Appassionata (novel)

Appassionata is a 1996 novel by British author Jilly Cooper. The Rutshire Chronicles bonkbuster follows the career of violinist Abigail Rosen, who survives a suicide attempt and goes on to reinvent herself as a conductor. Her first job is for the fictional Rutminster Symphony Orchestra. The novel then follows the lives of several other characters, including horn player and ultimate love interest Viking O'Neill, as the fortunes of the orchestra itself dip.

Despite being a bestseller, the novel was subject to mixed reviews. Whilst Cooper referred to it as her "sex and Chopin" novel, and reviewers praised her detailed research into orchestral life, others criticised the plot and characterisation. Its release was accompanied by a compilation of music from the novel. The film rights were acquired in 2016.