From the moment she hears one particular violin for the first time, Helena Attlee is captivated, and she sets out for Cremona—birthplace of the Italian violin—to discover all she can about its history and the stories contained within its delicate wooden body. As she looks back through the centuries, Attlee's journey leads her through dusty workshops, Alpine forests, Venetian churches, Florentine courts, and Russian flea markets. Surveying the contributions of luthiers, scientists, princes, and composers, Attlee offers a poignant meditation on the power of music to shape individual lives and to influence entire cultures.