What makes a great violin? And what makes a great violinist? When the eccentric but brilliant violinist Donato del Nero arrives in London in 1901 for a concert that he hopes will establish himself as the greatest virtuoso of the age, he discovers that his priceless instrument, the Medici Stradivarius, has been stolen. Only on the Medici, once the secret treasure of Paganini and rumoured to possess near-magical properties as Stradivarius’s masterpiece, has del Nero been able to realise his enormous potential as a peerless genius of the violin. Without it he fears the collapse of his talent.
Fortunately Mr. Sherlock Holmes, whose own talents have been languishing since the death of archrival Professor Moriarty and who has been contemplating retirement from criminal detection, is pressed into action. His investigation of the theft becomes simultaneously a fascinating inquiry into the secrets of violin-making and the art of musical interpretation and virtuosity. Erudite and witty, The Case of the Missing Stradivarius is sure to delight players and lovers of music, as well as fans of Conan Doyle’s immortal detective.
This book is a must for all lovers of Sherlock Holmes and music. It contains an extensive section of notes giving valuable insight into the world of Sherlock Holmes, Stradivarius and the great musicians in general written by an expert in the field.
