Translated from the French by Florence W. Seder, Dimitry Markevitch concludes his preface, or Prelude as he calls it: 'History, fact and personal anecdote blend here to provide a complete story of the instrument. May this book entertain you, help you to know the cello to the fullest, and lead you to love it as I do.' Reading the book confirms that he has amply accomplished his aims. His qualifications for doing so are of the highest. Markevitch is a performer of considerable note and a teacher at both the Ecole Normale de Musique and Conservatoire Serge Rachmaninoff in Paris. He also has a keen interest in musicology and has edited many works for publication. T