Dark Fiddler

An old gravedigger recites the story of Nicolo Paganini, the 18th-century Italian violinist whose extraordinary skills and eerie stage presence made him a musical legend.

Grade 4–7—While it is unlikely that today's children have heard of the famous 19th-century musician, this picture book will serve as a welcome introduction. Surrounded by rumors and legends, the story of the renowned violinist is sure to intrigue young readers. At age four, Paganini "died" after a bout of the measles but just as he was being prepared for burial, someone noticed he was still breathing. Thus returned from the "dead," he went on to become one of the most extraordinary musicians of his day. Tall by nature and gaunt and ashen due to continued illnesses, Paganini looked otherworldly. His mythical playing reinforced that notion, and tales of deals with the devil surrounded him. In this book, a gravedigger at the musician's grave tells the story of Paganini's strange life to a young assistant, and readers get to listen in. The dark, moody artwork fits this story perfectly and makes it just a little bit scary. Maybe Paganini did make a deal with the devil. Youngsters will have to make up their own minds after reading this engaging tale about a captivating and gifted man.—Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
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*Starred Review* Readers may not be familiar with the name Paganini, but after one look at the dramatic cover, with the spectral violinist staring back, a slight smile on his lips, they will want to find out more. The subtitle rightly deems this the life and legend of Paganini. The author includes all sorts of mysterious stories that come under the latter category, beginning with a dream Paganini’s mother had in which an angel foretold the boy’s unusual life. Some said he learned his craft in a dungeon; others, that the devil guided his fingers. Incidents that might sound made up are true. Paganini was pronounced dead of measles as a child and was almost buried before it was discovered he was still alive. The amazing finger-work virtuosity he displayed might have been caused by physical conditions such as Marfan’s syndrome. The book begins on an eerie note as a gravedigger at Paganini’s monument tells his young assistant the story of the violinist, and the folksy tone of the narrative will draw kids close as the story of Paganini’s life unfolds. All this is set against breathtaking, chalklike art that resembles the work of Toulouse-Lautrec. Some illustrations focus on intense faces, while others depict haunting, mesmerizing outdoor scenes: a silhouetted Paganini darting through an alley followed by several black cats. An endnote firms up the facts, and a selected bibliography of adult books is appended. Grades 3-6. --Ilene Cooper