A Note in Music

By Rosamond Lehmann

Book Overview

"A Note in Music" is a poignant and evocative novel that explores the quiet desperation and emotional landscapes of middle-class domesticity in the early 20th century. Set in a grey, industrial town in Northern England, the story follows Grace Fairfax and her friend Norah MacKay, two women settled into the stagnant routines of unsatisfying marriages. Their mundane existences are suddenly disrupted by the arrival of the young, vibrant Hugh Miller and his sister Clare, whose presence acts as a catalyst for reflection, longing, and a painful awareness of lost youth.

Rosamond Lehmann masterfully captures the interior lives of her characters, delving into the subtleties of human relationships and the fleeting nature of beauty and passion. Through delicate prose and sharp psychological insight, the novel examines the contrast between the dull reality of the everyday and the transcendent, yet often unattainable, world of art and youthful vitality. A profound study of disillusionment and the search for meaning, "A Note in Music" remains a significant work of modern British literature, offering a timeless meditation on the passage of time and the complexities of the human heart.

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• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025870352
• ISBN13: 9781025870359
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Brilliant, best book I've read all year

I am currently discovering a group of female British novelists whose works have been incredibly underrated - namely, Elizabeth Taylor and Rosamond Lehmann. Had Lehmann been a man, no doubt she would have been hailed as one of the greatest writers of the 20th century; she is every bit as good as E.M. Forrster, D.H. Lawrence, or Somerset Maugham - all of whom I consider among my favourite authors. And yet, even my librarian had never heard of Rosamund Lehmann and had to pull her books out of storage. It is absolutely appalling that the literary world has consistently overlooked brilliant female writers. Anyway, this book is a story about a depressed, unhappily married woman who becomes enchanted by a young man who is hired to work with her husband. It is incredibly well-written, at times very funny, always intelligent, and left me so very grateful to have discovered my now favourite writer. Excellent read, highly recommended.