Yiyun Li on Art, Fame, History, and Music Against the Night
Acclaimed writer Yiyun Li returns to the show to talk about her new novel, Music Against the Night, with co-hosts V.V. Ganeshananthan and Whitney Terrell. Li explains how she first became interested in fictionalizing the lives of married musicians John
Acclaimed author Yiyun Li returns to the show alongside co-hosts V.V. Ganeshananthan and Whitney Terrell to discuss her latest novel, Music Against the Night. Li shares the story behind her decision to fictionalize the lives of married musicians John Field and Adelaide Percheron, drawing inspiration from Russian writer Leo Tolstoy's autobiography.
Despite limited historical information about Percheron, Li found her compelling enough to become the central character of the novel. The book is structured in three parts, following the characters' childhood, youth, and adulthood, mirroring the format of Tolstoy's own works. Li explains how her characters grapple with defining success and failure, even though neither John nor Adelaide achieve widespread fame.
She also delves into the role of grandparents in her characters' lives and explores how mentors can shape an artist's personal and professional journey.
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