This book originated with my enduring love for the piano, which I thank my parents for cultivating. They encouraged my interest in music and bought me that upright Yamaha, which I now play with and for my daughter.
My aunt Charlotte Butler, now 94, has been a generous source of inspiration, documentation, anecdote and insight into her own childhood and the life of her mother Alice.
During the writing process, Ian Hicks buoyed my sometimes flagging spirits in New York with occasional long-distance calls from Hobart to ask after the book’s progress.
I’m very grateful to Geoff Dyer for selecting me to work with him at a residency at the remarkable Atlantic Center for the Arts in 2013—and for the tennis.
Old friends Daniela Fornasaro and Kelsey Bray provided details from adolescence that prodded my own memories or filled in details I had lost, while Derek Van Giesen sustained me at the Oneida with cocktails, meals, music and humour.
Madeleine Beckman, Lily Brett, Madonna Duffy and Jennifer Fleming provided constructive feedback in addition to friendship.
At Allen & Unwin, I was delighted to find a simpatico publisher in Jane Palfreyman. I am particularly indebted to Ali Lavau for an editorial report that helped me see how to get to where I wanted the manuscript to go. And my thanks to Siobhán Cantrill and Kate Goldsworthy for fine-tuning the instrument.
As my friend and mentor, Mary Folliet was unflagging in her support for this project from its earliest stages, and always knew the right questions to ask. Her understanding, encouragement and hospitality were invaluable to the development of this book.
I could not have written this book without the love of Nate Neal, who has been by my side almost as long as this manuscript.
Image of Dumbarton Road, Glasgow, reproduced with kind permission of Glasgow Life.
‘Late Autumn’ by V. Evstafieff showing Emma Darwin at the piano reproduced by courtesy of Historic England.
Extract from The Children’s Bach by Helen Garner published by Penguin Books. Reprinted by permission of Penguin Random House Australia Pty Ltd.
Extracts from Myself When Young by Henry Handel Richardson by arrangement with the Licensor, The Henry Handel Richardson Estate, c/- Curtis Brown (Aust) Pty Ltd.
A Captive Spirit by Marina Tsvetaeva, translated and edited by J. Marin King. Copyright © 1980 by J. Marin King. Reprinted by arrangement with The Overlook Press, Peter Mayer Publishers, Inc. www.overlookpress.com/ardis.html. All rights reserved.
Extracts from This Real Night by Rebecca West reprinted by permission of Peters Fraser & Dunlop (www.petersfraserdunlop.com) on behalf of the Estate of Rebecca West.