Sepehr Haddad

I am the author of the book. This is my debut novel based on the true story of my grandfather's life, as told to me by my grandmother, before the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran. My grandfather, Nasrosoltan Minbashian—was a famed music composer living in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1913. On the eve of World War I, he embarks on a journey from his homeland, Persia, to study at the renowned St. Petersburg Conservatory in pursuit of his musical legacy. During this time, through a series of events beyond his control, he becomes acquainted with the Russian royal family and falls in love with a princess. Nasrosoltan suddenly finds himself in a battle between head and heart while being carried forward on a wave of destiny toward an uncertain future. He later became the director of the Iranian Conservatory (Tehran Conservatory of Music). Fate, destiny or kismet play big parts in the trajectory of the story. As Nasrosoltan is told by his friend Rustam, "divine Providence is under no obligation to be kind to us all." This novel will take you on a journey of love accompanied by music of the greats such as Beethoven, Strauss, but most importantly the romantic composer Franz Schubert.