A New York Times Bestseller—The National Book Award–winning author of The Echo Maker delivers a novel at once “magnificent and moving” (David L. Ulin, Los Angeles Times). In these recordings Richard Powers discusses his eleventh novel and reads a short selection.

Recorded in New York City, October 2013.

Learn more about Orfeo: http://books.wwnorton.com/books/Orfeo/

Buy 'Orfeo'

Orfeo - Richard Powers

Richard Powers reads a selection from his New York Times bestselling novel Orfeo. http://books.wwnorton.com/books/Orfeo/

This Dog Could Sing: Richard Powers reads from 'Orfeo'

Richard Powers introduces readers to his eleventh novel, the New York Times bestselling Orfeo. http://books.wwnorton.com/books/Orfeo/

Dangerous Music: Richard Powers on 'Orfeo'

Richard Powers discusses the initial inspiration for his eleventh novel, the New York Times bestselling Orfeo. http://books.wwnorton.com/books/Orfeo/

The Steve Kurtz Affair: Richard Powers on 'Orfeo'

Richard Powers discusses the music in his eleventh novel, the New York Times bestselling Orfeo. books.wwnorton.com/books/Orfeo/

The music written about in Orfeo includes: 

-Neruda Songs (Peter Lieberson)
-Songs on the Death of Children (Gustav Mahler)
-Quartet for the End of Time (Olivier Messiaen)
-Barstow (Harry Partch)
-Proverb (Steve Reich)
-Fifth Symphony (Dmitri Shostakovich)


"Powers's talent for translating avant-garde music into engrossing vignettes on the page is inexhaustible. Els's obsession with avant-garde, which isolates him from everyone he loves, becomes the very thing that aligns him with the reader." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

I Always Go Back To The Music: Richard Powers on 'Orfeo'

Richard Powers's eleventh novel, the New York Times bestselling Orfeo, asks the question: what if you believe in your work, but no one else does? books.wwnorton.com/books/Orfeo/

The Meaning Of Your Work: Richard Powers on 'Orfeo'

Richard Powers discusses what is different about his eleventh novel, the New York Times bestselling Orfeo. books.wwnorton.com/books/Orfeo/

Entirely Immersive: Richard Powers on 'Orfeo'

Richard Powers discusses the multi-narrative frames in his eleventh novel, the New York Times bestselling Orfeo. books.wwnorton.com/books/Orfeo/

Multi-Narrative Frames: Richard Powers on 'Orfeo'

Richard Powers discusses his influences from the worlds of science and music that informed his eleventh novel, the New York Times bestselling Orfeo. books.wwnorton.com/books/Orfeo/

Science And Sounds: Richard Powers on 'Orfeo'

Richard Powers discusses the current events that seem to be 'escapees' from his eleventh novel, the New York Times bestselling Orfeo. books.wwnorton.com/books/Orfeo/

Escape From The Lab: Richard Powers on 'Orfeo'

Richard Powers discusses his revelations about time and concentration discovered through the act of writing his eleventh novel, the New York Times bestselling Orfeo. books.wwnorton.com/books/Orfeo/