A literary/historical novel of survival, secrets and the courage to find out who we are.
A survivor of the first World War battle of the Somme, Jean must conceal the accent that would betray his desertion—and endanger the woman who saved him.
Decades later, in London, stammering Katarin faces a different kind of entrapment, until an unexpected friendship offers the possibility of freedom.
Two generations. Two struggles for survival. One compelling question: when circumstances threaten to silence us, when we cannot speak, who are we?
A 2026 PenMasters Global Literary Excellence Finalist novel:
The Song Cannot Be Silenced
A saga of courageous survival, this novel offers voice to the voiceless, courage to the patient, and music for the soul.
“A driving narrative, finely etched, fascinating characters, urgent need to turn the page. What more can you ask of a novel?”
Now available for purchase and download from all good bookstores, The Song Cannot Be Silenced was released on the 10th of September, 2026, and formally launched at The CatStrand, New Galloway, with a reception, reading and conversation with the novelist Margaret Elphinstone, live-streamed on The CatStrand’s YouTube channel, and archived there after the event.
Advance Readers have posted reviews on GoodReads.com and new readers are ranking this novel with 4.7* on Amazon.com.
An audio sample of the audiobook is available now. You’re very welcome to listen . . .
The Song Cannot Be Silenced is available worldwide in eBook, Paperback, and AudioBook versions.
About the book
What can one do when faced with circumstances beyond one’s control, when everything seems to conspire to entrap?
When there’s no way through?
Jean, a post-traumatic survivor of the Somme, is trapped by his Québécois accent which would betray his desertion and compromise his rescuer, Marie, a refugee from the front line.
Katarin, a journalism student in London, on a Joint Study Programme from Brittany, is trapped by her writing expertise and her intractable stammer, until Jamie, a shy young man from a West End theatre crew, befriends her.
So, beyond the narrative, what is The Song Cannot Be Silenced about?
This startling debut novel is about an inexorable spiral of entrapment, owing to circumstances beyond the control of the protagonists who span the 20th century to grapple with voicelessness and a desperate sense of inevitability, while showing that bravery, and indeed joy, come in many forms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this new author?
Aldon Law, Canadian by birth and passport, has a rich back story of life in five countries: Canada (Ontario and Alberta); America (central Pennsylvania; California; Philadelphia); England (London; Home Counties; Northumberland); Switzerland (Geneva); Scotland (southwest). This experience informs the historical underpinning of the novel, the development and motivations of the novel’s principal character (also a Canadian), and contributes to the presentation of lives that are lived to the full in new, foreign cultures.
The author is well versed in many different facets of life, for example: music promotions extending to Italy, Sweden, and Brittany; biomedical research; community development; smallholding and livestock; secondary school education; enterprise including an artisan bakery and café.
Parents and grandparents, now comfortably domiciled in their last home, the author and partner relish finding joy in their lives with every new day.
How do I find out more about the story?
Follow the continuing odyssey of The Song Cannot Be Silenced in the chapter-by-chapter enhanced content (links at the top or bottom of this page, depending on your device) for detailed information about the ongoing scenes and narrative.
Sign up to the Blog described below using the SUBSCRIBE button to receive an occasional newsletter about the novel, the author, and early news of what’s planned for the future, like a link to a new chapter for a possible second volume of the continuing saga.
Blog Posts
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