Hungry Generations

About the Book

"The novel [is] quite wonderful and, in ways beyond the currently modish usage, magical bringing into life, with passion and wryness that incredible Beverly Hills world [of European expatriates]."
-Thomas Flanagan, The Year of the French and other works.

"Like a memorable piece of music The dilemmas and desires of the characters will haunt you."
-Sheila Schwartz, Pushcart/O'Henry award-winning fiction-writer.

Hungry Generations imagines the amazing world of émigré artists who fled from Nazi Europe and settled in Los Angeles.

In 1972, the legendary classical pianist Alexander Petrov befriends a young composer Jack Weinstein, who works in the Hollywood studios. Their delving, passionate discussions of music deepen their friendship. Yet Jack finds himself disrupting the balances in Petrov's turbulent family. Each generation here struggles with its hunger for meaning and love in a disastrous time.

During their talks, Petrov tells fascinating stories about his émigré friends from the 1940s, including Schoenberg and Stravinsky; Jack's love of their music-and Beethoven's-infuses a piano sonata he composes during the year. Soon these composers enter his Chagall-like dreams, criticizing and blessing his music. The imaginary conversations among historical artists throughout Hungry Generations connect it to a rich tradition, including novels by Roland, Hesse, Lawrence, and Mann.

About the Author

Daniel C. Melnick was born in Los Angeles. He attended UC Berkeley and has taught for years at the State University in Cleveland, where he and his wife, a painter, raised their three children. He has published essays, stories, and a book on modern fiction and music, Fullness of Dissonance.