Remarkable DEBUT
The Instrumentalist by Harriet Constable, Bloomsbury
There’s a new genre in town, inspired by untold stories of women in history. Last year, That Bligh Girl by Sue Williams shone a light on Mary Bligh, the daughter of the notorious Bounty mutiny governor, William Bligh. Earlier this year, By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult celebrated England’s first published female poet, Emilia Bassano, who’s rumoured to have written a number of Shakespeare’s plays.
Now, The Instrumentalist is rewriting classical music history to include the contribution of Anna Maria della Pietà, a Venetian orphan and the greatest violinist of the 18th century. Without Anna Maria and the girls of the Pietà orphanage orchestra we wouldn’t have the most famous classical music piece, The Four Seasons.
If you’ve never heard of Anna Maria or the Pietà orphans, you’re not alone. Writer Harriet Constable grew up in a musical family. Her mother is a pianist and the soundtrack to her childhood included Bach, Mozart and Vivaldi, credited as the composer of The Four Seasons. Even though Harriet was raised on the classics, she only came across the story of Anna Maria after picking up a book in a Californian rental apartment in 2019.
About the author
Harriet Constable understands