Steinway & Sons

by Laura Lee Smith, Michael Feinstein (Foreword)

This history of the iconic piano brand chronicles the story of an immigrant family, American ingenuity, and more than a century of musical excellence.   The legendary piano maker Steinway & Sons holds a unique place in American history. The name alone conjures many a symbol of class and elegance, an American success story, an area of New York City, and the height of craftsmanship. From their factory in Queens, located on Steinway Place, the company has touched the hearts of millions across the world, from piano teachers and students to world-class musicians, and from salespeople to artisans, audiences, and music lovers.   After leaving his native Germany for America in 1850, Henry E. Steinway established his new enterprise with a simple but ambitious mission “to build the best piano possible.” In the late 19th century, Steinway emerged as the standard-bearer in piano design and manufacturing, outshining and outlasting other brands including Chickering and Weber. Today, the Steinway piano is still built by hand in New York City according to the same stringent processes developed by Henry E. Steinway and his sons more than a century ago.

131 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 19, 2020

About the author

Laura Lee Smith is the author of the novels THE ICE HOUSE (Grove Press 2017) and HEART OF PALM (Grove Press 2013). Her short fiction has been anthologized in BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES (2015) and NEW STORIES FROM THE SOUTH: THE YEAR'S BEST (2010). A writer who’s been praised for her “intelligence, heart, and wit” (Richard Russo, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Empire Falls), Smith has won awards and accolades from across the United States, and her work has been translated into German and French. She lives in Florida, where she writes fiction and works as a copywriter. www.lauraleesmith.com