Lev's Violin: An Italian Adventure

Helena Attlee is a talented writer who take her readers on a beautiful journey of music-making. Rich with historical anecdotes, I have found even a deeper appreciation this amazing instrument. I was also very impressed with her other book, "The Land Where Lemons Grow." Either book (or both books) is great reading, especially if one is going to Italy !

The life and times of an instrument whose sound seduced author Helena Attlee. It's not that she's a musician herself, just a curious enthusiast who throws her own skills as a writer into discovering why this particular violin is so damn good. The wood, the design, the construction, the maker's talent (and who was that anyway?) are all exhaustively explored as Attlee educates herself in the techniques and raw materials involved. Did it emerge from that most hallowed of violin birthplaces, Cremona in Northern Italy? And were any of the greatest violin-making names involved: Amati, Stradivari, Guarneri, for example? Attlee consults today's top luthiers and takes us everywhere, including Russia and the rest of Europe, as she covers the centuries from the 16th to the 21st. How were the great instruments first made, and how are things done now? Most important of all, is Lev's fiddle worthy of Attlee's enthusiasm? The investigation is fascinating, and the incidental touristy colour is just as engaging because it humanises the entire venture. Nor will you be excluded from the search if you aren't a life-long musician. After all, it was on day one and quite by chance, that Attlee first heard Lev's instrument as a casual audience member at a gig. Never had she heard anything like it, and that's all it took. The subsequent journey should angage us all. It's as entertaining as it is exhaustive.

When I originally glanced at the description of this book I missed the fact that it was fact not fiction, I am a voracious reader of novels but find it hard to maintain my interest with non-fiction. Having received an advance reading copy for review though, I had to give it a go; the story starts with the author hearing a violinist play and being incredibly moved by the 'voice' of the violin, happening to speak to him after the event and being allowed to see and hold the violin, which did not in itself hold any particular beauty and bore no craftsman's signature, she still felt compelled to investigate the history of handmade violins and the great names and traditions surrounding this incredibly complicated skill. The Italian journey starts in Cremona where she learns about Amati, Stradivari et al and is shown workshops where violins are still crafted today. Most of the book covers the history of violin making in general and Italian violins in particular but towards the end of the book does make an effort to find the origin of the titular violin. She encounters the violinist 2 or 3 times and he points her to the man who lent and then sold him the violin - Lev, the journey then takes her to Russia where the violin was purchased. There is speculation but no definitive answer until she enlists a dendochrenologist to age the violin from the markings of the wood - I won't give any more away! Although not my preferred genre, I did find the book enjoyable and informative and for those who are interested in music or history or both, with a good helping of travel bio added in, then this is an excellent read.

I have heard other rare violins in concert, so can only imagine how Helena became transfixed! A beautiful journey that speaks to the power of physical objects in our digital times.

I loved Helena Attlee since I first read The Land Where Lemons Grow. Lev's Violin is an incredible journey around Italy and beyond. So much detail, information, and history. It never crossed my mind to learn about violins but Helena writes so beautifully and so diligently, I'd read anything she writes about. If you love historical facts and beautiful storytelling, give it a go. The story of Lev's violin is one that needed to be told and Helena had to be the one to tell it.