SuitabookIn Mozart's shadow
Carolyn Meyer
- Reading
- As you read, notice which musical choices and ambitions belong to Nannerl herself, and which parts of her life are shaped by her family or the period. Compare your impressions with how the novel ends.
- Themes
- Sibling relationship and musical ambition: Nannerl's musical promise and relationship with Wolfgang are central, as his composing success is associated with her being overshadowed. The premise raises questions about how two siblings' talents and prospects are represented, but does not establish whether the novel presents their relationship as supportive, competitive or otherwise.
- A less-remembered musician: The story presents Nannerl as a gifted musician whose place in history is less prominent than her brother's. This premise foregrounds unequal recognition, but it does not establish whether the novel attributes that imbalance to gender, family choices, historical circumstances or another cause.
- Worth knowing
- Nannerl's talents and career are described as being eclipsed by her brother's rise. A reader may find this unequal outcome frustrating; how the story handles it is unclear.