{"id":1802,"date":"2020-03-02T12:55:39","date_gmt":"2020-03-02T12:55:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.conted.ox.ac.uk\/mstcw\/?p=1802"},"modified":"2020-07-10T08:37:30","modified_gmt":"2020-07-10T08:37:30","slug":"mst-alumna-sophy-roberts-interviewed-about-her-book-the-lost-pianos-of-siberia-on-music-matters-on-radio-three","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.conted.ox.ac.uk\/mstcw\/?p=1802","title":{"rendered":"MSt alumna Sophy Roberts interviewed about her book, “The Lost Pianos of Siberia” on Music Matters on Radio Three"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

MSt alumna Sophy Roberts was interviewed about her book The Lost Pianos of Siberia<\/a><\/em> <\/a>on Music Matters on BBC Radio Three. The Lost Pianos of Siberia<\/a><\/em> is published by Doubleday in the UK (February 2020), and Grove Press in the US (June 2020).
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the BBC programme, which you can listen to here<\/a>.
‘Kate also catches-up with the author Sophy Roberts to learn about her travels across Siberia in search of the backstories of keyboards scattered across an eleventh of the world\u2019s landmass. From clavichords transported by governors on sledge, through pianos which have weathered the region\u2019s furtive cold, to a keyboard hacked out of a Gulag bunkbed frame, Kate hears how these instruments embody the soul of Siberia.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Praise for The Lost Pianos of Siberia<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStunningly written … This is a wonderful book.\u201d \u2014 <\/strong>Sunday Times<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAn absorbing history illuminates a bleak landscape.\u201d \u2014 Kirkus Reviews<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHugely compelling \u2026 Roberts is a wonderfully lyrical writer.\u201d \u2014 The Observer<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA quixotic quest, a picaresque travel adventure and a strange forgotten story all wrapped into this one fascinating book.\u201d \u2014 Simon Sebag-Montefiore<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat shines through in this book is \nRoberts’s genuine, humane affection for and fascination with the people \nshe meets in Siberia.\u201d \u2014 <\/strong>Literary Review<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAn exploration of tragic echoes, harmonious transience and persistent mysteries at the edges of the world.\u201d \u2014 <\/strong>The Times Literary Supplement<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe book’s richness is in its tangents\u2026 [a] wonderful book.\u201d \u2014 The Financial Times <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA masterpiece of modern travel literature with words that sing from its pages.\u201d \u2014 Levison Wood<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“An amazing tour-de-force… it touches your soul.” \u2014 Radio New Zealand<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA thrilling expedition \u2026 a richly observed cultural history.\u201d \u2014 <\/strong>New Statesman<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c[A] quest for the perfect instrument deftly tinkles the ivories of history\u2026 Roberts\u2019 writing is beguiling.\u201d \u2014 Scotland on Sunday<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA sense of the extraordinary marks every page.\u201d \u2014 <\/strong>History Today<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRoberts\u2019s mix of colorful history, rich reportage, and lyrical prose makes for a beguiling narrative.\u201d \u2014 Publisher’s Weekly<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA wonderfully intimate journey\u2026 Sophy \nRoberts writes so beautifully, even her author\u2019s note \u2014 describing her \ntrain journey from Moscow to the Urals \u2014 hooks you in from the start.\u201d \u2014 The Times <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA masterful example of modern historical travel writing.\u201d \u2014 The Independent<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBeautifully constructed, clear-eyed and generous-spirited.\u201d \u2014 William Atkins, <\/strong>The Immeasurable World<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAn extraordinary book which will overturn the common perception of Siberia as a place only of exile.\u201d \u2014 <\/strong>The Bookseller<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRichly asborbing … The Lost Pianos of Siberia <\/em>is as much elegy as detective story.\u201d \u2014 <\/strong>The Guardian<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAbsolutely intoxicating. Such vivid detail, rich atmosphere, heartbreak, and elegance.\u201d \u2014 Jonathan C. Slaght, <\/strong>Owls of the Eastern Ice<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrom Pushkin to ‘Pianopolis’, this \nhistory hits the right notes… With a lover\u2019s passion for a subject and\n territory that she has made hers.\u201d \u2014 The Telegraph<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRoberts’s writing is beguiling… The resulting book is as wide-ranging as Siberia is vast.\u201d \u2014<\/em> i (newspaper)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe poetic idea of finding exquisite old pianos in an otherwise elemental wilderness is only one of many fascinating strands.\u201d \u2014 Sydney Morning Herald<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAn adventurous, moving and revealing \nexploration of landscape and often dark history \u2014 but above all, of \nhumanity, music and memories.\u201d \u2014 Geographical<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis book is a triumph, every chapter an adventure and a revelation.\u201d \u2014 The Saturday Paper (Australia) <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne of those magical books that captures \nthe imagination and draws you into the beauty and majesty of Siberia. A \nbook to savour and remember.\u201d \u2014 Helen Rappaport, <\/strong>The Last Days of the Romanovs <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAn excellent debut book.\u201d \u2014 New Zealand Listener<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCourage, patience, erudition and a sympathetic imagination \u2026 A travel book of rare quality.\u201d \u2014 Dervla Murphy, <\/strong>Full Tilt<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe pianos are an excuse to travel to \nfar-off places, indulge oneself in history, meet interesting people and \ntell stories, all of which Roberts does with abandon.\u201d \u2014 <\/strong>Asian Review of Books<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUtterly absorbing. Roberts displays an empathy and understanding worthy of this deeply haunted, strangely fascinating land.\u201d \u2014 Benedict Allen<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRoberts’s research, storytelling and \ndescriptions of the landscape will leave you spellbound. And the quiet \nbut beautiful fortitude of Siberia lingers long after the final page.\u201d \u2014 <\/strong>The Irish News<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA modern-day Freya Stark\u201d \u2014 <\/strong>Tatler<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA thrilling adventure to the ends of the \nearth … Pack your suitcase for Siberia. Sophy Roberts’ gorgeous prose \nwill summon you there like a spell.\u201d \u2014 Cal Flynn, <\/strong>Thicker Than Water<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAn original new voice in travel \nwriting… Her closing pages are as moving an expression of the power of\n emotional absorption into Russian stories as I remember in a long \ntime.\u201d \u2014 <\/strong>The Arts Desk<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t need to love Siberia or pianos to enjoy this book. Brilliance illuminates each page.\u201d \u2014 The Press Association<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA history of the place and its people that would otherwise be forgotten.\u201d \u2014 Travel & Leisure, Southeast Asia <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n


<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

MSt alumna Sophy Roberts was interviewed about her book The Lost Pianos of Siberia on Music Matters on BBC Radio Three. The Lost Pianos of Siberia is published by Doubleday in the UK (February 2020), and Grove Press in the US (June 2020). About the BBC programme, which you can listen to here.‘Kate also catches-up […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_s2mail":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[15,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1802","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-alumni_news","category-events"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p40Qhf-t4","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1888,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.conted.ox.ac.uk\/mstcw\/?p=1888","url_meta":{"origin":1802,"position":0},"title":"Alumni Publications – and Successes","author":"MSt Creative Writing","date":"December 16, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Given all the wonderful successes of our alumni, we've decided to create a list. This is by no means complete, and we will be updating it as we go along. It's in alphabetical order (work in progress), by first name, by the way, do use \"Find\" or \"Search\" if you\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Alumni News"","block_context":{"text":"Alumni News","link":"https:\/\/blogs.conted.ox.ac.uk\/mstcw\/?cat=15"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":655,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.conted.ox.ac.uk\/mstcw\/?p=655","url_meta":{"origin":1802,"position":1},"title":"MSt alumna Kent DePinto’s produces BBC Radio 4’s “Has the Book a Future?”","author":"MSt Creative Writing","date":"September 16, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Has the Book a Future? http:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/programmes\/b040lpgz","rel":"","context":"In "Alumni News"","block_context":{"text":"Alumni News","link":"https:\/\/blogs.conted.ox.ac.uk\/mstcw\/?cat=15"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":929,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.conted.ox.ac.uk\/mstcw\/?p=929","url_meta":{"origin":1802,"position":2},"title":"MSt alumna Bette Adriaanse interviewed in Structo Magazine","author":"MSt Creative Writing","date":"December 11, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Structo Magazine's interview with MSt alumna Bette Adriaanse about her novel Rus Like Everyone Else is now available online. Rus and the writing of Bette Adriaanse","rel":"","context":"In "Alumni News"","block_context":{"text":"Alumni News","link":"https:\/\/blogs.conted.ox.ac.uk\/mstcw\/?cat=15"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/structomagazine.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/BetteAdriaanse-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1796,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.conted.ox.ac.uk\/mstcw\/?p=1796","url_meta":{"origin":1802,"position":3},"title":"MSt alumna Kiran Millwood Hargrave’s novel “The Mercies” published in the UK & the US.","author":"MSt Creative Writing","date":"February 14, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"MSt alumna Kiran Millwood Hargrave's novel The Mercies has been published in the UK & the US. From the UK announcement (Picador): \"The Sunday Times Bestseller'A gripping novel . . . Beautiful and chilling' \u2013 Madeline Miller, author of Circe Inspired by the real events of the Vard\u00f8 storm of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Alumni News"","block_context":{"text":"Alumni News","link":"https:\/\/blogs.conted.ox.ac.uk\/mstcw\/?cat=15"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/panmacmillanapi.blob.core.windows.net\/pmapi\/e12a8195-4610-4b2d-fa9f-08d58e45775c\/editions\/396abdac-68e0-4c3e-7383-08d6d97854f8\/original_400_600.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1634,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.conted.ox.ac.uk\/mstcw\/?p=1634","url_meta":{"origin":1802,"position":4},"title":"MSt alumna Daisy Johnson interview on The Guardian Culture","author":"MSt Creative Writing","date":"December 6, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"There was a lot of crying': youngest Booker prize nominee on writing her first novel. 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