This debut novel from Mr. Harvell is the tale of Moses Froben, from his inauspicious birth as the son of a deaf and mute mother to his rise as a famous castrate in 18th century Vienna.   Moses travels from Switzerland to Austria to Italy as he transforms from peasant to choir boy to opera star, meeting monks, priests and the elite society of Vienna, guided by his remarkable gift for sound.  Fascinating, lyrical, rich in historical detail, I found this book difficult to stop reading -- when I'd finished, I wished there were a few hundred more pages.  Pick this up if you're a fan of historical fiction and/or a music lover.