But there was another reason for including Mozart. With autism now more widely understood, we have become aware of some historical figures whose legacies suggest they might have been on the autistic spectrum before diagnosis was possible. In the musical world, Mozart is thought by some to have displayed signs of autism.

Both he and his older sister, nicknamed Nannerl, showed impressive musical aptitude from a particularly young age. Born on the 27^th of January 1756, he was only four years old when his parents noticed his ability – not only to learn music quickly but to memorise it too. He started composing at the age of six, writing his first symphony aged eight in a house in Ebury Street while visiting London in 1764. Although he died on the 5^th of December 1791 just before his 36th birthday, Mozart left an incredible canon of music, from symphonies to concertos to operas to chamber music, choral pieces and more. He wrote over 600 works in his short lifetime, making him one of the most prolific composers of his time.

It is conceivable Mozart’s traits are a valid indication of autism. For example, though apparently easily distracted and bored by some tasks, he applied intense concentration when he was inspired, composing significant pieces of music in just a matter of hours. The overture to Don Giovanni is said to have been composed in only three hours the night before the opera’s premiere and performed to thunderous applause the next day.

Further behaviours suggesting Mozart could have been autistic are his highly sensitive hearing – loud sounds could apparently make him physically ill – and he was also said to struggle with impulse control and to use repetitive body motions and facial expressions, as well as word repetition (a pattern some say is noticeable in his music too).

Today, such talents and behaviours might well indicate a person with autistic tendencies. In Mozart’s case we’ll never know for sure. But with classical music providing such an important source of expression and calm for so many people on the spectrum, he is nonetheless a shining example of inspiration. For that reason, I chose to make him a character in this story, and I did so with great pleasure.

A last point. I’ve so far written and published six novels for adult readers between 2013 and 2021 – the first three forming a historical trilogy. This current divergence into writing for children has given me particular pleasure because it’s an opportunity to try to understand better a child’s mind, to get a glimpse of their view of this utterly unpredictable world and particularly how they perceive us adults.