An intimate portrait of one of the finest string quartets of the century by a woman who has had an interesting life of her own. Muriel Nissel is the wife of Siegmund Nissel, the quartet's second violinist, and as such has been in a strategic position to observe the ups and downs of a deeply rewarding, often difficult way of life that every string player envies but that many would find daunting. A good read, especially for anyone who is involved in chamber music or who has fallen under its spell.