Advanced
Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.
Title details for Maria by Michelle Moran - Wait list

Maria

A Novel of Maria von Trapp

by Michelle Moran
ebook
0 of 1 copy available
Wait time: About 20 weeks
Place a hold Read a sample Read a sample
0 of 1 copy available
Wait time: About 20 weeks
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • 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.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    July 30, 2024

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9780593499498

    • EPUB ebook

      • ISBN: 9780593499498
      • File size: 4293 KB

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Booklist

      Starred review from July 1, 2024
      Plays and movies that depict real lives are not always representative of what really happened. In 1950, Oscar Hammerstein is writing lyrics to a musical loosely based on Maria von Trapp's autobiography. Maria gets her hands on the script, and she has a few opinions to share. With Hammerstein unavailable, his secretary Fran is assigned to deal with Maria. Maria explains what it was really like to parent seven children, go against the promise she made to God, deal with her country and home being invaded, and escape from imprisonment or worse. Fran dutifully takes notes to give to Hammerstein but ultimately doesn't know if anything will change. The script is written, and rehearsals have begun; it may be too late to be more faithful to Maria's life story. Moran (Mata Hari's Last Dance, 2016) proves herself to be a master storyteller of historical fiction in this engaging and thoughtful novel with lush descriptions in every chapter. It's a reminder that Hollywood glamorizes the truth when reality is much more multifaceted. Fans of The Sound of Music will want to read the author's note for real historical tidbits that are awakened within the story.

      COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Formats

  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Loading