Fernando: Beethoven of the Guitar portrays the incredible life and legacy of Fernando Sor, the greatest guitarist of his era, and the first to elevate the guitar to the concert halls of Europe.
Book I: Youth, Celebrity & War recounts Fernando’s enchanted childhood in Barcelona and Montserrat, his meteoric rise to fame in Madrid, his friendship with Goya, and his patriotic response to Napoleon’s invasion of Iberia.
“A rich and vibrant masterpiece based on the greatest guitarist-composer of his time.”
— LoveReading, UK
“Reading this trilogy has been a terrifically, even magically, enriching experience.”
— Colin Clarke, Fanfare, USA
More International Acclaim for Fernando:
Beautifully written and researched . . . a fascinating account of the amazing life of
Fernando Sor, the greatest virtuoso and composer in the history of music for guitar.
— Santiago del Rey, Editor and Translator, Barcelona
A magical and wondrous tale, and a treat for the senses, restoring Fernando Sor to his rightful position as a ‘son of Spain’ who took the guitar to unimaginable heights.
— Michèle de Gastyne, President, Musique Universelle Arc-en-Ciel, Paris
An act of love and an act of homage, this romantic historical novel reveals Marinoff as a spellbinding storyteller. The sheer range of reference is immense; a truly inspiring read.
— Colin Clarke, International Classical Music Critic, London
Fernando is a tour de force. So vivid is the style, Marinoff’s great love and affinity for Sor are evident throughout. Bravo on an engrossing account of this fascinating genius!
— Maestro Cesare Civetta, Founder and Music Director, Beethoven Festival Orchestra, New York
All classical guitarists know how important Sor was to their world, but this book goes far beyond . . . a most enjoyable and informative read for people from all walks of life.
— Peter McCutcheon, Honorary Professor of Classical Guitar, The University of Montreal
A delightful embroidering of a history, with a level of gusto that is unlikely to be
equaled. Hats off to Marinoff for this astonishing book!
— Jan Narveson, Ph.D., O.C., President, Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music Society
A rare triumph that combines historical fiction with philosophical romance . . . a virtuoso
performance, entwining music, mystery, and metaphysics in a gripping tale.
— Makarand Paranjape, Ph.D., Professor of English Literature, Jawaharlal Nehru University
Marinoff conveys the spirit, manners, and social conditions of a past age with realistic
detail and fidelity, framed in beautiful prose . . . a welcome and exceptional gift.
— Juan Carlos Mercado, Ph.D., Dean of Interdisciplinary Studies at CWE, CUNY
Bravo! Ole! What a fun read! While I like guitar and love Beethoven, I’m far from having a scholarly interest in either. The book’s title would not have drawn me were I not otherwise familiar with Marinoff’s work. But this is a good novel. Really, very good. Indeed, each book in the trilogy, presents as an engaging account of a good stretch of European history in a way which is well researched. While much of the dialogue between Fernando Sor regarding his interactions with lovers and historical legendries is fictional, the general information must be true. (No one could have just invented all those horrendous Russian names and European titles!). The reminders of important moments in history were engaging. The trilogy is a delight! Each book is supplemented with rich documentaries and beautiful samples of music. All of these are great!
Book I: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxahhAT6cTY
Book II: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiRsRQduJEU
Book III: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DicefhkjaxA
— J. Michael Russell, Ph.D., Psy.D.
Emeritus Professor of Philosophy and Human Services
California State University, Fullerton