A reader has sent me a photo of my new book on his garden table in rural Western Australia (see photo). It’s astonishing to me to think of this book, a copy of which I have photographed on my own garden table, flying to the other side of the world to start a conversation with […]

Last night I did an ‘author event’ – the first in-person event of this year – at Toppings Bookshop in Edinburgh. This bookshop, fairly new to Edinburgh, has been beautifully designed around the many interestingly-shaped rooms of the historic building. Curved wooden bookcases follow the line of the curved walls. Rolling library ladders enable you […]

My book The Piano – a History in 100 Pieces has just been reviewed by ArtMuseLondon. Some excerpts: ‘…This book is not simply a chronology of the piano, not by any means; but rather a detailed exploration of some of the greatest music composed for the instrument as well as lesser-known gems, written from the […]

There’s a review by Gulliver Ralston of my new book in the August 2021 issue of Literary Review. As part of it is behind a paywall, some excerpts: ‘…Completed just as lockdown began in the UK last March, these short essays open worlds of sound and history, illuminating familiar and forgotten works with succinct vignettes. […]

On Sunday 1 August, I’ll be talking about my new book The Piano – a History in 100 Pieces on BBC Radio Scotland’s ‘Classics Unwrapped’ programme, which begins at 7pm. The interview will be ‘live’ and if you’re in a position to listen to BBC Radio Scotland, you can hear my segment from about 7.20 […]