The Summer We Crossed Europe in the Rain

Lyrics for Stacey Kent

Illustrated by Bianca Bagnarelli
$13.99 US
Knopf
On sale Apr 30, 2024 | 9780593802526
Sales rights: US,OpnMkt(no EU/CAN)
From the Nobel Prize–winning author of Klara and the Sun and Never Let Me Go comes a gorgeously illustrated volume of lyrics written for the platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated jazz singer Stacey Kent.

Memorably introduced by Ishiguro himself, The Summer We Crossed Europe in the Rain collects the lyrics of sixteen songs he wrote for world-renowned American singer Stacey Kent, which were set to music by her partner, Jim Tomlinson. An exquisite coming together of the literary and musical worlds, the lyrics are infused with a sense of yearning, melancholy, love, and the romance of travel and liminal spaces.

Further exploring the notion of collaboration and interpretation, the collection is illustrated by the acclaimed Italian artist Bianca Bagnarelli, whose work perfectly captures the atmosphere and sensibility of the songs.
“Fascinating. . . . Beautifully illustrated by Bianca Bagnarelli, these lyrics remind us of some of Ishiguro’s characteristic themes—memory, love, travel, music’s haunting qualities—and are full of yearning, melancholy and the romance of travel, and of what might have been.” Irish Times

“Lovely. . . . Propelled by imaginative depictions of Ishiguro’s words by Italian cartoonist Bianca Bagnarelli . . . it’s a delight.” Zoomer Magazine

About

From the Nobel Prize–winning author of Klara and the Sun and Never Let Me Go comes a gorgeously illustrated volume of lyrics written for the platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated jazz singer Stacey Kent.

Memorably introduced by Ishiguro himself, The Summer We Crossed Europe in the Rain collects the lyrics of sixteen songs he wrote for world-renowned American singer Stacey Kent, which were set to music by her partner, Jim Tomlinson. An exquisite coming together of the literary and musical worlds, the lyrics are infused with a sense of yearning, melancholy, love, and the romance of travel and liminal spaces.

Further exploring the notion of collaboration and interpretation, the collection is illustrated by the acclaimed Italian artist Bianca Bagnarelli, whose work perfectly captures the atmosphere and sensibility of the songs.

Praise

“Fascinating. . . . Beautifully illustrated by Bianca Bagnarelli, these lyrics remind us of some of Ishiguro’s characteristic themes—memory, love, travel, music’s haunting qualities—and are full of yearning, melancholy and the romance of travel, and of what might have been.” Irish Times

“Lovely. . . . Propelled by imaginative depictions of Ishiguro’s words by Italian cartoonist Bianca Bagnarelli . . . it’s a delight.” Zoomer Magazine