In her award-winning film The Piano, Jane Campion told a love story so stunningly original that it transfií millions of film-goers all over the world. Although she had already spent ten years writing and making the film, Campion continued to be haunted by her characters and decided to tell the whole story. Delving deeply into the characters' pasts, the novel reveals why Ada has stopped speaking, the history of the piano, and the secret of Flora's conception. We also find out about Baines's mysterious past, and discover what lies behind Stewart's stark lonelinesss.