Translated from the Portuguese by Daniel Hahn

The extraordinary story of two generations in a Lisbon family of carpenters and of a father’s attempt to outrun his fate in the marathon at the Stockholm Olympics in 1908.

“A superb family saga” The Times

“Almost unbearably moving” Financial Times

The Lázaro family are carpenters who would rather be piano-makers. In the dusty back room of their carpentry shop in Lisbon is the “piano cemetery”, filled with broken-down pianos that provide the spare parts needed for repairing and rebuilding instruments all over the city.

It is a mysterious and magical place, a place of solace, a dreaming place and, above all, a trysting place for lovers. Peixoto weaves the tragic true story of the marathon-runner, Francisco Lázaro, into a rich narrative of love, betrayal, domestic happiness and dashed hopes.