Simon the Fiddler

A Novel

By: Paulette Jiles

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

The critically acclaimed, best-selling author of News of the World and Enemy Women returns to Texas in this atmospheric story, set at the end of the Civil War, about an itinerant fiddle player, a ragtag band of musicians with whom he travels trying to make a living, and the charming young Irish lass who steals his heart.

In March 1865, the long and bitter War between the States is winding down. Till now, 23-year-old Simon Boudlin has evaded military duty thanks to his slight stature, youthful appearance, and utter lack of compunction about bending the truth. But following a barroom brawl in Victoria, Texas, Simon finds himself conscripted, however belatedly, into the Confederate Army. Luckily his talent with a fiddle gets him a comparatively easy position in a regimental band.

Weeks later, on the eve of the Confederate surrender, Simon and his bandmates are called to play for officers and their families from both sides of the conflict. There the quick-thinking, audacious fiddler can’t help but notice the lovely Doris Mary Aherne, an indentured girl from Ireland, who is governess to a Union colonel’s daughter.

After the surrender, Simon and Doris go their separate ways. He will travel around Texas seeking fame and fortune as a musician. She must accompany the colonel’s family to finish her three years of service. But Simon cannot forget the fair Irish maiden, and vows that someday he will find her again.

Incandescent in its beauty, told in Paulette Jiles’ trademark spare yet lilting style, Simon the Fiddler is a captivating, bittersweet tale of the chances a devoted man will take, and the lengths he will go to fulfill his heart’s yearning.

©2020 Paulette Jiles (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers

Probably the best book I’ve heard in awhile! I’d give this 11 stars if I could.

Paulette Jiles is one of the best authors there is. And Grover Gardner has got to be just about the best narrator there is, and there are some mighty fine ones.

I know I’m going to be missing Simon and his crew, and Grover Gardner’s voice when I listen to the next audiobook.

Lovely sweet story

A beautiful period piece that gives a wonderful feel for the post civil war frontier environment. Reader is well known among longtime listeners and is very competent if somewhat deadpan. But the feel of the times and the thoughts of those looking to survive and thrive in a disordered world that still has a sense of guiding morality and etiquette that reaches through all strata of society is fascinating. Enjoy!

Good Story

This is a great story that rings true to life. My wife and I listened to this together which is rare for us. We both thought It was a great story. Characters come to life and it provides a glimpse of what life was like after the civil war.

Excellent Listen!

I have listened to this twice. In part because of the narrator and in part the story. Both are an amazing blend of history and story telling. I came upon this book after reading News of the World. Also and excellent story. Same time period and same narrator. They actually mention Captain Kid in this story who is the main character in News of the World. Both books are a simple, entertaining and an enjoyable listen. They will just sweep you away.
I’m always sorry when they end.

This is a very enjoyable read

This is a very well written and engaging story. Character development is excellent. The author weaves musical sounds and poetic descriptions of events and places into an interesting story with almost lyrical dialogue. Well done.

Another treasure

Unique voice in mesmerizing prose, Jiles shares the story of Simon the Fiddler in post war Texas in her usual elegant and fascinating style. Heroes and heroines as ordinary people.

Especially Good for Lovers of Old-Timey Music

Simon Boudlin and his wife Doris are minor characters from the highly acclaimed Paulette Jiles novel News Of the World, which was made into a movie starring Tom Hanks. This book goes back several decades to tell the story of how Simon and Doris met in Texas the aftermath of the Civil War, when he was an itinerant musician and she was an indentured servant who immigrated from Ireland.

The story is mostly about Simon, who hopes to establish himself as a serious musician and landowner who can court Doris by the time he can catch up to her in San Antonio, where the callous military officer who holds her rights is stationed. That story is mostly a character study of Simon, his band mates, the people he meets along the way, and the locale, post-war Texas as a full blown character in its own right.

But nothing much really happens other than Simon and his friends trying to survive and move along from one place to another. Then Simon reaches San Antonio and meets back up with Doris -- though a small part of the book toward the end, the plot then kicks into overdrive, replete with courtroom drama, which then wraps up as abruptly as it started, hence my deduction of one star from Story for an otherwise wonderful novel.

The best thing about Simon the Fiddler is the music, which becomes more than a metaphor, and like Texas itself becomes a full blown character. For people like me who are musicians well versed in old time Americana, this is pure gold. Jiles doesn't just throw out song titles willy nilly -- she knows her stuff, going into detail about lyrics, arrangements, alternate titles, even some music theory and musicology. There's a playlist on YouTube of all the titles mentioned in the book which you can listen to as you read along.

The best example, especially as it's a song most people would be familiar with even now, 150 years later, is Red River Valley, the song Doris asks Simon to play when they first meet -- Simon buys land near the Red River in Texas as part of his plan to woo Doris. Never mind that the song could not have been that well known at that time (if it was even known at all), nor could some of other songs like Whiskey Before Breakfast that became popular years later -- the musical references are still tons of fun.

Masterful research

Another excellent story from Paulette Giles. Well drawn characters. I was transported and I did not want the story to end. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the Civil War and anyone interested in three dimensional characters.

She Swirls phrases like milk in coffee

Paulette has a way of telling the full picture- the good and bad of every characters heart. The good shines like the evil in a mans heart much like the truth through the darkness and it’s all beautiful...all of it.
Simple expressions can both terrify you while you simultaneously fall in love.
God bless you Paulette...
and Grover... I’m still in love with you.

wonderful book & reader

absolutely loved this book! visiting texas cities in 1866- 1869 was so interesting.

authenticity about texas too.