Every Valley: The Story of Handel's Messiah

Philip Hoare's Every Valley is far more than a simple biography; it's a dazzling narrative tapestry of interconnected lives, beautifully illuminating the extraordinary story behind one of the most sublime pieces of music ever composed: Handel's Messiah. Simon Sebag Montefiore rightly hails it as "a delicious history of music, power, love, genius, royalty and adventure. Unforgettable."

Hoare transports us to London and Dublin in 1741-42, a pivotal moment in the birthing pangs of modernity, a time thick with fear, conspiracy, and the rumblings of uprising. Against this dramatic backdrop, he introduces a cast of utterly compelling and often brilliantly eccentric eighteenth-century figures. We meet an actress seeking escape from a cruel marriage, a destitute sea captain determined to save abandoned children, an African Muslim who rose from captivity to celebrity, and a politically tormented dissident yearning for release. At the centre of this swirling world stands George Frideric Handel, a composer to kings, now facing illness and a dwindling audience, poised to make a decision that will forever secure his place in musical history.

Hoare masterfully weaves these seemingly disparate threads together, revealing the surprising connections and shared humanity that underpinned the creation of Messiah. He evokes the atmosphere of the era with cinematic flair, painting a vivid picture of a society on the cusp of change, where personal struggles and grand historical forces intertwined.

Amanda Foreman describes the book as "a mesmerizing journey through one of the most fascinating and creative moments in human history," while The Times, as Book of the Week, calls it "riveting." The Financial Times praises its "fascinating . . . cinematic . . . truly informative, imaginative and engaging" approach, and Peter Frankopan simply declares it "an absolute delight."

Every Valley is a testament to the enduring power of hope in the darkest of times and a moving account of the entangled lives that ultimately shaped a masterpiece. It's a rich and rewarding read, offering a fresh and captivating perspective on a familiar work and the extraordinary world that gave birth to it.