’s name is changed, for purposes of publicizing the concert to Eli, which seems somewhat less “semitic” to the British public. The day of the big, and highly publicized concert arrives. David disappears.

Book begins in the early 1990s, when Martin is in his 60s. After David’s disappearance, all the life seemed to drain from Martin. He becomes obsessed with his friend’s disappearance and settles into the mediocre life of taking over his father’s music business. Martin’s interest in the business is not all consuming, and he has barely managed to keep the music company afloat.

One day, while in northern England, he is judging a music competition. One of the contestants used a particular musical style that convinced Martin that David must have been his teacher. He tracks down the teacher and is, indeed, confronted with his old friend, who has now become a Talmudic scholar living in an ultra-orthodox community.

The Song of Names is a first novel by music critic Norman Lebrecht. This book combines music with the complex psychology of a young boy losing his family to the Holocaust, as well as the interrelationship between two friends. A lovely book.

Read: January 21 2010