I absolutely love historical fiction novels with strong FMCs, and Anna Maria della Pietà fit the bill and then some! Growing up in an orphanage, Anna Maria’s greatest ambition is to become the best violinist of her time. She is confident in her skills and determined to succeed no matter the cost or time it takes to achieve her goal.

While it was very obvious that the author put in A LOT of work researching 18th century Venice, I feel that the treatment of & opportunities available to women—especially impoverished orphaned girls—wasn’t accurately depicted. Anna Maria’s actions made it feel as though she was a defiant girl from the 21st century who had been transplanted back in time. I recognize that this is a work of fiction, but sometimes it strayed so far away from historical accuracy that it became distracting for me.

All of that said, those incongruities didn’t deter me in the slightest from enjoying this book! I was absolutely lost in the music descriptions, feeling like I was truly there experiencing it myself. It even had me wanting to dust off my violin again! I strongly recommend this novel to all of my historical fiction fans AND music fans.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the gifted ARC!

The Instrumentalist is based on someone I had never heard of but whose life I now know was fascinating and rough. Things I enjoyed included-
The setting-c'mon, Venice.
The daily life of a poor prostitute and of an orphan on the streets of Venice.
Learning about a protege and a world I never knew.

What I didn't so much like-
I dislike historical fiction that tries to modernize the characters. There's just no need for it.

“Great musicians do not simply play, they transform.”

I have been to Venice twice and it is one of the most magical and stunningly beautiful cities in the world. So to imagine an eight-year-old child prodigy violinist in the 1700’s playing from her heart as she sees the music in color in a city surrounded by water is heavenly.

“People think greatness simply happens to you. It does not. You have to work at it: you have to work so very hard for it.”

One of my coworkers is a musician and has actually written a song called synesthesia, so I immediately knew what was happening with Anna Maria della Pieta when she started describing the world through color. Absolutely fascinating and what a supremely talented and driven woman! This book just gripped me.

And to think this is based on a real person? Wow. Just…wow. “She would never be alone if she was remembered.” You are correct, sweetheart.

Thank you to Netgalley, Simon Books, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

🎻 Title: The Instrumentalist
Author: Harriet Constable 🎻

✨️ Synopsis:

The Instrumentalist is a fictional story woven from true events, set against the vibrant yet oppressive backdrop of 1700s Venice. Through the lens of Anna Maria, an orphan raised at the Ospedale della Pietà, the novel explores the erasure of women's contributions in history and the harsh realities of survival in a patriarchal society.

Anna Maria, abandoned as a baby, finds a semblance of safety and education within the walls of the Pietà. But as she matures, she becomes acutely aware of the disparities that could easily make her disappear if she doesn’t prove herself indispensable. Under the guidance of her maestro, she sees a path to securing her future, though it may come at a steep personal cost. ✨️

👀 My Opinion:

This novel is fast-paced—I devoured it in a single day. Anna Maria's character is fiercely ambitious, even arrogant at times, but in a world where women are both dispensable and invisible, her drive is understandable, if not entirely sympathetic. However, I found myself longing for a more immersive depiction of Venice during this period. The modern tone of the writing, while accessible, sometimes detracts from the historical atmosphere that could have enriched the story further. 👀

Content Warnings: child abandonment, descriptions of body injuries, subtle hints of grooming.

In 18th-century Venice, female babies of prostitutes are commonly drowned in the canals, but a lucky few are placed through a box in the wall of the Ospedale della Pietà. Inside, the girls are given music lessons from a young age, and those who excel can escape the fate of being married off to anyone who will have them. Anna Maria is determined not only to be spared by her music but to be the best violinist ever. Anna Maria della Pietà will be remembered, and she believes her teacher, Antonio Vivaldi, will help her make it happen. She will do whatever it takes to be the best, even if that means losing the only people she has ever loved and even herself.

History may have mostly forgotten Anna Maria della Pietà, but in her debut novel, The Instrumentalist, Harriet Constable ensures she will never be forgotten again. Written in prose as beautiful as the music she describes, Constable brings alive the Republic of Venice in the 18th century. Readers who enjoy complex characters and getting a look behind the curtain will love Harriet Constable’s debut novel. Beautiful, tense, and emotionally complex, The Instrumentalist is impossible to put down.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Anna Maria della Pieta was a gifted student of Antonio Vivaldi in the 18th century. When we meet her, she is a precocious child who wants to be successful despite her meager circumstances, living in an orphanage, the daughter of a s*x worker. She has always been drawn to music and finds her muse when she picks up a violin. Vivaldi teaches music at her orphanage and Anna Maria, under his tutelage, blossoms into a young prodigy. I really enjoyed the setting and Anna Maria's journey. She is such a well-developed character. Her only desire is to be a famous violinist and composter, but there are so many external limitations put on her. It also causes her to sacrifice personal relationships.

The music and setting are so masterfully depicted! Anna Maria has synesthesia, which in her case, means that when she hears, plays, or reads music the notes burst into beautiful color and shapes. That aspect of the novel was quite fascinating. It was a little hard to connect with Anna Maria at times. She's such a devoted musician and has sacrificed so much, but it's never clear the heights she can actually reach because of sexism of her time. She can only rise so high while playing the game and working under Vivaldi's tutelage.

I read and listened to this book. The audiobook is masterfully narrated by Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen!). Clarke has such a beautiful voice and wonderful intonation and really brought the text to life. I had a wonderful time going on this journey in 18th century Venice.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

The Instrumentalist brings to life the story of Anna Maria della Pieta a violin prodigy who is mentored by Vivaldi and becomes perhaps the greatest violinist of the 18th Century.
Sound like a fairy tale? Hardly...Anna Maria is an orphan, abandoned as an infant by a mother (possibly involved as a sex trade victim) who had no means of carrying for her baby. At age 8, Anna Maria is drawn to the sound of a violin. Her natural gift of being able to convert sounds and music to colors. Her life goal becomes one of first becoming the youngest member of the renown Figlie de coro as well as a composer to make her name remembered.
This is a fascinating read of talent, betrayal, and determination, as well as navigating the water of a sexist Venice during 18th century. Follow Anna Maria's rise to achieve her goals...will she endure?
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the eARC.

The Instrumentalist is a mesmerizing journey into the heart of 18th-century Venice, a city alive with music, mystery, and lots of forgotten stories. The novel centers on the untold narrative of the orphaned girls of the Ospedale della Pietà, particularly focusing on Anna Maria, who rose from being an abandoned baby to become the revered Maestra de Coro under the tutelage of the legendary Antonio Vivaldi.

For me,the main strength of this novel lies in Constable’s evocative writing, which brings the Venice of that era vividly to life. You will feel transported to the narrow, winding passageways of the city, enveloped in the misty nights that hold both secrecy and ominous beauty. Her attention to detail immerses you in the world of the Ospedale, where music becomes both a refuge and a means of expression for the orphaned girls.

Constable’s ability to resurrect these forgotten figures, is truly commendable. It’s a story that not only entertains but also sheds light on the hidden history of the “figlie di coro”, whose legacy deserves to be remembered and celebrated.

For readers who enjoy historical fiction that unearths and honors forgotten lives, this novel is a must-read. It’s a beautifully crafted novel that resonates with admiration for those who paved the way in a world that often failed to recognize their valuable contributivons.

I found the story and the historical background/setting appealing but the writing style wasn’t doing much. I found the writing to be disorganized and slightly jarring. This book could be enjoyable for people who like historical fiction

The Instrumentalist is a beautiful and powerful coming-of-age story with a realistic, empathetic and flawed main character, Anna Maria.
This book is divided in 4 parts: the first two being focused on two different ages of the protagonist and all the learning she has to go through in order to stand out among the other young girls who play different instruments; and the last 2 parts are more focused when Anna Maria is 17 years old and has already made a name for herself, despite the dirty secrets someone close to her was trying to keep hidden from her. Also in the last part, Anna is destined to finding out who her mother really was.
I thought the writing was stunning and comfortable to follow, and all characters were well-developed enough.
Personally, I didn't love the ending. I thought the last 2 chapters felt a little rushed. But I believe this is the kind of book in which the journey matters more than the destiny itself.
I'd recommend this novel to any readers who enjoy reading historical fiction with a coming-of-age character-driven story and to those who also enjoy music.

It was fine. The main character is insufferable at times, and I was trying to remember if I could be this cunning and cold at 8 years old. I am not a professional musician, and I wonder if those who play violin would enjoy the book or find it annoying.

My main gripes with the book are the general language used and the too-modern dialogue.

Constable talks about the research she did for the novel - why not incorporate more of it?

Could "traveler" or "foreigner" can be used instead of the "tourist?" (Since the word "tourist" was first used in the 1770s)

Why use "velvet blazer," a term from 1820s Cambridge, instead of "justaucorps" or "frock coat?"

I understand the difficulty of dealing with early 1700s Venetian Italian and English and combining all that with modern language, but feel that more of an effort could be made. Include more of the Italian words that were used then? (We have figlie di coro and Pietà, why not use more words that could transform the readers to that time and space?)

Similarly, why not use a sentence structure that resembles that period's way of speaking?

The author's choice is hers, of course. But as a result, the characters seem out of time and Venice in the book can be the Venice of today - maybe with a little less stench.

The plot is based on the real story of Anna Maria, who lived and worked at the Pieta at the same time as Vivaldi was teaching there. Yet, Constable changes what little is known about Anna Maria's life to "fit the dramatic narrative." So, in the book about women not being remembered by history, you literally change the main things we do know about her while adding personality traits that don't make her exceptionally likable?

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster, for providing an early reader's copy in exchange for my honest review. The book is out on August 20.

I received an advance reading copy (arc) of this book from NetGalley.com in return for a fair review. Author Harriet Constable did a fine job bringing to life Venice during the 1700s. It was a time of little opportunity for women when Anna Maria is abandoned as a baby and left with the nuns who ran the Ospedale della Pieta, an orphanage. From the beginning, Anna Maria knows she is different and she takes to the violin to prove it. She comes under the tutelage of 'the maestro' and when she eventually becomes more proficient and a better composer than he is, she puts her dreams and career in jeopardy. From the muddy canals to the palaces and mansion of Venice, Anna Maria climbs to success, but remains at the orphanage. Her story is based on the life of the real Anna Maria della Pieta who studied under Vivaldi and became one of Europe's most famed violinists, composers, and teachers. She, too, remained at the orphanage her entire life despite mingling with the upper crust as well as royalty. The author told a splendid story that was colorful and interesting. The unique setting and one-of-kind main character made for a very pleasant read. I highly recommend it.

For fans of historical fiction about real people and places, women’s literature, and literary fiction. Think Amadeus, but deeply feminist.

The Instrumentalist tells the story of an orphan girl born with synesthesia and innate musical talent, who feels entitled to become the best in her field, and eventually does so through a series of fortunate circumstances.

Anna doesn’t show any really character development until about the 85% mark, I would encourage readers who find her unlikeable to stick with the story through the end. I would have preferred to see the sections about her childhood given less attention so we could spend more time with adult Anna Maria. However, I did appreciate learning of the Pietà and Vivaldi’s tenure there, which I was unfamiliar with prior to reading this novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with an advanced review copy of this novel.

I was so excited when I got a copy of this book. I’m obsessed. Venice is my favorite city so I was excited to pick this up. I will say that Anna Maria was far too feminist in thinking for a girl of her time, but regardless this was a fun and intriguing historical fiction to read for entertainment!

Anna Maria della Pieta was a real person, born in Venice in 1696 to a sex worker. Pieta was an actual orphanage that became known for its musical programs and advancement of women in music. All the orphans were given the last name of della Pieta. She had two friends that were everything to her until she realized that music allowed her to escape the orphanage, its substandard food and the hard work that went along with being an orphan. Music took her away--she was able to see colors and beauty in the sound. Many of the orphans played instruments. Once Anna Maria made her way to the violin she realized that the playing, the music, the composing, and the dream of becoming a maestro became the most important things to her. The novel describes her rise to fame but also her losses and growth along the way. This is a story not so much of ambition, but rather a story of a girl who fights to keep that which is most important in her world. Very well written, kudos to the author. This book certainly held my interest over the 24 hour period in which I read it. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon Schuster for the honor of reading a complimentary digital ARC. This review is entirely my own opinion.

The Instrumentalist is a refreshing, vividly written historical fiction (not dealing with WW2!) set in 18th century Venice. It is loosely based on Anna Maria Della Peita, a violin prodigy of the famous composer Vivaldi. I loved learning about Venice during this time period, including the vibrant musical culture and the orphanages where the orphans were trained in many musical instruments. I loved Anna’s character and appreciated how the author chose to tell her story. While some reviewers did not think her portrayal was representative of that time period, I do think Anna’s character is very believable - a determined confident woman who realizes her contributions to society will never be truly known or appreciated simply because she was born a female. I especially loved the author’s note at the end and had fun researching the real Anna Maria after reading the book.

Thank you to Bloomsbury for an advanced reader’s copy.

This book had me struggling to stay engaged. Nothing was terribly memorable, so each time I picked it up, I completely forgot what I had read during the previous sitting. I had to stop after a few chapters because I couldn't connect with the characters or the story.

The Instrumentalist by Harriet Constable is a piece of historical fiction that allows us to vision Vienna in the 1700s. The main characters are also real people, Antonio Vivaldi and Anna Marie della Pieta. The Ospedale della Pieta is an orphanage where there is a small place to put a female newborn into and leave for the Sisters to raise.

At the orphanage, little girls are taught and trained to become wives. Those girls who have special talents in the area of music are given special treatment with food, clothing and music lessons. Anna Marie excelled in music. Her instrument was the violin and she learned to play it with great strength and skills. The music teacher was Antonia Vivaldi. He was beginning to become famous with his compositions. It is with the help of Anna Marie that his compositions begin to catch attention. Soon the Pieta is holding huge events allowing the students to earn money and gifts with Vivaldi pulling in the majority of goods. Anna Marie felt that in order to grow and become really famous and produce music she needed to be singular and hard hearted. Her pushing herself and pushing away others was really hard to read and understand.

The book is well written and engrossing, however, it is important that you leave reality to the side for some of this book. In the 18th century, women did not demand or expect to rise to a level of conductor. Giving Anna Marie too much power at the end bothered me. I also think that some of the descriptions of music with the feelings and flying over the city (that she rarely if ever saw) was also over the top.

On the other hand, I absolutely believe that people have synesthesia and hear colors or see music as a movie scene. Certainly Anna Marie could certainly have it and seeing music as sounds and colors obviously would have helped her grow to a major musician and composer. According to history, Anna Marie della Pieta was a violin virtuoso. Her performances drew many people to the Pieta and she collected a following. Her real call to fame according to some is not just Vivaldi and his music but the students she taught.

To me the novel feels like a cross between historical fiction with some magical realism involved. I really enjoyed the novel and found the main characters and the description of the orphanage fascinating. The world of Venice with its glittering richness and poverty feels magical in itself. The Instrumentalist by Harriet Constable is a good read.

I was totally blown away by Constable’s immersive descriptions, especially in all things music. She brought Anna Maria alive and I couldn’t get enough! I wasn’t expecting the Vivaldi storyline at the end of the book, but it did make sense and was woven in very convincingly - secrets, isolation... all tell-tale signs that I didn’t want to believe. Would recommend!

Wow! What a treat to get an early copy of this gem of a book! Learning the story of Anna Maria Della Pieta, her remarkable and often brutal journey through life in the Pieta in Venice is what I love about historical fiction.. Harriet Constable did an exquisite job with bringing the characters to life. She also has a gift for writing vivid scenes that tap into all the senses. I enjoyed listening to Vivaldi as I read this story. Thanks to Harriet Constable for awakening me to the probable realities that this happened in history. I’m quite certain it wasn’t a stand alone event. I am looking forward to watching this book be published and hoping for great success, just like Anna Maria Della Pieta.