Every Valley: The Desperate Lives and Troubled Times that Made Handel’s Messiah

Every Valley is a glittering narrative history of intertwined lives that tells the story behind one of the greatest pieces of music ever written, Handel's Messiah . 'A delicious history of music, power, love, genius, royalty and adventure. Unforgettable.' SIMON SEBAG MONTEFIORE London - Dublin, 1741-42. An actress mired in scandal plans her escape from an abusive husband. A penniless sea captain sets out to rescue the city's abandoned infants. An African Muslim and former captive in the colonies becomes a celebrity. A grieving political dissident seeks release from his torment. And a gre at composer to kings - George Frideric Handel - now ill and straining to keep an audience's attention, faces a decision that will secure his place in history. Evoking a pivotal moment at the birth of modernity, a time of fear, conspiracy and uprising, and featuring some of the most unusual and brilliant personalities of the eighteenth century, Every Valley is a cinematic and moving account of hope in the darkness and the entangled lives that shaped a masterpiece. 'A mesmerizing journey through one of the most fascinating and creative moments in human history' AMANDA FOREMAN 'Riveting' The Times Book of the Week 'Fascinating . . . cinematic . . . truly informative, imaginative and engaging' Financial Times 'An absolute delight' PETER FRANKOPAN