Writing this novel was a labor of love.
I started with the idea of a violinist because music is a feature of cultures everywhere. However, the key to the story is the prodigy aspect. No one today can adequately explain why some very young children can perform music, or calculate math, or speak other languages with a skill far beyond what is normally possible. This great mystery serves as a springboard and allows for an underlying message: we live, breathe and exhibit individual talents by the gracious design of a Creator.
Another feature common to all cultures is the battle between the rich and the poor. In 1809, this struggle manifests itself in the Napoleonic Wars and Mexico’s fight for independence from Spain. In 2012, it is present in Reno’s casino culture and the Yucatan’s tourist industry. Within this context, the internal conflicts of the main characters – faith, purpose, self-worth, identity – reflect how society struggles to find meaning amid rampant materialism. Thus, their journeys represent the basic human need for inspiration and purpose in life.
As I did my research, it amazed me how many times I found a confluence in names, locations, events and symbols. For instance, long after I started writing, with Ariana’s character already well-developed, I selected a certain piece of music for one scene. When I looked up its full name (rather than its symphony number), I was startled to find it was called, Il Pianto di Arianna. The fact that Ariana Santino’s initials are the same as that of Antonio Stradivarius was also a happy coincidence. Another intriguing fact about early nineteenth century history is that many archives have a blank interval. For instance, the Sant Feliu church has a missing section (destroyed right before Ariadne would have started school there) whose structure and purpose remain a mystery.
In the same way that Ariana learns to value her gift, I dearly hope this book brings inspiration and hope to those who read it.
Historical Notes
Girona Cathedral
With a width of 72 feet and a height of 115 feet, the Girona Cathedral has the second widest Gothic nave in the world after St. Peter’s Basilica. It was built from the eleventh to the thirteenth centuries, with a second bell tower added in 1590. The church also houses a Creation Tapestry along with numerous other Gothic and Baroque pieces.
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars lasted from 1803 to 1815 and pitted the French Empire (led by Napoleon) against an array of European powers (led by the United Kingdom). This series of conflicts erupted during the Age of Enlightenment, helping to spread a philosophy of liberalism and causing the collapse of the Spanish Empire. Eventually, the liberal philosophy with its demand for separation of church and state, extended all the way to North America.
Spanish Colonies
First populated by the Mayans, the Yucatan peninsula was invaded by the Spanish Conquistadors in the early to mid-1500s. By the time Ariadne and Antonio arrived on its soil, the Criollos (those of Mayan and Spanish blood) were tired of Spanish dominance and ripe for rebellion. Miguel Hidalgo was the figurehead in the fight for independence on mainland Mexico, but I used poetic license to place him in Mérida as well.
Religion & Education in 19th Century Spain
The early 1800s in Spain were a period of instability, conflict and trauma. There was a clash between systems: the monarchy, backed by the Catholic Church and aristocracy, sat in stout opposition to a growing reform movement. The ruling classes wanted to preserve their tight rein on lands, wealth and education whereas the jornaleros were the desperately poor farmers forced to tend the land and render tithes to the church. For Ariadne, this meant she had few options, since education for peasant girls was in its infancy and only offered through the church. However, even that wasn’t necessarily safe. From the bloody Spanish Inquisition, to the expulsion of the Jesuits 30 years earlier, violence plagued its halls. By 1805, when Ariadne decided to leave Sant Feliu, the church in Girona was facing attacks from Napoleon’s army and secularists who saw it as in instrument of oppression.
Prodigy
A prodigy is “a person, especially a young one, endowed with exceptional qualities or abilities.” Mozart and Beethoven are two of the most well-known examples of music prodigies. Mozart was playing piano at the age of three, composing by age four, and had created ten full symphonies by the age of 12. However, prodigious talent is also present in the fields of mathematics and language. William Rowan Hamilton (1805–1865) was a mathematician who could read Hebrew at seven years old and studied ten other languages at the age of 12. Tristan Pang (born 2001) started reading independently and doing high school math at the age of two, scored 97% on Cambridge math exams at nine, and by age eleven delivered a TEDxYouth talk.
Baroque Music
Baroque music is any classical composition dating from 1600-1750. The compositions of this era greatly expanded the size, range, and complexity of instrumental performance; this period is notable for its many prodigious performers and composers. The modern symphony evolved out of the changes in style that took place during this time, as did new concepts of melody and harmony. Probably one of the most famous of late Baroque compositions is Handel’s Messiah, which has been performed countless times around the world since he composed it in 1741.
Cenote
A cenote (pronounced se-no-tay) is a natural pit, or sinkhole, resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater underneath. In the Yucatan, the ancient Maya sometimes used cenotes for sacrificial human offerings. Today, these surface connections to subterranean pools attract cave divers from around the world because their water is very clear and some of them contain tunnels that extend for miles.