Farinelli and the King : Oberon Books : 9781786822949 : 1786822946 : 12 Jan 2018 : Farinelli and the King is a "profoundly funny and haunting mediation on melancholy and the therapeutic powers of music" set in the Royal Spanish court in the 18th century. Depressed and plagued by insomnia, Kind Philippe V of Spain lies awake in his chamber. The Queen, desperate to find a cure, hears of Farinelli - a castrato with a voice so divine it has the power to captivate all who hear it. Philippe is capricious and difficult to please, but even he is astonished when Farinelli sings, and begs him to stay. But will Farinelli, one of the greatest celebrities of his time, choose a life of solitude over fame and fortune in the opera houses of Europe? And will his extraordinary talent prove to be a curse rather than a blessing? Described as "an enchanting, shimmering fairytale for grown-ups"(New York Times), Farinelli and the King starrred Mark Rylance and played to sold-out audiences at Shakespeare's