Praise for The Glass Harmonica


Music, love, virtue, sex, desire – it all comes together in The Glass Harmonica, a knock-out historical novel. Our heroine for this tale is Chjara Vallé and we follow her from Corsica to Paris to America, as she falls in love, marries, has children, and plays the glass harmonica.  I loved all the strands that were embedded in this story and found it quite reminiscent of Louis de Bernières. Well-written with a perfectly balanced sense of drama and tension, The Glass Harmonica is a very enjoyable read." —Ngaire Atmore, New Zealand Herald
Bawdy, geographically vast, heroic, and sensual indeed, Dorothee Kocks's, The Glass Harmonica, perfectly combines the novelist's and the historian's skills. It is an unforgettable saga.” —Sterling Watson, author of Fighting in the Shade
One voluptuously melodic sentence follows the next taking us from Corsica to Paris to America on a journey filled with passion and secrets.” —Jana Richman, author of The Last Cowgirl
A charming tale, sparkling with originality." —Margaret Donsbach, www.HistoricalNovels.info
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Engrossing as the story is with historical detail, there is also a poignant study of a marriage – complications which still ring true today, making this a relatable and immensely satisfying read." —Arleigh Johnson, Historical Novel Society
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Rooted in historical context Kocks stitches together meticulous research of fact and fancy with her achingly human characters. Told in her evocative language, the author describes in gut-clenching detail the rapture of pure musical enjoyment; her words allow us to smell and taste and hurt along with the protagonists. The Glass Harmonica is rich fare for the senses … this [is a] most engaging piece of literature.” —Eion Flyn, Night Editor, Irish Sun
[A] provocative novel by an elegant writer who has blazed her own path.” —Jim Cullen, History News Network Read more
A novel full of rich history, love and music … Kocks writes… with all her senses electrified.” —Amie Tullius, Catalyst Magazine
As it plumbs the erotic life of the 19th century, this debut novel is filled with moments of startling insight and deep wisdom. Like the luminous music her heroine calls forth from the glass harmonica, Dorothee Kocks’s language vibrates with surprise and enchantment.” —Teresa Jordan, author of Riding the White Horse Home and www.YearOfLivingVirtuously.com
As the subtitle of The Glass Harmonica suggests, protagonist Chjara Vallé follows her desires in music and life, oversteps society’s gender roles, is exiled by her teacher, a renegade priest, and grows up making pleasure a virtue—all while balancing service and freedom.” —Anne Holman, The King’s English bookshop
[P]oetically erotic … a work of true literary art." —Jesse Paul, Elle Lit
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A riveting and unique read with plenty of twists and turns … highly recommended." —Midwest Book Review
Listen to an interview with Dorothee on New Zealand Public Radio.
Please use the contact form in the right column to request an electronic press kit with the following items:
  • Photos: author, front cover, events
  • Press release: "America's first Sexual Revolution"
  • Top Ten Facts about Early American Porn
  • Top Ten Facts about Ben Franklin's Glass (H)armonica
  • Q&A with Dorothee Kocks

Praise for Dream a Little

A rich, visionary exploration." —Choice
Uncommonly graceful narrative.” —Rethinking History
This is risky history - deeply personal, passionately political.” —Virginia Scharff, author of The Women Jefferson Loved
Dream a Little