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Mozart's Sister
Mozart's Sister
Author: Nancy Moser
Nannerl Mozart's early days seem to be the stuff of fairy tales -- traveling far and wide, performing piano concerts with her younger brother, Wolfgang, before the crowned heads of Europe. But behind the glamour lurk dark difficulties -- the hardship of travel, agonizing bouts of illness, and the constant concern over money. Their father, Leopol...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780764201233
ISBN-10: 0764201239
Publication Date: 2006
Pages: 320
Rating:
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
 62

3.7 stars, based on 62 ratings
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

TXGrobanite avatar reviewed Mozart's Sister on + 270 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
Wonderful book! I loved the details on their trips that they took. I never knew this much about Mozart-I didn't even know he had a sister! Nannerl and I probably would've gotten along because I sometimes feel like she feels towards her father. Very very good reading-I read it in a few days and Nancy Moser is now a favorite author of mine-will request more books of hers in the future!
reviewed Mozart's Sister on + 17 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Mozart's life. I have never studied Mozart, only listened to his music. I never even knew he had a sister. After spending so many years in Germany, the book just came to life. The author did an excellent job of bringing to light the details of history while filling in just enough fiction to make the characters come to life.
MarciNYC avatar reviewed Mozart's Sister on
Helpful Score: 4
A fascinating story about Nannerl Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's older sister who was talented in her own right. One must remember it's fiction, but all in all a nice bit of insight into what life must have been like in the shadow of her brother.
travlr avatar reviewed Mozart's Sister on + 19 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
This is a very insightful historical novel about Maria Anna "Nannerl" Mozart, sister to Wolfgang Amadeus. Most of us know his name well, but are not aware that his sister, 6 years older than he, was also an outstanding musician - some say she was at least his equal on the keyboard. As children they toured Europe playing duets and concerts for the crowned heads and for the public. However, because she was a girl she was not given encouragement to compose music, as a she grew into a young woman she was expected to marry and have children rather than become a public musician.
Nancy Moser, based on research in to the extensive collection of Mozart correspondence, has tried to sensitively enter into the emotions of this young woman living in a very complex setting.
I enjoyed this book, especially the later chapters dealing with her emotional adjustment to marriage and to the many changes in her life.
harmony85 avatar reviewed Mozart's Sister on + 982 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This book was on an interesting subject. I enjoyed reading it, although I did get tired of the constant whiny, wishy-washy tone of the main character-she did shape up near the end. And Mozart's father-he sounds almost like the Kit Culkin of the 1700s!
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krisann avatar reviewed Mozart's Sister on + 76 more book reviews
Maria Anna Mozart, beloved nicknamed Nannerl, was the elder and only sister of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. As children, both were considered gifted musical prodigies and their father, Leopold, arranged tours to display their talents to the masses in the grandest capitals of Europe. Both children could play the most challenging pieces and could compose too. The biggest problem with the book however is that Nannerl, as written, just isn't a very interesting character. She spends most of the novel sulking, and while it's understandable given the options available to women in the 18th century and her treatment by her father, Moser just doesn't do that much with her. Secondly, while the author attempts to give a voice to the overlooked "sister" of Mozart, she seems to fall into the same trap as other historians by abruptly ending the book when Mozart dies--despite the fact that his sister lived another 40 years! So much for being about the sister, it seems that she is only important as long as there is a Wolfgang Mozart, which I thought was supposed to be the exact opposite of this book. Overall I would still recommend reading this novel for historial knowledge. This would be also an interesting book club read for it gives your members much to talk about.
reviewed Mozart's Sister on
It is a very good book! Its a christan novel about Mozart's older sister. It is a very moving book! you will enjoy it!
glbirch avatar reviewed Mozart's Sister on + 205 more book reviews
This book gives wonderful insight into the life of a woman in 18th c. Germany. Talented in her own right, Nannerl Mozart was very limited by her gender. Able to travel and entertain nobility all over Europe with her brother at a young age, she was then confined to a much more restricted life. Moser does a great job of describing the anguish she undergoes throughout a life composed by duty, rather than the desires of her heart.


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