The Instrumentalist
books by Harriet Constable
Venice. 1704. In this city of glittering splendour, desperation and destitution are never far away. At the Ospedale della Pietà, abandoned orphan girls are posted every through a tiny gap in the wall every day.Eight-year-old Anna Maria is just one of the three hundred girls growing up within the Pietà's walls – but she already knows she is different. Obsessive and gifted, she is on a mission to become Venice’s greatest violinist and composer, and in her remarkable world of colour and sound, it seems like nothing with stop her.But the odds are stacked against an orphan girl – so when the maestro selects her as his star pupil, Anna Maria knows she must do everything in power to please this difficult, brilliant man. But as Anna Maria’s star rises, threatening to eclipse that of her mentor, the dream she has so single-mindedly pursued is thrown into peril…From the jewelled palaces of Venice to its mud-licked canals, this is a story of one woman’s irrepressible ambition and rise to the top, of loss and triumph, and of who we choose to remember and leave behind on the path to success. Readers frequently mention how approachable the writing style feels, even when addressing serious or complex topics. The author avoids unnecessary jargon and instead focuses on clear, purposeful language. This makes the book suitable for readers from diverse backgrounds, regardless of their familiarity with the subject matter explored in the story. Another notable aspect of this book is its consistency in tone and style. From the opening chapters to the final pages, the narrative maintains a steady voice that helps establish trust with the reader. This consistency contributes to a cohesive and satisfying reading experience.