In the tradition of talented Australian trailblazer feminist writers of historical fiction, Diane Armstrong and Geraldine Brooks, Alli Sinclair’s new novel A WOMAN’S VOICE is a true gem. It’s clever arc as a dual-timeline novel delves deftly into the power of music, memory and female resilience.
The story follows Laura Hartley, a virtuoso violinist in 1960s Australia, who loses her treasured instrument along with her identity when her connection to music starts to languish. Returning to her late grandmother’s outback home, Laura discovers disregarded musical scores and intriguing family secrets, which connect her family to a mysterious violin maker in 1911 Berlin and some early 20th-century suffragettes.
The further Laura investigates, the more the past and present intertwine elegantly, unveiling stories of women who clamoured for recognition and resisted silence. The intense passion for music is portrayed skilfully throughout the novel without becoming schmaltzy, is reminiscent of Vikram Seth’s superbly moving An Equal Music.
Sinclair plays tribute to the continuing spirit of women who distinguish their voices – through art, memory and absolute determination. An equal treat for fans of historical fiction and those newer to the genre, definitely recommended reading.
Published by Penguin Books, RRP $34.99, paperback edition. Also available in eBook and audio formats.
