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A Romance on Three Legs: Glenn Gould's Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Piano Paperback – April 28, 2009

by Katie Hafner (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars 239 ratings
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Glenn Gould was famous for his obsessions: the scarves, sweaters and fingerless gloves that he wore even on the hottest summer days; his deep fear of germs and illness; the odd wooden "pygmy" chair that he carried with him wherever he performed; and his sudden withdrawal from the public stage at the peak of his career. But perhaps Gould's greatest obsession of all was for a particular piano, a Steinway concert grand known as CD318 (C, meaning for the use of Steinway Concert Artists only, and D, denoting it as the largest that Steinway built). A Romance on Three Legs is the story of Gould's love for this piano, from the first moment of discovery, in a Toronto dept. store, to the tragic moment when the piano was dropped and seriously damaged while being transported from a concert overseas. Hafner also introduces us to the world and art of piano tuning, including a central character in Gould's life, the blind tuner Verne Edquist, who lovingly attended to CD318 for more than two decades. We learn how a concert grand is built, and the fascinating story of how Steinway & Sons weathered the war years by supplying materials for the military effort. Indeed, CD318 came very close to ending up as a series of glider parts or, worse, a casket. The book has already been lauded by Kevin Bazzana, author of the definitive Gould biography, who notes that Hafner "has clarified some old mysteries and turned up many fresh details."

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  1. Print length
    272 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Bloomsbury USA
  4. Publication date
    April 28, 2009
  5. Dimensions
    5.45 x 0.76 x 8.26 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1596915250
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1596915251
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“A source of delight and illumination.” ―San Francisco Chronicle

“More books will be written about the famously eccentric pianist Glenn Gould. Perhaps none will be as intriguing as Hafner's.” ―Booklist

About the Author

Katie Hafner is a correspondent for The New York Times, and also a dedicated amateur pianist. Before joining the Times in 1998 she worked at Newsweek and Business Week. She is the author of four books, three of which concern technology and the Internet: Cyberpunk: Outlaws and Hackers on the Computer Frontier (with John Markoff); Where Wizards Stay Up Late: The Origins of the Internet (with Matthew Lyon); The Well: A Story of Love, Death and Real Life in the Seminal Online Community; and The House at the Bridge: A Story of Modern Germany. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bloomsbury USA (April 28, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1596915250
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1596915251
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.45 x 0.76 x 8.26 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 239 ratings

About the author

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Katie Hafner

Katie Hafner

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Katie Hafner was born in Rochester, New York, and has lived in more cities, towns and hamlets than she cares to count. She started writing about technology in 1983, the year the Apple Lisa was introduced. For nearly a decade, she wrote about technology for the The New York Times's Circuits section. She currently writes on healthcare topics for the paper's Science section.

She has also written for Newsweek, BusinessWeek, Esquire, Wired, The New Republic, the Huffington Post and O Magazine. Her sixth book, Mother Daughter Me, a memoir, was published by Random House in July 2013. Her first novel, The Boys, is due out from Spiegel & Grau in July 2022.

Hafner is host and co-executive producer of the podcasts Lost Women of Science and Our Mothers Ourselves. (Photo credit: Christopher Michel)

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
239 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this biography of Glenn Gould to be a fascinating read, beautifully written, and well-researched, particularly noting its in-depth coverage of tuners and mechanics. Moreover, they appreciate the musician's rich and resonant music, with one customer mentioning how it inspired them to listen to his recordings. Additionally, the book provides lots of historical context, and one customer notes its balanced portrayal of Gould.

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42 customers mention "Readability"42 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a fascinating and entertaining story.

"...This book is a delightful, moving and deeply caring look at the life of Glenn Gould, told in a sensitive and deeply sentimental way...." Read more

"...This book is still noteworthy. I'd also recommend "A Life in Variations" and Andrew Kazdin's Book, Glenn Gould at work...." Read more

"...I was enraptured by the way the different stories were told by Katie Hafner, the way she created so much magic around the perception of the color of..." Read more

"...this is a story about a piano, it is, rather, an engrossing tale about two extraordinary people who are societal outcasts but who miraculously find..." Read more

17 customers mention "Music expert"17 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate Gould's musical expertise, describing him as a wonderful musician and fabulous Bach interpreter, with one customer noting his rich and resonant music.

"...finally “dies” in 1981, Gould follows one year later, but the rich and resonant music they created lives forever, a legacy of their mutual affection." Read more

"...The author is gifted, and tells the story with both clarity, sensitivity, respect, and yes, even love...." Read more

"...also a bouquet of heartfelt stories - about Glenn Gould, the best performer of Bach, about Verne Edquist, the tuner who maintained the extraordinary..." Read more

"...All three combine to create the perfect musical trio. Hafner is a brilliant storyteller who keeps the biographical oddities unfolding...." Read more

16 customers mention "Biography"16 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate this biography of Glenn Gould, providing insight into his life and work, with one customer noting interesting stories about him and his technician.

"...I still believe the best biography on Gould came from Otto Friedrich called A life in Variations...." Read more

"...this is not a deeply scholarly work, it is still an excellent addition to a Glenn Gould library as it contains many important discussions such as..." Read more

"There are some interesting stories about Gould and his technician...." Read more

"...technician, travels and travails... A small, journalistic, insight into Glenn Gould the genius who brought Bach to life......." Read more

15 customers mention "Writing quality"15 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, finding it beautifully and deeply caring, with one customer noting its easy-to-read style.

"...This book is a delightful, moving and deeply caring look at the life of Glenn Gould, told in a sensitive and deeply sentimental way...." Read more

"...store and wanted to be more educated about pianos, and this was a beautiful, compelling introduction...." Read more

"...The library edition is also another copy that still looks great. I did hope for a copy that looked better cared for." Read more

"...If you like Glenn Gould's recordings, you should find this a very enjoyable look at him and the piano he adored." Read more

12 customers mention "Information quality"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-researched and informative, particularly noting its in-depth perspective on tuners and mechanics.

"...I loved reading about all the technical expertise that goes into building and maintaining a concert grand – the amount of work and detail required..." Read more

"...The story moves quickly and informs the reader every step of the way. Highly recommended!" Read more

"Very informative book about Glenn Gould whether the details are well known or obscure and as such have recommended to a number of friends and..." Read more

"...an excellent addition to a Glenn Gould library as it contains many important discussions such as the background of Glenn's tuner and his infinite..." Read more

8 customers mention "Interest"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging with its in-depth history, and one customer notes how it covers a wide variety of topics, while another mentions how it traces the history of the Steinway Company.

"...the complex technical particulars of Gould's beloved piano are imbued with life and it becomes a central character in the book...." Read more

"...Seems to hit the right balance of interest and entertainment for those of us who want to learn more about Gould and his music, but are neither..." Read more

"...This looked like an interesting diversion, and I'm so pleased I bought it...." Read more

"...It's a story that encompasses a wide variety of topics, from the making of a Steinway to the art of piano tuning to the quirky personality of Gould..." Read more

3 customers mention "Art"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the art in the book, with one review highlighting its balanced portrayal of Gould and another noting its fantastic look at different people.

"...this book to anyone looking to appreciate the life and art of the great Glenn Gould and his love affair with his beloved CD 318, the Chickering and..." Read more

"...Very readable and well paced, it includes a balanced portrait of Gould." Read more

"A fantastic look at all the different people, pianos, tuners and eccentricities that were part of Glenn Gould's fascinating life...." Read more

3 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, with one noting it moves quickly and another mentioning they raced through it.

"...The story moves quickly and informs the reader every step of the way. Highly recommended!" Read more

"...the learning, though, it was a spectacularly good read that I raced right through...." Read more

"...Very readable and well paced, it includes a balanced portrait of Gould." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Melanie "Vaxxed & Masked" Gilbert
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well Played
    Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    You can pair musicians with their instruments: Miles Davis, trumpet; Yo-Yo Ma, cello; Hilary Hahn, violin; Manu Katche, drums, among others. And any one of those artists probably consider their instruments extensions of their own selves.

    But pianist Glenn Gould took his musical attachment to another realm, calling his relationship to his favorite piano “a romance on three legs,” which author Katie Hafner uses as the title and a musical line in her well-researched and lyrical work. Gould was talented enough to pull the best out of whatever piano he played, but the Steinway CD 318 likewise brought out the best in him creating a muse-like, symbiotic connection. That relationship lasted more than a decade, through numerous public performances and studio recordings.

    I loved reading about all the technical expertise that goes into building and maintaining a concert grand – the amount of work and detail required to build these massive yet intricate mechanisms that produce both explosive and delicate sounds. Pianos, like pianists, can be tempermental, with Hafner paralleling Gould’s ofttimes persnickety, quicky and demanding personality to that of his favored keyboard. Hafner mines Gould’s extensive archives for telling details such as how he tasked his tuners to maintain CD 318’s light-touch action to channel his flying-fingered technique.

    This is a biography of a pianist as well as a piano, and Hafner tells their story in equal measure. When CD 318 finally “dies” in 1981, Gould follows one year later, but the rich and resonant music they created lives forever, a legacy of their mutual affection.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Mike Phillips
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful, Delightful and Sentimental Romp Through Glenn Gould's Life
    Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I'm a big fan of GG. I have read a couple of is biographies and of course loved his recordings.

    This book is a delightful, moving and deeply caring look at the life of Glenn Gould, told in a sensitive and deeply sentimental way. I can't describe all the emotions I feel now after reading the book, except to say for the first time I feel a sense of kinship and understanding of GG that I've never felt. The author is gifted, and tells the story with both clarity, sensitivity, respect, and yes, even love. Love for the piano and its complexities, and love for the artist GG was.

    It is also uniquely told, often from the perspective of the piano itself as a protagonist. Very innovative and original, yet in light of Glenn's life, it makes perfect sense!

    This book is a triumph. Thank-you Katie for a phenomenal and deeply moving book that will haunt me for many years to come. This is one biography of Glenn Gould you must absolutely read if you have love for this artist.

    Blessings,

    Mike
    2 people found this helpful
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  • David Carlin
    4.0 out of 5 stars A different angle on Gould
    Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2008
    Verified Purchase
    I've read at least 5 books on Glenn Gould. I still believe the best biography on Gould came from Otto Friedrich called A life in Variations. I've also read Ostwald's The Ecstacy and Tragedy of Genius, Bazzana's account entitled Wondrous Strange, Andrew Kazdin's Glenn Gould at Work, "Creative Lying", and Rhona Bergman's "The Idea of Gould".

    "Romance on Three Legs", takes a different angle in that if focuses primarily on the Piano. I skipped pieces of earlier chapters that had stories in part from the other books and areas that were overused in my opinion since Friedrich published his book. I was more focused on how Gould came to find and treasure CD-318 (Steinway). This is the piano that carried most of his recording career. Hafner does a good job regarding the damage episode that occurred to this Piano and Gould's obsession to get it back to it's former glory which never quite happened. I was most interested in this part of the book as well. Gould sued Steinway years before, due to a worker who allegedly gave him too hard of a handshake. Because of this, Steinway probably gave him lesser than usual service on his behalf. This is also covered.

    On the subject of Gould, Hafner does no more than the other authors in my opinion. She covers the same stories, anecdotes. She does cover a bit more on Gould's relationship with a married man's wife, Cornelia Foss. This book is still noteworthy. I'd also recommend "A Life in Variations" and Andrew Kazdin's Book, Glenn Gould at work. Kazdin is brutally honest about the working relationship he had with Gould and also covers an area regarding the damage of CD-318. Hafner does give us much more detail and more account from Verne Edquist, Gould's primary piano tuner and function tweaker. This alone gives the book a bit more credibility in my opinion.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Anna
    5.0 out of 5 stars A magical story of passion and never ending search for perfection
    Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    What a pleasure it was to read this book! I was enraptured by the way the different stories were told by Katie Hafner, the way she created so much magic around the perception of the color of sound and the memory of sound "the way a wine expert can summon the aromas that are released in the lingering finish of a good wine", in the detailed description of tuning an instrument beyond sound and into the realm of color, through Glenn Gould's mental music playing, and in Verne Edquist's endless efforts through needling, lacquering and tuning to create the "soulful" vibrant-color sound sought by Gould, and so on and on.

    I highly recommend this book. To anyone - musician or not, familiar with Gould or not. It is an account of passion and never ending search for perfection. It is also a bouquet of heartfelt stories - about Glenn Gould, the best performer of Bach, about Verne Edquist, the tuner who maintained the extraordinary clarity of tone Gould imagined in a piano and about the piano itself, the one with the most translucent sound, the one they both loved.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Cesare Montagna
    5.0 out of 5 stars è arrivato in tempo
    Reviewed in Italy on December 24, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    ottimo servizio credo comprerò ancora, l'unica cosa che non ho capito è perchè mi sono arrivati 6 ordini diversi mentre io credevo di avere fatto un solo ordine per 6 libri
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  • Liza Balkan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on July 27, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    terrific book!!
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  • Diana
    5.0 out of 5 stars Pianos
    Reviewed in Germany on March 9, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    This is one of the best books that I have read for some time. It not only tells us a great deal about Glen Gould, but we also get an insight into the manufacturing of pianos, the men that tune pianos, the coming of pianos to the New World, and the sale of pianos by very well known dealers. Glen Gould was an exceptional Canadian pianist so that his hunt for his perfect piano is exciting. You do not have to be a Canadian to enjoy this book although I am both.It makes a great gift.
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  • Cliente de Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book
    Reviewed in Mexico on March 5, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Amazing book. For anyone wanting to know about Gould, Steinway, Edquist, or pianos in general.
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  • Francisco Ruiz
    5.0 out of 5 stars Todo perfecto
    Reviewed in Spain on November 18, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Todo perfecto y la llegada en un tiempo récord. El resto de cosas que se supone que debería escribir, me llas ahorro con esta larga frase: dejad de poner un mínimo de palabras.
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