The story of Anna Maria, an orphan in 18th century Venice. But no ordinary orphan and no ordinary orphanage. This orphanage is the home of a renowned orchestra and Anna Maria is a highly skilled violinist. She is accepted to attend private lessons from the music teacher and her ambitions to become a maestro has a profound effect on her and her relationships with her friends.
She is not a pleasant character, allowing no one or nothing to stand in the way of her ambitions. I did not realise until the end that it is based on a real person and horrid music teacher that stole all her compositions was in reality Vivaldi. I’m not sure how true to reality this book is but it does tell a good story. A worthwhile read.

Thanks to NetGalley.co.uk and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.

After reading a lot of SFF this year I wanted a change of pace, and an historical fiction novel about one of Vivaldi's protégés and her rise to become a maestra di violino. Anna Maria della Pietà has fascinated me for a long time, largely because we know so little about her life and her works, so the premise of *The Instrumentalist* attracted me immediately.

Here's the blurb:

>A dazzling historical debut set in eighteenth-century Venice, about the woman written out of the story of one of history's greatest musical masterpieces

> 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.

Initially I really enjoyed this. The writing is strong and Venice is painted in vibrant brush strokes that really bring the setting to life. Anna Maria's childhood at the orphanage and her discovery of the violin were compelling and her burgeoning relationship with Vivaldi (who is never actually named in the novel after an Introductory note explaining who her tutor is) gripped me.

Unfortunately my initial love for the book was short-lived. Because this was a review copy I felt more of an obligation to continue reading to the end than I normally would, but had that not been the case I think I would have DNFd at around the halfway mark. There were a few things that irritated me early on that I was happy to ignore, but as the book progressed I found them more and more bothersome. Despite the blurb stating that "the odds are stacked against" Anna Maria, there's never really any sense that she struggles to achieve anything. The story is a fairly linear sequence of events in which Anna Maria wants something, gets it, is abrasive and horrible to the people around her, and is then forgiven because she's brilliant. This formula repeats fairly regularly, and the lack of any real dramatic tension makes it hard to want to keep turning the page.

One of the main challenges in writing historical fiction is balancing the history - the things we know to be true - with the fiction in order to craft a compelling narrative. That's especially difficult with a figure like Anna Maria della Pietà, about whom very little is known. In the author's note Constable acknowledges that she has moved some events around "for dramatic purposes", but I found that the manner in which this was done actually took away from what the book was trying to acheive.

There are a couple of instances in particular where I find the shuffling around of events and characters to stray away from artistic license and into the realm of historical revisionism. The first is in the character of Chiara. In real life Chiara della Pietà was a student of Anna Maria's born nearly 20 years after the maestra and taught by her. In the novel she becomes a peer and a rival, someone who Anna Maria contends with for a place in the orchestra and who later betrays Anna Maria's trust to Vivaldi. Given that the novel is explicitly concerned with the way women are erased from history, this felt like a betrayal of an historical figure who should be remembered alongside Anna Maria as a virtuoso in her own right, rather than rewritten as a villain.

This criticism also extends to the treatment of Vivaldi in the novel and, in particular, the way in which Anna Maria's contributions to his music are portrayed. It's almost certainly a fact that the women of the Ospedale della Pietà worked closely with Vivaldi and helped write his music, often without any credit, but Constable takes this a step further, giving full credit to Anna Maria for both *La stravaganze* and the *Four Seasons*. *La stravaganza* was written in 1712, when Anna Maria was around 16 years old. The provenance of Vivaldi's Four Seasons is not entirely clear but it's likely that they were composed during a period when Vivaldi was the court chapel master in Mantua in around 1718-1720, not when he was in Venice in roughly 1711 (which is when this section of the novel takes place).

It's this painting of Anna Maria as the driving force behind all of Vivaldi's success and fame that feels a little disingenuous. The novel is very much exploring the fact that women's lives and accomplishments are very often minimised, and Anna Maria della Pietà is a great example of this given that her works are not readily accessible in the present day. It's not outside the realms of possibility that she did co-write with Vivaldi and it's a matter of fact that Vivaldi wrote many of his works for the women of the Pietà to perform, and I suspect license has been taken to extend that to *La Stravaganze* and the *Four Seasons* purely because they're the most well-known of Vivaldi's works for most people, but personally I felt like the desire to insert Anna Maria into all of Vivaldi's work lessened the point. By the time the Four Seasons were published Anna Maria had already been dubbed "Maestra" (at the age of 24, rather than 17 as she is in the novel). For the narrative to want to so directly link her to Vivaldi's greatest work at the expense of highlighting own accomplishments seems to actually be diminishing her rather than achieving the author's aim.

This desire to paint Vivaldi out of his own life comes to a head in the final third of the book, which is less about celebrating the brilliance of Anna Maria and the other women of the orphanage that it is about demonising and tearing down the character of Vivaldi. He's painted as almost abusive, stealing Anna Maria's life's work and burning her compositions in front of a class of younger students. Perhaps the attempt here is to invert the idea of women being written out of history, to make us feel uncomfortable about the treatment of Vivaldi here in the hope that it will cause us to reflect on the way women are treated in historical records, but if that's the case I don't think it succeeds particularly well. Rather than providing an opportunity for reflection it instead feels mean-spirited, and it lends a sour note to what should be a celebration of the brilliance of Anna Maria.

The author's note opens with the statement that *The Instrumentalist* is "a work of fiction inspired by true events from the life of Anna Maria della Pietà". I think that I would have enjoyed this more had it not been marketed as historical fiction. If the real names had been stripped out and this was purely a work of fantasy then the muddling up of historical details and the anachronistic characterisation, with every character reading like they've stepped straight out of the 21st century, wouldn't be issues. There would still have been the problem of Anna Maria always seeming to get what she wants without issue, but I think I would have been more forgiving of that had I not expected that I was reading about the life of a real person who succeeded against very real odds.

With all this criticism it probably seems like I hated this book, which isn't the case. I liked it a lot more at the beginning than I did at the end, and the thought definitely crossed my mind about halfway through that perhaps I didn't want to finish it, but on reflection I enjoyed it more than I didn't. I wouldn't be in a rush to re-read it, and if the author continues to write in historical genres then I'm not sure I would continue to read her work since I like my historical fiction to be more grounded in the actual history, but if her next book were instead a work of pure fiction I would definitely pick it up.

DNF at 30%. I am sorry but Anna Maria is incongruous with the historical period and place. Under no circumstances, and orphan at that time and place would act and react as Anne Maria is doing in The Instrumentalist. She very much seems a 21st century girl transmuted to 18th century Venice. Nah....

I would love to read something similar, written by someone who wants to is able to do it justice rather than trying so hard to write a feminist story, no matter when and where it is set!

This was breathtakingly beautiful. The imagery was stunning and the main plot line was incredibly moving and intriguing. I don't often read historical fiction, but when I do, I want it just like this!

I loved almost everything about this book. The storyline was different and well imagined, although based on a true life event. I felt like I was inside both the orchestra nd it's music. I liked how the orphahs had characters which did not first and foremost engender pity but made the reader really see their live experience. Anna Maria was not without her flaws, she was a terrible friend in many ways. She placed herself and her music above all but at the same time I could not help liking her and wanting her to succeed. There was a time or two when I wanted things to move more quickly but generally I was enjoying the unwinding of events.

This is a really well constructed debut and I would definitely look for more from the author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read the ARC of this book! I'd seen this book advertised, and was really excited to read it!

The Instrumentalist is an extraordinary book about Anna Maria della Pietà, a violinist, who was an orphan at the Ospedale della Pietà.

This was the first historical fiction I'd read, and it did not disappoint. I loved that the author chose to keep it as accurate as possible despite the lack of information known about her. I found the book as a whole incredibly interesting, and I really enjoyed it. While it took me a while to get through, it was not boring. I found sympathy for most of the characters, but I also appreciated it showed their faults too. It pulls the strings of your emotions throughout.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, or is interested in violins/ classical music. It is a powerful book.

A lovely historical novel with a great main character and an interesting story. Her mentor is a little problematic for me but his traits were not unusual for men at that time. Impressive for a debut, with lots of colourful prose and the musical references were a joy.

I loved the premise of this book and I wasn't disappointed. I loved delving into the past for a snapshot of life during this era. Very enjoyable

I enjoyed this very much. I loved the descriptions of life in the orphanage and the special friendships formed by the girls. I thought Anna Maria's ambition was well portrayed and provided a lot of drama. Also her vulnerable situation added to the tension and the fact that this was based on real people made it all the more interesting.

Not my usual book to acquire but this one was too beautiful too pass up. I so look forward to sharing my full thoughts and review very soon. I apoloyIk going through some unexpected secret health issues at the moment, but slowly catching up on reviews. Books are truly the best medicine to get lost in so I think this will make a very good choice for my next read. I could see this not only being a great book club selection, but a beautiful movie as well

The Instrumentalist takes place in Venice, 1704. As a baby Anna Maria was left outside the Ospedale della Pietà and when she is eight Vivaldi comes to teach the violin. Anna Maria knows she is gifted and wants to be a star. She becomes Vivaldi’s star pupil but she threatens to overthrow the maestro.

This was enjoyable to an extent. To be honest I needed more character work because the majority of this was focused on the violin which is to be expected considering the book. This just didn’t hold my interest and I’m giving it 3 stars.

I’ve had it eye on this novel for a while. The premise sounded great and I love when authors take real life people and fictionalise their journeys. This was an easy read and the writing was enjoyable. I did a bit of a lag in the middle and it maybe didn’t quite live up to my expectations but I still enjoyed it and would recommend.

The Instrumentalist could potentially be a great novel inspired, as it is, by an actual historical figure: Antonio Vivaldi's student and muse, Anna Maria della Pietà (1696 – 1782). Unfortunately, Harriet Constable is so focused on creating imagery and atmosphere, using all the senses, that the story she is trying to tell loses out. The author appears to have done little more research on her protagonist than a quick glance at the brief online Wikipedia entry about her. Although this is a work of historical fiction, some readers would surely like to glean more in-depth information about the real Anna Maria than Constable offers. It's a shame, since with a little more effort on the author's part in terms of factual research and less preoccupation with draining every last drop of atmosphere out of her descriptions, The Instrumentalist could have been an enjoyable read.

Many thanks to the publishers and to Netgalley for the ARC.

I think the concept and historical setting is very unique and many readers will enjoy this story of an orphan's journey to musical success that charts Anna Maria's life from a baby to first picking up the violin to eventual success. She is portrayed as ruthlessly dedicated to her violin and often seen losing the ones around her due to her ambitions. The historical context of Venice and the what life was like for orphans is written in detail and is emphasised through Anna Maria's friends like Paulina. The author attempts to portray the sexism towards women, especially in the music industry through Anna Maria and her determination to break down barrier that obviously many girls or women in the same position weren't able to. Considering this is based on a real historical figure, I didn't feel that they were well presented or their story communicated in a way that celebrated an individual that really made great strides in a male dominated period of time.

That being said, I really struggled with the writing style that was often jarring and disjointed that made reading difficult. The characters aren't written in a way that I could connect with early on and I found Anna Maria unlikeable, which I think is the point. This book would definitely appeal to fans of musical history that captures the context and realities of life at the time.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

I’ve really started to enjoy reading historical fiction, and this was no exception. The writing was vivid, the story was well paced, and I really enjoyed the modern take on it. It’s important to mention that this book is inspired by a real person, but is NOT a biography, so it’s important to realise that not everything mentioned in this book will be “factually” accurate.

Overall, great book, great storytelling, and I enjoyed it!

This book was magnificent! The raw passion that burns on every page! Absolutely enthralling.

This is a historical novel that tells us of Anna-Maria, a ridiculously talented and driven musician who discovers the violin at the age of eight and realises what she wants in life is to be the greatest violinist of her time. However she lives in a time where women have few rights and their successes are to be owned and paraded by men. She is frequently reminded how lucky she is to be in such a nice orphanage. A hypocrisy when, if it wasn’t for societal prejudice, she wouldn’t have been in an orphanage to begin with.

Anna-Maria has a mentor she adores, but who we learn is capricious and often toxic. She is driven to work harder, often at the cost of her own personal relationships. But suffers from the vanity of her mentor and the sexism of the time. This is her story of how, despite the odds being stacked against her, she is determined to succeed.

I thoroughly enjoyed this, it was beautifully written, completely engrossing and so thought-provoking. Definitely read the author’s notes at the end for historical context!

I really enjoyed this book which imagines the story of Anna Maria della Pieta. Left at an orphanage as a baby, she has the chance to embrace music and becomes a force to be reckoned with in her own right. Her teacher, Vivaldi, leads the orchestra of extremely talented orphans to perform to the rich and famous of Venice. However, as a girl she can’t have the recognition she deserves.

Whilst based on fact, the story fills in the gaps that nobody knows. Was Vivaldi the person he is made out to be? Could orphaned girls possibly have the power suggested? Whether or not the details are true I thoroughly enjoyed the story. Playing Vivaldi while reading enhances the experience even more.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy.

I was quite dubious about this as it’s not my go to genre. However, I was enthralled!! Absolutely captivating writing. This is historical fiction that grabs you and keeps you reading until the very last page

This is the best book I have read recently. It tells the little known story of a virtuoso violinist, Anna Marie de la Pieta who was an orphan, yet became a hugely famous violinist. The book details her struggles to get to that position, sometimes selfish, always determined and hugely talented. The lovely aspect of the book was the use of prose to describe playing music, making it sound lyrical and describing it in terms of colour emanating from the violin. This made Anna Marie sound an inspirational and instinctive player setting her above her peers. There is a strong voice for women’s rights and how despite their talent, their influence was quite unjustly sidelined. All in all, a lovely read.

The Instrumentalist tells the story of Anna Maria della Pieta, a young musician who is tutored by Antonio Vivaldi. From the first few pages, Harriet Constable's writing style is captivating, with elegant descriptions of both the city of Venice, and the music that Anna composes throughout the story. The way she writes about Anna's synaesthesia and what she sees as she hears and plays her compositions was particularly striking, and made it easy to imagine such vivid images. The plot itself was gripping, and I never wanted to put the book down.

Despite Anna's often unlikeable character, Harriet Constable really made me understand her and feel for her. I didn't have much historical knowledge about this period of time in Venice before reading, but the book really piqued my interest and I spent some time researching it myself after reading. It was clear that the author did a lot of research while writing, and she was able to paint a detailed picture of what life was like for women in Venice, both inside and outside the Pieta. Some of the characters' attitudes were perhaps more progressive than they were likely to be in real life at the time, but if you can suspend your disbelief, you'll be swept up into the story. Overall a strong debut, and I'll be looking out for more books from Harriet Constable!

Four stars as it would have been interesting to see more of Anna Maria's adult life (although I do see the appeal of leaving this open-ended) and the lives of other girls in the Pieta who were perhaps not as fortunate as Anna Maria.

Thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for the ARC! This review will be shared on my goodreads profile and Instagram page closer to the publication date.