In Italian language "Bel Canto" means "beautiful singing." There are various other similar constructions in Italian.Bel Canto happens to be an Italian opera term. There are several different meanings and it can be interpreted differently according to the situations it has been used in.The novel "Bel Canto" by Ann Patchett, an American author, was first published in 2001.It was published by Perennial, an imprint of Harper Collins publications."Bel Canto" was a highly successful and widely acclaimed novel. It was the recipient of both the Orange Prize for fiction and PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction.The novel made to various top book lists. It proved to be a bestseller right after its publication.The story is based on the Lima Crisis. It tells the story of a group of terrorists who hold high executives and people of high political standing hostage.The story describes how the terrorists and their captives cope with living in a house together for many months.A Quick Guide to "Bel Canto"CopyrightChapter One: Introduction to "Bel Canto"Chapter Two: CharactersChapter Three: Plot SummaryChapter Four: Complete Summary of the NovelChapter Five: Thematic Analysis