Life of Elves - Muriel Barbery, Gallic Books

The highly anticipated new novel from the acclaimed author of The Elegance of the Hedgehog. 'A beguiling fairy tale'.--The New York Times 'A hymn to music, art, nature, love, land, the dignity of work, simplicity and the yearning for peace.'-- The Australian The villagers had never seen anything like it: dense white curtains of snow that instantly transformed the landscape. Not in autumn, not here in Burgundy. And on the same night a baby was discovered, dark-eyed little Maria, who would transform all their lives. Hundreds of miles away in the mountains of Abruzzo, another foundling, Clara, astonishes everyone with her extraordinary talent for piano-playing. But her gifts go far beyond simple musicianship. As a time of great danger looms, though the girls know nothing of each other, it is the bond that unites them and others like them, which will ultimately offer the only chance for good to prevail in the world.