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The Piano Shop On The Left Bank Paperback – 1 Jun. 2001

4.4 out of 5 stars 246

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T. E. Carhart, an American living in Paris, is intrigued by a piano repair shop hidden down a street near his apartment. When he finally gains admittance to the secretive world of the atelier, he finds himself in an enormous glass-roofed workshop filled with dozens of pianos. His love affair with this most magical of instruments and its music is reawakened.

Packed with delicate cameos of Parisians and reflections on how pianos work and their glorious history,
The Piano Shop on the Left Bank is an atmospheric and absorbing journey to an older way of life.

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From the Publisher

Vintage Brand: Read Boldly, Think Differently.

Product description

Review

Quirky and tender...beguiling -- Rose Tremain ― Sunday Telegraph

A love affair with the piano... A minor classic ―
Times Literary Supplement

Captivating...full of knowledge...suffused with Parisian sensations...he can choose words that make us feel and hear the instruments he plays...when you close it you feel you have been on holiday ―
Sunday Times

Charming...a cool, autumnal breeze of a book...written out of love ―
Guardian

From the Publisher

Atmospheric and absorbing
'Quirky and tender...Beguiling' Rose Tremain, Sunday Telegraph

‘Elegant and enjoyable…a thoughtful exploration of the twin delights of the piano and Parisian life’ Express on Sunday

T E Carhart, an American living in Paris, is intrigued by a piano repair shop hidden down a street near his apartment. When he finally gains admittance to the secretive world of the atelier, he finds himself in an enormous glass-roofed workshop filled with dozens of pianos. His love affair with this most magical of instruments and its music is reawakened. Packed with delicate cameos of Parisians and reflections on how pianos work and their glorious history, The Piano Shop on the Left Bank is an atmospheric and absorbing journey to an older way of life.

‘Captivating…full of knowledge…suffused with Parisian sensations…he can choose words that make us feel and hear the instruments he plays…when you close it you feel you have been on holiday’ Sunday Times

‘Charming…a cool, autumnal breeze of a book…written out of love’ Guardian

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage; Vintage Edition. (1 Jun. 2001)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0099288230
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0099288237
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.9 x 1.6 x 19.8 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 246

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
246 global ratings

Top reviews from United Kingdom

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 April 2021
This is a gentle, relatively slow read because the style is quite beautiful and must be savoured. The story itself is interesting and informative though the plot is a little thin, but plot is not really the point of this book. An appreciation of the good things in life and especially beautiful pianos, their building and care, and life in Paris is the point. Atmospheric and evocative. I recommend this to anyone with a soul.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 April 2018
Consider this: A piano is a harp in a box. A grand piano demonstrates this perfectly, with its long undulating curve governing the length of the strings. Long thick strings play lower notes when hit with a felt hammer, short thinner strings play higher notes which are also not so loud, and so require more than one string. Likewise, the length of its strings determines the shape of a harp.
This delightfully quirky book about pianos and piano playing has much to give the reader whether they be a player of or simply a listener to piano music. New to living in Paris and while wandering the back streets one day the author discovers a small and rather mysterious atelier selling pianos. He gains admittance but, having decided he'd like to take up the piano again, getting onto the client list proves to be more like joining an exclusive club where you must somehow find an existing customer who will consent to enrol you by recommendation - no mean feat for an ex-pat who has yet to learn the arcane rules governing French language and all the unwritten social rules. By being patient and observant, he gains the trust of the young owner Luc and the whole arcane world of buying, selling and restoring these amazing instruments opens up to him. Beyond the dusty front room that he can see through the window lies a door leading on to a huge space filled with instruments of every age and description, many in pieces and in the process of restoration, and all waiting for the right person to come along and give them a home. It's almost as if they're alive. Luc guards them protectively and will not sell unless he feels the buyer is right for the piano and vice versa. Technical stuff about the history and mechanics of pianos is shared in a very entertaining way - I was fascinated. There is a wonderful chapter on the Fazioli family who set about redesigning the piano from scratch and now make the most sought-after pianos in the world.
My favourite chapter is probably the description of two master classes given by a couple of musicians as famous for their teaching as for their playing, and for helping many of the "greats" to fulfil their potential. The first is held in his teacher's apartment. The maestro says there are many ways to play but only one way to play "naturally" i.e. without tension but with real expressive ease. He urges students to play "almost as if it were a kind of dancing at the keyboard with the upper body." Throughout the weekend a marvellous intimacy develops between the group taking part and a kind of magic unfolds. The second maestro encourages a totally holistic way of approaching the keyboard, taking into account the individual's total personality as well as the piece itself as a whole, composed of parts which never stand alone. Interestingly, as a yoga teacher, I found much in this advice that related to how I aspire to teach movement.
The book is slow, undramatic and charming, and manages to convey both information about pianos as built objects and the small miracle of how, through transmitting marks on a musical score via movements in one's body through to the physical objects of piano keys, and thence to strings within the piano's outer shell, we can bring to life both a long-dead composer's thoughts and emotions, and our own personality and feelings about life.
5 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 September 2013
"The Piano Shop on the Left Bank" a wonderful book, well written and beautifully evocative of Paris. It is amazingly descriptive of the different models of piano and their parts.

I found it an excellent gift for my friend who is a pianist of recital standard.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 September 2020
This is of interest to anyone who has ever taken piano lessons, who loves piano music, who is interested in how a piano works etc. etc. Beautifully written, full of humour, and with a flavour of Paris. I have already recommended it to friends who are enjoying it as much as I am.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 July 2013
When I started to read this book it felt like the start of a story. Whilst this is true to some degree, the book also has an educational aspect in that it covers many aspects related to the world of the piano, such as the different tone colour from various makes of pianos, how a piano is tuned and of, course, reconditioned older pianos. Beyond this it is also a personal memoir of memories associated with learning the piano - from the trauma of the end of term recital as a child, to the joy experienced of playing alone and losing oneself in the pleasure of the moment as an adult.

Carhart manages to weave all these diverse strands together in what I found to be a compelling book. I'd certainly recommend it to any amateur pianists who would like to know a little more about this wonderful instrument.
One person found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 August 2017
Very interesting if you play the piano. Well researched.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 December 2021
Lovely book… I love piano. I am a romantic I know. If you like piano, books, Paris… libraries, literature, music and an relaxing reading… This is the best book you can buy. How much I wish I could have experienced much of what happened in that book myself. Great price. Well written, addictive writing style. Engaging… mine was in kindle format and I will buy the paperback. As a present would be a beautiful surprise.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 September 2009
For any pianist this is an enormous pleasure. It tells the autobiographical tale of an American living in Paris who yearns to return to piano playing after many years abscence. He is gradually drawn to an atelier shop close to his apartment, which is mysterious, French to the extreme and full of the most wonderful instruments.
Amongst his reunion with piano playing, his purchase of an instrument and his forays into the atelier, there is much wonderful information about all things pianos. THe fascination with makes, the awe of what awaits beneath the lids, the secrets of makers and tuners, the beauty of the casings.
Guaranteed to have any latent pianist dusting down the keys and regaining the joys of pianos playing.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
curmudgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars Give this to a pianist you love
Reviewed in the United States on 3 March 2022
. . . . . or give this to anyone who loves Paris, or musical instruments in general, or just a good book which is both entertaining and informative.
Frischenschlager Oskar
5.0 out of 5 stars Alles Klavier oder was....
Reviewed in Germany on 6 July 2020
spannende Lektüre für Piano-Freaks. Der Autor landet schließlich bei Mr. Fazioli, ähnlich wie das amerikanische Pendant Perry Knize letztlich bei Grotrian-Steinweg landet. Zwei - für entsprechend klavierbesessene LeserInnen - spannende Odysseen.
Trudy Ramirez
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book
Reviewed in France on 10 April 2016
This is a quiet, thoughtful book that talks about the value of friends and belonging, the beauty of music and pianos and how they affect our way of looking at life. It's a novel that reads like a memoir. Very enjoyable.
M
5.0 out of 5 stars CHARMING
Reviewed in Canada on 23 March 2014
Charming, great for anyone who enjoys music and especially if you play or love piano music! Even if you are just starting to play you will have a new appreciation for the piano and the music that you can create.
Jenny
5.0 out of 5 stars If you love pianos and you will love this book
Reviewed in Australia on 14 November 2014
If you love pianos and you will love this book. I found the history very interesting and also the insight composers and their approach to playing.