MOZART’S SISTER
by Nancy Moser
This was a fascinating book. I wish I would have read her note to the reader, which in my copy was at the end of the book, before I read the book. The author had never written an historical novel before, had never written a novel in the first person before, and basically had to be talked into into writing it that way.
What made this book possible was Mozart’s father, Leopold. I’m not sure he really understood just how famous his son would be, but as the family traveled all over Europe he insisted that all the letters that were written back and forth be saved. It was copies of these letters that the author used to recreate the events that she covers in the book. There are large gaps at times and the author admits that she had to be creative when discussing certain events because they were never mentioned in the letters. There were long times when the Mozart’s were home so obviously there weren’t any letters during those times. So this is a book of fiction, but it is as close to the truth as the author could make it.
The author admits that she put her own feelings into the book. She felt a kinship with Nannerl. I’m not sure that helped the book’s historicity. One of the themes that continues throughout the book is how upset Nannerl was because her talent was overlooked because she was a woman. She was expected to get married and have children. I don’t know if the author has support for attributing these feelings to Nannerl or not. I don’t know if there were letters from her expressing her desire to continue touring and being recognized for her talent, or as a woman of that age just automatically accepted her fate. Did she even realize that there was inequity or just knew from the beginning that it was never meant to be?
As with other historical novels that I’ve read it was fascinating to get a view of what life was like back then. The author didn’t pull any punches. She included facts that were hard to read, including the death of so many children. Women had many babies at that time but so many didn’t make it until their first birthday.
Nannerl was a complicated person. She was blessed with so many gifts. It was really a pleasure getting to know her. She had a long life but as she looked back on it shortly before her death, she could see how the Lord had been working the whole way through. She had expected her life to go in a much different direction, but admitted that the Lord did indeed know what He was doing and could see His Hand in everything and totally accepted His Will.
I would highly recommend this book.
Reviewed by Lynn Worley
chbookshelf October 16, 2006
Title: MOZART’S SISTER
Author: Nancy Moser
Publisher: Bethany House
September 2006
ISBN: 0-7642-0123-9
Genre: Inspirational/historical
Nannerl Mozart is five years older than her brother, Wolfgang, and she wishes that she were the child prodigy. After all, Wolfgang learned his love of music from her.
Nannerl loved her early childhood, traveling all over Europe with her family and performing with Wolfgang before the crowned heads. Behind the glamorous life lurks dark difficulties. Travel, inadequate lodging, not enough money to live on, and Wolfgang’s illness. Their father, Leopold, seems to have a singular goal of bringing Wolfgang’s genius to the world’s attention.
Nannerl is just as talented as Wolfgang, but being a female, what hope does she have of realizing her own dreams?
MOZART’S SISTER is based on the real life story of Wolfgang Mozart and his sister, Nannerl. I never knew the information that is portrayed in this book and found it interesting to learn more about the behind the scenes life of a famous composer. Nannerl is a sympathetic character and the story will tug at your heartstrings and make you ache for the injustice that females born in that era had to endure.
I enjoyed reading MOZART’S SISTER and recommend this for any lovers of classical music, homeschoolers, and history lovers. Ms. Moser is a talented author and is able to bring this historical tale to life. It is also fascinating to read how this story came to be, which is included at the rear of the book. It is funny. $12.99. 332 pages.
Reviewed Laura V. Hilton