What do you think?
Rate this book
Letters to Liesl
The sequel to New York Times bestseller Forever Liesl, Letters to Liesl tells the story of the unending impact of The Sound of Music, a film that has enchanted millions for over three decades. Full of touching stories and humorous insights from fans, as well as new reminiscences from Charmian Carr about those "halcyon days" in 1964 and the recent reunion of all seven "von Trapp children" in Salzburg, Letters to Liesl is a testament to the fact that The Sound of Music will live forever.
200 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2001
About the author
Charmian Carr
3 books18 followersCharmian Carr (born December 27, 1942) is an American actress and singer. She is mainly known for her role as Liesl, the eldest Von Trapp daughter in The Sound of Music where she starred with Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Nicholas Hammond, Heather Menzies, Duane Chase, Angela Cartwright, Debbie Turner, and Kym Karath.
Carr was born Charmian Farnon in Chicago, Illinois. She is the second child of vaudeville actress Rita Oehman and musician Brian Farnon, who named her Charmian after a character from Shakespeare's play Antony and Cleopatra. She has two sisters, one older and one younger. Her sisters are Shannon Farnon and Darleen Carr.
While Charmian was attending college part-time and working for a doctor, her mother got her an audition for a role in The Sound of Music. Charmian's mother never even asked her if she wanted to try out for the part, but she grew up in a show business family and she knew that for her getting a part in a film would be a much bigger deal for her mother than earning a college diploma. Director Robert Wise thought Farnon too long a surname for her, and after he had given her a list of single syllable surnames, she chose Carr. She beat out Geraldine Chaplin, Patty Duke, Mia Farrow and Sharon Tate for the role of Liesl in the film.
The film was on the whole a very happy experience for her. However, during the filming of her dance scene with Rolf in the gazebo, she slid straight through a window of the gazebo, because the costume crew had forgotten to put no-slip pads on her shoes, and she "had to complete the scene in agony."
Carr also appeared in Evening Primrose, a one-hour musical written by Stephen Sondheim, which aired on television's ABC Stage 67 in 1966. The male lead was Anthony Perkins. She has written two books, Forever Liesl and Letters to Liesl.
While publicising The Sound of Music after its release, Carr met and married Jay Brent in May 1967. She retired from acting to raise her two daughters, Jennifer and Emily, and to establish an interior decorating company. The marriage lasted until 1991. She now has two grandchildren, Emma and Derek.
Carr now owns and operates Charmian Carr Designs in Encino, California. Her interior decorating clients included Ernest Lehman, screenwriter for The Sound of Music; Michael Jackson, who hired her because he was a fan of the film; and other cast members from the film.
On December 12, 2007, Carr made a rare television appearance as a guest on Loose Women where she shared some of her memories of making The Sound of Music with the hosts.
Carr reunited with all of her co-stars from The Sound of Music on The Oprah Winfrey Show in October 2010 to celebrate the 45th anniversary of The Sound of Music.
Carr was born Charmian Farnon in Chicago, Illinois. She is the second child of vaudeville actress Rita Oehman and musician Brian Farnon, who named her Charmian after a character from Shakespeare's play Antony and Cleopatra. She has two sisters, one older and one younger. Her sisters are Shannon Farnon and Darleen Carr.
While Charmian was attending college part-time and working for a doctor, her mother got her an audition for a role in The Sound of Music. Charmian's mother never even asked her if she wanted to try out for the part, but she grew up in a show business family and she knew that for her getting a part in a film would be a much bigger deal for her mother than earning a college diploma. Director Robert Wise thought Farnon too long a surname for her, and after he had given her a list of single syllable surnames, she chose Carr. She beat out Geraldine Chaplin, Patty Duke, Mia Farrow and Sharon Tate for the role of Liesl in the film.
The film was on the whole a very happy experience for her. However, during the filming of her dance scene with Rolf in the gazebo, she slid straight through a window of the gazebo, because the costume crew had forgotten to put no-slip pads on her shoes, and she "had to complete the scene in agony."
Carr also appeared in Evening Primrose, a one-hour musical written by Stephen Sondheim, which aired on television's ABC Stage 67 in 1966. The male lead was Anthony Perkins. She has written two books, Forever Liesl and Letters to Liesl.
While publicising The Sound of Music after its release, Carr met and married Jay Brent in May 1967. She retired from acting to raise her two daughters, Jennifer and Emily, and to establish an interior decorating company. The marriage lasted until 1991. She now has two grandchildren, Emma and Derek.
Carr now owns and operates Charmian Carr Designs in Encino, California. Her interior decorating clients included Ernest Lehman, screenwriter for The Sound of Music; Michael Jackson, who hired her because he was a fan of the film; and other cast members from the film.
On December 12, 2007, Carr made a rare television appearance as a guest on Loose Women where she shared some of her memories of making The Sound of Music with the hosts.
Carr reunited with all of her co-stars from The Sound of Music on The Oprah Winfrey Show in October 2010 to celebrate the 45th anniversary of The Sound of Music.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Want to Read
August 2, 2007HOLY CRAP, THIS IS MY NEW FAVORITE SITE, I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS BOOK. WILL READ ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 21, 2025
This was a good book and although I enjoyed reading the letters written to Charmaine (the author), I thought I would learn more whether about Charmaine or the movie by
July 11, 2014
An interesting sequel with lots of fan letters saying how The Sound of Music affected people's lives. While I enjoyed this book it wasn't as good as Forever Liesl and some of the letters could be a bit repetitive. The best bits were the reunion between Charmian Carr's celluloid siblings and her remembrances of times past. Some of the fan letters were hilarious but others just merged in to one. A good book if you are a Sound of Music fan.
September 15, 2011
Good stories of letters CC has received since playing Liesl in "The Sound of Music". I preferred her other book Forever Liesl: A Memoir of The Sound of Music more..I thought it was much more interesting.
December 29, 2012
I remember getting this book for Christmas a few years back!
Re-read it recently:
A vivid collection of letters to Charmian Carr (Liesl)--The Sound of Music is the movie that changed my life. Countless decisions were influenced by this movie--including why I'm studying what I am in college. I enjoyed reading through letters recounting how it has done the same for others. Charming book!
Re-read it recently:
A vivid collection of letters to Charmian Carr (Liesl)--The Sound of Music is the movie that changed my life. Countless decisions were influenced by this movie--including why I'm studying what I am in college. I enjoyed reading through letters recounting how it has done the same for others. Charming book!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews