Anne Rice demonstrates her power to enthrall the reader as she makes real for us the exalted and fearful life of an extraordinary society--the eighteenth-century world of the castrati, the male sopranos whose glorious voices, unmatched by any singers since their time, brought them the adulation of the royal courts and grand opera houses of Europe. This is a novel that charms, shocks, and moves us by its portrayal of passionate and fascinating lives, by its re-creation of a strange and exotic moment in history--and by the ways in which it considers, and adds resonance to, our deepest images of the masculine and the feminine. It is a mesmerizing feat of storytelling.
Cry to Heaven
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The acclaimed author of Servant of the Bones makes real for us the exquisite and otherworldly society of the eighteenth-century castrati, the delicate and alluring male sopranos whose graceful bodies and glorious voices brought them the adulation of the royal courts and grand opera houses of Europe, men who lived as idols, concealing their pain as they were adored as angels, yet shunned as half men.
--This text refers to the
Mass Market Paperback
edition.
From the Publisher
I'd argue that CRY TO HEAVEN is Anne Rice's single most underrated masterpiece. While I've been a fan for over a decade and am always excited to revisit Lestat or the Mayfair witches, I was particularly thrilled to read this earlier work. CRY TO HEAVEN is a stand-alone gem. Set in the splendor of eighteenth-century Venice, it's a classic tale of obsession and driven revenge. Those who enjoy the complexity of Rice's vampires will find the celebrated but powerless castrati equally fascinating. And although there may be nothing specifically supernatural aside from the fantastic spell of the castrati's voices, all the gorgeous and sensual imagery, richly drawn characters, and epic plotting we've come to expect from Anne Rice is all there -- and more.
Patrick Price
Ballantine Books Publicity
Patrick Price
Ballantine Books Publicity
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First Sentence
GUIDO MAFFEO was castrated when he was six years old and sent to study with the finest singing masters in Naples. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt
GUIDO MAFFEO was castrated when he was six years old and sent to study with the finest singing masters in Naples. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I bought this book because I am a singer. Rice really did her research and placed the fictional characters in a historically accurate setting. The book deals a lot with singing and the joys and challenges of music. I really like these aspects and also the vivid descriptions of beautiful sights in Italy. What you should know about this book is that is contains a lot of homoeroticism. That element became a little distracting to me. I will say that I feel that true art should sometimes make us feel a little uncomfortable. Rice definately delivers the discomfort in this book. I also felt like there was a long, long set up for the climax of the book which comes at the very end with not a lot of falling action. It took me awhile to get through it. For me it was not an "I can't put it down" book.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By ms_black
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I finished this book very quickly, as I could not seem to put it down. I have nothing much else to add as others have already said it. A book worth reading, but not if you can't handle reading about men loving men. There are those out there who would trash this book simply because of that and I find that sad.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Let me add my enthusiastic "bravo!" to the list. Read this book! This novel is a wonderful tale of music and the passion of lives fully lived...and the pain to which that fullness is wed. What thrilling, erotic read. This is the story of an 18th century castrato who is torn between getting revenge against those who mutilated him...or rising above that-- with his angelic voice and impossible good looks-- to become Italy's next opera star.
Rice steeped her novel in betrayal, obsession, the drive for revenge, the lust for power, and the need of a astarved soul to find love. But beyond all these "bodice-ripper" adjectives, Cry to Heaven is at its heart an unflinching character study of a man who has his manhood stolen from him, and of how his mind has to twist in on itself to cope with this loss.
Ms. Rice's protagonist, Tonio Treschi is wonderfully nuanced, and we get to see into his tortured soul at every step of his journey-- from the confused and unfocused pain of being castrated, to the cold, focused revenge on the one responsible. Masterful! Add to this the lush backdrop of the intrigue of the opera scene in Naples, Venice, Milan and Rome...well, this is truly a feast. And I ate every morsel. After reading this novel, you'll felt like you've earned a PhD in musicology, opera seria, and Italian political history-- it's that detailed. But the details NEVER bog down the story, just make it richer and richer. Again, bravo, bravo Anne Rice!
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4.5 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely Fabulous!
All I can say is this is a must-read. I found it enthrawling and brilliantly written. It is a book that I would want to read again. Did they make a movie? They should.
Published on Sep 24 2010 by E. Carter
5.0 out of 5 stars
The One to Read
I have read all of Anne's books and rate this number one. While
I love the vampire and witches series, a Cry to Heaven is a
superior writing style and a story that will... Read more
I love the vampire and witches series, a Cry to Heaven is a
superior writing style and a story that will... Read more
Published on Dec 11 2003 by J. Blake
5.0 out of 5 stars
an addictive little thing
This is the written equivilant of "The Jerry Springer Show". Every ten pages (or every ten lines if it's during a homoromantic love triangle -- it doesn't matter that they're... Read more
Published on Oct 25 2003 by Sacad
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating Story about Castrati
As a former music student, I have always been fascinated by Castrati and their historical importance. Read more
Published on Oct 21 2003
5.0 out of 5 stars
Guess what? No vampires
Anne Rice's historically accurate novel, Cry to Heaven, is set in Rome during an era when a papal ban prohibited women from performing on stage. Read more
Published on Sep 24 2003 by Peggy Vincent
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
The characters and emotions are so real. I loved this book. I feel it is Anne Rice's best. You become completely immersed in the world she describes. Read more
Published on Mar 18 2003 by Robert E Kyte
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely Wonderful Story!!!
I am a huge Anne Rice fan and have read everything that she has ever written, and I can definitely say that this is my favorite book by her. Read more
Published on Nov 17 2002 by M. L. Graves
5.0 out of 5 stars
If I ever find myself in Venice....
I am glad that I read this book because it reminded me that Anne Rice is not just a great writer of the supernatural and gothic, she is simply a great writer, period. Read more
Published on Nov 13 2002 by OAKSHAMAN
5.0 out of 5 stars
My favorite Anne Rice book yet
I have loved Anne Rice's books for a long time, but I never wanted to venture away from the vampire or witch series. I am so glad I gave this book a shot. Read more
Published on Nov 4 2002 by Shannon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cry to Heaven
Truly a wondeful work of art-You will fall in love with young Tonio, feel his pain and his happiness, and truly feel as if you know the characters fully. Read more
Published on Sep 17 2002
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