James Rhodes has had an astonishing life. Told through a searingly honest narrative, he recalls the physical and sexual abuse he suffered as a child, his ensuing struggle with drugs and alcohol, and the nervous breakdown that led him to spending months in a locked ward. But there is a bright, broad beam of light piercing through the darkness, and it is James' passion for classical music - a passion that enabled him to get through his tumultuous upbringing, to resign from his mind-numbing job, and to become a renowned concert pianist.
It is an extraordinary achievement that, after years of self-harming, suicide attempts and lots of therapy, James has got to where he is now thanks to sheer determination, countless hours of piano practice and a chance encounter with a stranger: fragile, scarred, but performing sold-out concerts around the world and establishing himself as a presenter and commentator.
A passionate tribute to the therapeutic powers of music, this book also weaves in fascinating facts about how classical music works and the lives of some of the great composers. The result is a stunning, raw and inspirational memoir that will provoke, enlighten and inspire.
