Maria: A Novel of Maria von Trapp
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 Maria: A Novel of Maria von Trapp
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World History > Modern Age > WWII
Maria von Trapp. You know the name and the iconic songs, but do you know her real story? This dramatic novel, based on the woman glamorized in The Sound of Music, brings Maria to life as never before.
“As immersive, heartbreaking, and ultimately redemptive as the musical . . . This one is not to be missed.”—Allison Pataki, author of Finding Margaret Fuller
In the 1950s, Oscar Hammerstein is asked to write the lyrics to a musical based on the life of a woman named Maria von Trapp. He’s intrigued to learn that she was once a novice who hoped to live quietly as an Austrian nun before her abbey sent her away to teach a widowed baron’s sickly child. What should have been a ten-month assignment, however, unexpectedly turned into a marriage proposal. And when the family was forced to flee their home to escape the Nazis, it was Maria who instructed them on how to survive using nothing but the power of their voices.
It’s an inspirational story, to be sure, and as half of the famous Rodgers & Hammerstein duo, Hammerstein knows it has big Broadway potential. Yet much of Maria’s life will have to be reinvented for the stage, and with the horrors of war still fresh in people’s minds, Hammerstein can’t let audiences see just how close the von Trapps came to losing their lives.
But when Maria sees the script that is supposedly based on her life, she becomes so incensed that she sets off to confront Hammerstein in person. Told that he’s busy, she is asked to express her concerns to his secretary, Fran, instead. The pair strike up an unlikely friendship as Maria tells Fran about her life, contradicting much of what will eventually appear in The Sound of Music.
A tale of love, loss, and the difficult choices that we are often forced to make, Maria is a powerful reminder that the truth is usually more complicated—and certainly more compelling—than the stories immortalized by Hollywood.
Emily's Review
I grew up watching classic musicals, and The Sound of Music has always been a favorite. So I was very excited to read a book based on that musical's creation and Maria von Trapp's life. I knew the musical wasn't completely accurate, but I didn't know the specifics.
This novel allows us to meet the real Maria—warts and all. I appreciated that she took us back to her childhood so we could understand how Maria ended up at the convent and why her marriage and life with the von Trapps were more complicated than the musical would lead us to believe.
What I loved about the story was its honesty. It didn't hold back and try to make Maria as perfect as Julie Andrews' portrayal but gave us a chance to peek behind the veil and see the real woman. She was very enthusiastic and often so caught up in the idea of their fame that she didn't consider what everyone else wanted. She loved music and singing, and I think she just assumed that because the rest of them could sing, they loved it just as much. I liked that she continued the story of their lives beyond escaping Austria.
I also really enjoyed the parts set in 1959 as the musical is a few weeks from opening - meeting Oscar Hammerstein and seeing how everything came together.
Overall, I had a great time reading this book. If you love The Sound of Music, you will enjoy this novel!
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