krisann - reviewed on 7/9/2012 + 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.

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