Helena Attlee and Sophy Roberts have both written "biographies" of musical instruments. Sophy Roberts’s book, The Lost Pianos of Siberia, sees her track down these instruments in remote landscapes all across Russia, tracing the unique importance of pianos to Tsarist and USSR history, and the poignant stories of the individuals who used them. Helena Attlee’s book, Lev’s Violin, follows the story of one particular violin across Italy and beyond, describing the wider history of European luthiers, and exploring how we ascribe monetary value to these emotionally charged objects. They talk to Kate Kennedy (herself a cellist) about what it means to write the story of an instrument.

Donate to restore Lev’s Violin: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/save-levs-violin

Find out more about:

Sophy Roberts:

• Book: The Lost Pianos of Siberia (2020)


• Website: https://www.sophyroberts.com/


• Instagram: @sophy.roberts

Helena Attlee:

• Book: Lev’s Violin: an Italian Adventure (2021)


• Website: www.helena-attlee.com


• Twitter: @HelenaAttlee

The Oxford Centre for Life-Writing:

• Website: https://oclw.web.ox.ac.uk/


• Twitter: @OxLifeWriting

If you'd like to be more involved, access exclusive events and attend our online book club, then join our Friends Scheme. We also offer writing groups and mentoring to those working on their own writing projects.

The Oxford Centre for Life-Writing is based at Wolfson College, University of Oxford.

Artwork by Una. Edited by Charles Pidgeon.