The Great Passion by James Runcie is a book of historical fiction. The setting is the composer Bach's era--18th century. The major character is Stefan Silbermann. His father sent him to school in Leipzig, for music. The Silbermann family makes organs, so Stefan knows how to play keyboard instruments and quite a bit about organs.
The story begins with the news that Johann Sebastian Bach has died. Stefan reminisces--that's the story. It is a good story. I read it like I read War and Peace. I skipped the war and read the story. In The Great Passion, there is music galore. I am not a music person. I didn't know what they were talking about. But I thoroughly enjoyed the story.
Since this is the 18th century, schools are places of terror. Since Stefan was singled out by Bach, who taught at the school, as someone with promising talent, he was bullied. In fact, he ran away from school. Bach, who had a household of children, had Stefan live with him. What's one more?
Stefan had a crush on Bach's wife, Anna Magdalena, who had a beautiful voice, but in those days, women weren't allowed to sing in church. She and Stefan made beautiful music together. Stefan also made good friends with Bach's oldest daughter, Catharina.
Bach was a demanding teacher, when it came to music, but a loving father and wise. He saved Stefan's school career. I guess you can say, Bach made Stefan the man he became.
