# Penguin by Richard Powers (Paperback)

**Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2014  
  
'A virtuoso performance' _SUNDAY TIMES_  
  
'Extraordinary and confounding, mind-spinning and wonderful' _INDEPENDENT_  
  
'A magnificent and moving novel' _LOS ANGELES TIMES_**  
  
Seventy-year-old avant-garde composer Peter Els opens the door one evening to find the police on his doorstep. His home microbiology lab - where he is conducting the latest experiment in his lifelong attempt to find musical patterns in surprising places - has aroused the suspicions of Homeland Security.  
  
Panicked by the raid, Els turns fugitive, earning him the moniker 'Bioterrorist Bach'. He hatches a daring plan to transform this disastrous collision with the security state into an unforgettable work of art that will reawaken its audience to the sounds all around it.  
  
A gripping escape narrative filled with lyrical wonder, _Orfeo_ is both a portrait of a creative, obsessive man, and a reflection on finding melodies in everyday life.

## Details

- **Price:** 8.99 GBP
- **Vendor:** Penguin (Cornerstone)
- **Tags:** All Books, Fiction, Thrillers

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 8.99 GBP | In stock |

## Images

- Penguin by Richard Powers (Paperback)

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> Source: [Somiibooks](https://somiibooks.com/products/penguin-richard-powers-9781804951767)
> Updated: 2026-09-15