The Lost Pianos of Siberia by Sophy Roberts is an unusual book: part history, part travelogue, part eccentric quest. Through the history of an object, she tells the story of Russia's relationship not only with piano culture, but also Russia's neighbours: Mongolia (where her search begins), Germany (which kickstarted Russia's early piano making industry), and China (the former 'Russian' city of Harbin was flooded with Siberian musicians in the aftermath of Revolution). In this talk, Sophy will be showing unseen images, music and video from her three years of travels in Siberia and its borderlands — material that goes beyond what readers will encounter in her critically acclaimed book.
REVIEWS…
“Summer books 2020: critics' picks” — The Financial Times
“What shines through in this book is Roberts's genuine, humane affection for and fascination with the people she meets in Siberia.” — Literary Review
“An exploration of tragic echoes, harmonious transience and persistent mysteries at the edges of the world.” — The Times Literary Supplement
“A thrilling expedition.” — New Statesman
“If you only read one book this year, it needs to be this masterpiece.” — Vivien Godfrey, CEO of Stanfords bookshop
“Sophy Roberts writes so beautifully, even her author’s note — describing her train journey from Moscow to the Urals — hooks you in from the start.” — The Times, London
“A masterful example of modern historical travel writing.” — The Independent
“Beautifully constructed, clear-eyed and generous-spirited.” — William Atkins, author of The Immeasurable World
“Unique... unusual ... a cultural history explored like few others.” — FT How To Spend It
‘This is an amazing journey, the ultimate quest for the oddest objects - pianos - in the most unlikely place - Siberia. But Sophy Roberts makes it much more than that, an elegant and nuanced journey through literature, through history, through music, murder and incarceration and revolution, through snow and ice and remoteness, to discover the human face of Siberia. I loved this book.’ - Paul Theroux
‘An extraordinary, cadenced journey into music, exile and landscape.’ - Edmund de Waal
‘A sparkling debut by an outstanding and gifted author. A brilliant guide to Russia of the past and the present, set around an extraordinary search for the heart, soul and lost keyboards of centuries gone by.’ - Peter Frankopan
‘A masterpiece of modern travel literature with words that sing from its pages. A definitive exploration of Russia’s wild east.’ - Levison Wood
Sophy Roberts is a writer based in West Dorset, England. She focuses on remote parts of the world where she can report on wildlife conservation, threats to eco-systems and fragile cultures. Sometimes she shoots stories as well as writes them and she frequently collaborates with major photographers.
Sophy has worked as editor-at-large for Condé Nast Traveller (UK), Departures (US), special correspondent for Condé Nast Traveler (US), travel editor for The Economist 1843, and as a columnist for FT How To Spend It. She continues to write regularly for FT Weekend.
The Lost Pianos of Siberia is her first book, published by Doubleday in the UK (February 2020), and Grove Press in the US (August 2020).
Sophy Roberts on Instagram
Photo credit: © Michael Turek