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Marrying Mozart
Amadeus meets Little Women in this irresistibly delightful historical novel by award-winning author Stephanie Cowell. The year is 1777 and the four Weber sisters, daughters of a musical family, share a crowded, artistic life in a ramshackle house. While their father scrapes by as a music copyist and their mother secretly draws up a list of prospective suitors in the kitchen, the sisters struggle with their futures, both marital and musical--until twenty-one-year-old Wolfgang Mozart walks into their lives. Bringing eighteenth-century Europe to life with unforgiving winters, yawning princes, scheming parents, and the enduring passions of young talent, Stephanie Cowell's richly textured tale captures a remarkable historical figure--and the four young women who engage his passion, his music, and his heart.
350 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
58 people are currently reading
2363 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Cowell
12 books339 followersTHE MAN IN THE STONE COTTAGE, a novel of the Brontë sisters, is set in 1846 Yorkshire, where the three sisters - Charlotte, Anne and Emily - navigate precarious lives marked by heartbreak and struggle. Charlotte faces rejection from the man she loves, while their blind father and troubled brother add to their burdens. No one will publish their poetry or novels. Amidst this turmoil, Emily encounters a charming shepherd on her solitary walks on the moor, yet no one else has ever seen him. Several years later, Charlotte, who is now the successful author of Jane Eyre, sets out to find him. THE MAN IN THE STONE COTTAGE is a poignant exploration of sisterly bonds and the complexities of perception, asking whether what feels real to one person can truly be real to another.
My previous novel, THE BOY IN THE RAIN, set in Edwardian England 1903, is a love story between two men, a shy young artist and a rising socialist speaker, as they struggle to build a life together against personal obstacles and the dangers of prosecution under the gross indecency laws. CLAUDE & CAMILLE: A NOVEL OF CLAUDE MONET is the story of Monet in his 20s and 30s as he struggles to sell his work and manage his love for the beautiful, elusive Camille who would die young and forever remain his muse.
My other novels MARRYING MOZART, THE PLAYERS, THE PHYSICIAN OF LONDON AND NICHOLAS COOKE all continue to find readers. They were translated into several languages and MARRYING MOZART was turned into an opera.
I was born in New York City and have lived in the same apartment for 50 years. My heart is half in England/Europe where I have family and consider myself an emotional citizen there.
Please do visit my website StephanieCowell.com
My previous novel, THE BOY IN THE RAIN, set in Edwardian England 1903, is a love story between two men, a shy young artist and a rising socialist speaker, as they struggle to build a life together against personal obstacles and the dangers of prosecution under the gross indecency laws. CLAUDE & CAMILLE: A NOVEL OF CLAUDE MONET is the story of Monet in his 20s and 30s as he struggles to sell his work and manage his love for the beautiful, elusive Camille who would die young and forever remain his muse.
My other novels MARRYING MOZART, THE PLAYERS, THE PHYSICIAN OF LONDON AND NICHOLAS COOKE all continue to find readers. They were translated into several languages and MARRYING MOZART was turned into an opera.
I was born in New York City and have lived in the same apartment for 50 years. My heart is half in England/Europe where I have family and consider myself an emotional citizen there.
Please do visit my website StephanieCowell.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 239 reviews
June 8, 2020
Reading this book has really captured my imagination! Most days I get a tiny mid-afternoon reading slump where I'll feel sleepy for a brief amount of time but with this book that never happened! I just flew through the 350 pages.
This is a true story about Mozart and the four Weber sisters, one of who will become his wife. Through the pages of the book the time period really comes to life and you can learn what it was like to be a musician back then. And for some reason I just found it fascinating! Maybe it was the easy flowing writing style?? Anyway I just kept reading because I wanted to know what would happen to the four sisters and which one would marry Mozart.
This is historical fiction but also a drama. It's also a coming of age story. Mozart is 21 when the story starts and the girls are a little bit younger. Parts take place in Austria, Germany and Italy. Truthfully I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. It came as a total surprise..
It was very interesting to see how musicians made money back then and the many problems they faced. Things were very different back then. And the four girls lived under very strict rules as well. As the story progresses they try to gain freedom from their mother. They also need to learn about themselves, who they are and learn about forgiveness. All in all it's a great powerful story.
While I was reading this today, I took a little break and went to YouTube. I listened to some of the music that Mozart had written, realizing I knew some of the melodies. I've always enjoyed listening to classical and instrumental music.
I did have to Google a few music related terms while reading this as I wasn't sure what they meant.
This is a true story about Mozart and the four Weber sisters, one of who will become his wife. Through the pages of the book the time period really comes to life and you can learn what it was like to be a musician back then. And for some reason I just found it fascinating! Maybe it was the easy flowing writing style?? Anyway I just kept reading because I wanted to know what would happen to the four sisters and which one would marry Mozart.
This is historical fiction but also a drama. It's also a coming of age story. Mozart is 21 when the story starts and the girls are a little bit younger. Parts take place in Austria, Germany and Italy. Truthfully I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. It came as a total surprise..
It was very interesting to see how musicians made money back then and the many problems they faced. Things were very different back then. And the four girls lived under very strict rules as well. As the story progresses they try to gain freedom from their mother. They also need to learn about themselves, who they are and learn about forgiveness. All in all it's a great powerful story.
While I was reading this today, I took a little break and went to YouTube. I listened to some of the music that Mozart had written, realizing I knew some of the melodies. I've always enjoyed listening to classical and instrumental music.
I did have to Google a few music related terms while reading this as I wasn't sure what they meant.
June 9, 2020
“This novel is based on events in the life of the young Mozart.
He was closely involved with the four Weber sisters, among them Aloysia (who became a successful soprano), who broke his heart, and Constance, whom he married. We know that he and his wife were close to Sophie and that he wrote some of his greatest music for Josefa” (soprano, the first to perform the role of The Queen of the Night in Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute).
Manheim, Germany, 1777: Josefa, the oldest of the Weber sisters, now understands “that none of her darling father’s musical endeavors had yet lifted them from the edge of poverty.”
Weber family hosts musical Thursdays and at one of those evenings, they meet Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He is in town with his mother, who is in search of someone, who can further her son’s career. Mozart “is hoping to be commissioned for an opera (…) and he wants to have the position of vice kappellmeister…”
The mother of Weber sisters, Maria Cecilia, makes notes in her book of suitors for possible candidates for her daughters. She already has a suitor for one of her daughters. “Aloysia would be a Swedish baroness by the sea.”
Mozart taken by Aloysia’s beauty and by her family’s hardship offers her to tour Europe with him.
A year later, Weber family moves to Munich for better opportunities at court and a more prosperous life. And there is a new prospect, but none of the girls is interested. “Constance wants to marry for love, and I’m only twelve years old (Sophie) and want a life of good works. Aloysia is pledged to Mozart, and Josefa is going to join the gypsies or run off with a theater troupe if she can’t be an entrepreneur and have her music shop.”
“Autumn came, bringing no suitors worth mentioning, rather damp and rain.”
Aloysia wins a position as a solo soprano at a Viennese theater, which puts the whole family on a move again. On the other hand, Josefa loses the competition as her voice is “so big and rich and dark and high.” And this results in a foul mood of Josefa.
Meanwhile, Mozart falls out of favor yet again with the Archbishop of Salzburg, and moves to Vienna in search for a position suitable for him. “I must try. I can’t believe that God has created me to be a second-rate church composer, only doing what this small-minded clergyman wishes.”
In Vienna, Mozart meets Joseph Haydn, an accomplished composer, who is also a great admirer of Mozart; giving him a valuable advice, “I feel it’s with an opera that you will finally come to notice. (…) Not so very tragic in tone, but one that expresses the joy and the sadness of life, so entwined.”
This is one of those books that you’re not ready to reach the end. You want the story to go on, to be part of those musical Thursday nights, to continue hearing the bickering of daughters and mother, because it’s so real.
Told with entertaining prose. Each sister is unique and stimulating. Impatient Josepha yells at students since she doesn’t have patience for stupidity. Honest Sophie is confused, “where the same story was told ten different ways, she fled to the church where things did not waver.” When she dreams about peace and joining convent, her mother tells her to seduce Mozart. “Once he’s compromised you, he’ll have to marry you. He needs taking by the hand. Hush, hush, listen to me. I know about these things. Men don’t know what they want until it’s plainly shown to them.”
Also by this author, highly recommend: Claude & Camille: Novel of Monet
If you’d like to read a biographical novel about Mozart and his sister: In Mozart’s Shadow: His Sister’s Story by Carolyn Meyer.
He was closely involved with the four Weber sisters, among them Aloysia (who became a successful soprano), who broke his heart, and Constance, whom he married. We know that he and his wife were close to Sophie and that he wrote some of his greatest music for Josefa” (soprano, the first to perform the role of The Queen of the Night in Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute).
Manheim, Germany, 1777: Josefa, the oldest of the Weber sisters, now understands “that none of her darling father’s musical endeavors had yet lifted them from the edge of poverty.”
Weber family hosts musical Thursdays and at one of those evenings, they meet Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He is in town with his mother, who is in search of someone, who can further her son’s career. Mozart “is hoping to be commissioned for an opera (…) and he wants to have the position of vice kappellmeister…”
The mother of Weber sisters, Maria Cecilia, makes notes in her book of suitors for possible candidates for her daughters. She already has a suitor for one of her daughters. “Aloysia would be a Swedish baroness by the sea.”
Mozart taken by Aloysia’s beauty and by her family’s hardship offers her to tour Europe with him.
A year later, Weber family moves to Munich for better opportunities at court and a more prosperous life. And there is a new prospect, but none of the girls is interested. “Constance wants to marry for love, and I’m only twelve years old (Sophie) and want a life of good works. Aloysia is pledged to Mozart, and Josefa is going to join the gypsies or run off with a theater troupe if she can’t be an entrepreneur and have her music shop.”
“Autumn came, bringing no suitors worth mentioning, rather damp and rain.”
Aloysia wins a position as a solo soprano at a Viennese theater, which puts the whole family on a move again. On the other hand, Josefa loses the competition as her voice is “so big and rich and dark and high.” And this results in a foul mood of Josefa.
Meanwhile, Mozart falls out of favor yet again with the Archbishop of Salzburg, and moves to Vienna in search for a position suitable for him. “I must try. I can’t believe that God has created me to be a second-rate church composer, only doing what this small-minded clergyman wishes.”
In Vienna, Mozart meets Joseph Haydn, an accomplished composer, who is also a great admirer of Mozart; giving him a valuable advice, “I feel it’s with an opera that you will finally come to notice. (…) Not so very tragic in tone, but one that expresses the joy and the sadness of life, so entwined.”
This is one of those books that you’re not ready to reach the end. You want the story to go on, to be part of those musical Thursday nights, to continue hearing the bickering of daughters and mother, because it’s so real.
Told with entertaining prose. Each sister is unique and stimulating. Impatient Josepha yells at students since she doesn’t have patience for stupidity. Honest Sophie is confused, “where the same story was told ten different ways, she fled to the church where things did not waver.” When she dreams about peace and joining convent, her mother tells her to seduce Mozart. “Once he’s compromised you, he’ll have to marry you. He needs taking by the hand. Hush, hush, listen to me. I know about these things. Men don’t know what they want until it’s plainly shown to them.”
Also by this author, highly recommend: Claude & Camille: Novel of Monet
If you’d like to read a biographical novel about Mozart and his sister: In Mozart’s Shadow: His Sister’s Story by Carolyn Meyer.
August 13, 2016
Historical novel about Mozart and his relationship with the Weber family, in particular with the four sisters. The book actually focuses more on the relationships between the Weber sisters and with their parents. At first the plot was a bit slow, but by the half-way mark I couldn't put the book down. Great character development, with a satisfying ending. Recommended.
February 2, 2009
The entire time I was reading this, I kind of felt like it was Little Women meets Mozart, but Beth doesn't die She lives to tell the story. Maybe when you throw four sisters together in a novel, you get that. The other thing that was difficult for me was my very sharp memories of the film Amadeus. Regardless, Mosart is one of my favorite composers-- His Ave Verum can move me to tears when we sing it in choir.
This was a worthy telling of his story, and that of his wife and her family. I loved the glimpses of life at the time that the author brought out. And I could definitely relate when Sophie wanted to lick her fingers clean after eating chocolate.
This was a worthy telling of his story, and that of his wife and her family. I loved the glimpses of life at the time that the author brought out. And I could definitely relate when Sophie wanted to lick her fingers clean after eating chocolate.
October 24, 2023
'Our beloved Mozart was not quite suited to this world'
This is a very enjoyable novel about the four sisters Weber and their relationships: with each other, with their parents and with Mozart. Starting in 1777, when Mozart first meets the family Weber, the story ends some 60 years later as the last surviving Weber sister is being interviewed about the family's relationship with Mozart.
And what a story it is. Ms Cowell develops the individual characters of Josefa, Aloysia, Sophie and Constanze well. Their lives, loves and aspirations are not often in accord with their mother's overwhelming ambition to marry them to noblemen. Mozart's parents are equally determined that he make his name and fortune before marrying.
The journey of Mozart through this world is interesting. But for me, the real story is the life and times of the sisters. Ms Cowell has brought a richness to this novel which comes, I think, from her knowledge and appreciation of the music, society and related politics of the era.
Recommended to those who enjoy historical fiction and highly recommended to those who wish to see Mozart from another perspective.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
This is a very enjoyable novel about the four sisters Weber and their relationships: with each other, with their parents and with Mozart. Starting in 1777, when Mozart first meets the family Weber, the story ends some 60 years later as the last surviving Weber sister is being interviewed about the family's relationship with Mozart.
And what a story it is. Ms Cowell develops the individual characters of Josefa, Aloysia, Sophie and Constanze well. Their lives, loves and aspirations are not often in accord with their mother's overwhelming ambition to marry them to noblemen. Mozart's parents are equally determined that he make his name and fortune before marrying.
The journey of Mozart through this world is interesting. But for me, the real story is the life and times of the sisters. Ms Cowell has brought a richness to this novel which comes, I think, from her knowledge and appreciation of the music, society and related politics of the era.
Recommended to those who enjoy historical fiction and highly recommended to those who wish to see Mozart from another perspective.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
June 22, 2011
I was looking forward to reading this book as a bit of a relaxation from struggling with the life of Andrew Jackson and was pleasantly surprised to find so much more within its covers. Cowell does a fantastic job of turning four women’s early lives into a novel that keeps the reader’s interest and makes us genuinely care about what happens to them.
The story introduces us to the Weber sisters – Josefa, Aloysia, Constanze, and Sophie (who is telling us this story). Each of them influences the musical genius Mozart in their own special way. Sophie becomes his confidant and friend, Aloysia captures his heart with her beauty and voice, Josefa commands his respect with her strength and courage, and Constanze’s personality changes his life forever.
Rather than focus solely on Mozart, which Cowell certainly could have done and gotten away with, the book follows the fortunes of the Weber family. Their mother is constantly trying to marry them off, while they all have their own ideas about their futures. Sometimes they are successful, and sometimes they find they’ve had their hearts shattered. Truly these women can capture your attention and hold it to the very last page.
The story introduces us to the Weber sisters – Josefa, Aloysia, Constanze, and Sophie (who is telling us this story). Each of them influences the musical genius Mozart in their own special way. Sophie becomes his confidant and friend, Aloysia captures his heart with her beauty and voice, Josefa commands his respect with her strength and courage, and Constanze’s personality changes his life forever.
Rather than focus solely on Mozart, which Cowell certainly could have done and gotten away with, the book follows the fortunes of the Weber family. Their mother is constantly trying to marry them off, while they all have their own ideas about their futures. Sometimes they are successful, and sometimes they find they’ve had their hearts shattered. Truly these women can capture your attention and hold it to the very last page.
October 1, 2010
Mozart was my favorite composer for many years (and still among my favorites) so I was looking forward to this story that would bring him to life. Unfortunately I felt I got a cardboard Mozart. Although I did enjoy the book because the story was fun to read, I thought the writing was amateurish.
August 9, 2022
4,5 stars- English Ebook
Amadeus meets Little Women in this irresistibly delightful historical novel by award-winning author Stephanie Cowell.
The year is 1777 and the four Weber sisters, daughters of a musical family, share a crowded, artistic life in a ramshackle house.
While their father scrapes by as a music copyist and their mother secretly draws up a list of prospective suitors in the kitchen, the sisters struggle with their futures, both marital and musical, until twenty-one-
year-old Wolfgang Mozart walks into their lives.
Bringing eighteenth-century Europe to life with unforgiving winters, yawning princes, scheming parents, and the enduring passions of young talent, this book was richly textured tale captures a remarkable historical figure, and the four young women who engage his passion, his music, and his heart.
A favorite novel. I have read two novels by Stephanie Cowell and was extremely pleased with both novels.
Switches from the present (1842) to the past (1777), Sophie Webb (the youngest of four sisters who are all musical) wants to retell the story of Mozart being invited into their home by her dad who is also a musician.
Mom wants her daughters to marry well! Mozart falls in love with the oldest sister, Aloysia who isn't interested and marries another. Mozart then turns his focus on the second sister, Constanze.
You will love Stephanie's writing style outlining the relationships of the Weber family and his role in their life.
Amadeus meets Little Women in this irresistibly delightful historical novel by award-winning author Stephanie Cowell.
The year is 1777 and the four Weber sisters, daughters of a musical family, share a crowded, artistic life in a ramshackle house.
While their father scrapes by as a music copyist and their mother secretly draws up a list of prospective suitors in the kitchen, the sisters struggle with their futures, both marital and musical, until twenty-one-
year-old Wolfgang Mozart walks into their lives.
Bringing eighteenth-century Europe to life with unforgiving winters, yawning princes, scheming parents, and the enduring passions of young talent, this book was richly textured tale captures a remarkable historical figure, and the four young women who engage his passion, his music, and his heart.
A favorite novel. I have read two novels by Stephanie Cowell and was extremely pleased with both novels.
Switches from the present (1842) to the past (1777), Sophie Webb (the youngest of four sisters who are all musical) wants to retell the story of Mozart being invited into their home by her dad who is also a musician.
Mom wants her daughters to marry well! Mozart falls in love with the oldest sister, Aloysia who isn't interested and marries another. Mozart then turns his focus on the second sister, Constanze.
You will love Stephanie's writing style outlining the relationships of the Weber family and his role in their life.
July 20, 2024
3.5 stars! I read this book during a trip to Austria and Germany to learn more about Mozart (since we went to Salzburg and Munich, both places where Mozart spent time!). I didn’t know anything about the Weber sisters before reading, and I enjoyed learning about how they shaped Mozart’s life and work. That said, the book’s pacing was a little off for me, with long stretches of dialogue that sometimes felt superfluous. The constantly switching points of view mid-chapter also made the story feel a little disjointed. I wish each chapter had been from a certain person’s perspective, or it was clearly labeled when the perspective switched. Overall, the topic material of this story was interesting, but some things about the execution had me rating it lower.
July 7, 2017
While the book is based upon some underlying historical facts, undoubtedly most of this book is fiction. What I enjoyed in the book was Mozart’s point of view sections, which unfortunately was not enough of the book. The book is about the Weber family, four young girls quickly growing up and their prospects for marriage. Their mother is a bit off her nut and sadly the stabilizing father who teaches them music dies in the middle of the story. Mozart is young and still finding his way in the music world and has his own family issues, but does fall for one of the Weber girls who ends up breaking his heart. It is clear from the beginning that Mozart does marry one of them, so there is an attempt of suspense, with trying to figure out, who will it be? On occasion there are some odd sentences which really pull you out of the story, writing that sounds like a man or for a male reader when neither is likely the case, well the author is a female. In the end the book is okay, but nothing wonderful.
March 30, 2012
Ever since my grandmother sent me a postcard from Vienna in the 1960s with Mozart on it, I have had a bit of a thing for him. This is such a lovely read; a little bit like a mini opera with all the woes and love lives of the four Weber sisters and how they envelop Mozart into their company. I really enjoyed it.
February 21, 2024
A bookstore described this book with the perfect tagline: "Amadeus meets Little Women." If you like either or both, you will most probably fancy this book, too. People who love classical music and historical fiction set in the 1700s are another perfect audience for this book.
This book does a great job of showing complex family dynamics as well as the consistent, tough financial struggles of musicians and other artists and their families as well as their passion for their craft.
I'm used to hearing about Mozart as a charismatic, youthful prodigy, so it was intriguing to see this book spotlighting another side of Mozart's artistic journey: Mozart as a young adult trying to find sponsorship for his art and struggling mightily through a lot of bad breaks that any artist in any era will identify with. It was also an interesting journey that one sister thoroughly dashed his heart while he ended up marrying, several years later, another sister in the same musical family who was probably the least likely sister to marry him, and yet their personalities were a great fit.
Mozart is well-rendered and sensitively portrayed in this book. In fact, all of the characters, from the family of four Weber daughters and their tinderbox-of-moods mother, their musical and jovial and tender father, and even the minor characters, such as Mozart's friend, Joseph Leutgeb, are rendered so well that I felt like I time traveled. Great descriptions of Germany and Vienna as well.
This book was on one of my TBR piles for an embarrassing amount of years and I almost donated it unread a few times, and I'm so very glad now that I've read it. I'm now a fan of Stephanie Cowell's prose and would enjoy reading more of her historical novels.
This book does a great job of showing complex family dynamics as well as the consistent, tough financial struggles of musicians and other artists and their families as well as their passion for their craft.
I'm used to hearing about Mozart as a charismatic, youthful prodigy, so it was intriguing to see this book spotlighting another side of Mozart's artistic journey: Mozart as a young adult trying to find sponsorship for his art and struggling mightily through a lot of bad breaks that any artist in any era will identify with. It was also an interesting journey that one sister thoroughly dashed his heart while he ended up marrying, several years later, another sister in the same musical family who was probably the least likely sister to marry him, and yet their personalities were a great fit.
Mozart is well-rendered and sensitively portrayed in this book. In fact, all of the characters, from the family of four Weber daughters and their tinderbox-of-moods mother, their musical and jovial and tender father, and even the minor characters, such as Mozart's friend, Joseph Leutgeb, are rendered so well that I felt like I time traveled. Great descriptions of Germany and Vienna as well.
This book was on one of my TBR piles for an embarrassing amount of years and I almost donated it unread a few times, and I'm so very glad now that I've read it. I'm now a fan of Stephanie Cowell's prose and would enjoy reading more of her historical novels.
June 28, 2020
Here's one from the vault. I wrote this review back in 2005. I've changed as a reader since then, but I think I'd still like this book..
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Lately it seems as though historical fiction is succeeding in doing two things for me that many historical romances no longer do: Delivering a strong sense of time and place set against real life events and sending the reader on glorious flights of fancy. Marrying Mozart is just such a tale. Though it is fiction rather than romance, there is certainly a romantic element to the story that many will enjoy and the author’s portrait of Mozart and the women he loved is especially delightful.
The four Weber sisters – Josefa, Aloysia, Constanze, and Sophie – are the story’s focal point. As the book opens, they are all in their teens and living in a cramped apartment in Mannheim, where their father is a music copyist. The family is quite musical and their Thursday evening entertainments are at the nucleus of family life. It is as a guest at one of these evenings that Mozart first meets the Webers. The girls are drawn to him, and he soon becomes an important friend.
From that first meeting in Mannheim, Cowell’s story moves forward through several years of the Webers’ lives. In addition to experiencing the various friendships and relationships the girls form with Mozart, the reader also becomes privy to the Webers’ attempts to survive financially, Josefa and Aloysia’s attempts to establish themselves as professional opera singers, and Mozart’s efforts to secure for himself a court position.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete text here: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
-------
Lately it seems as though historical fiction is succeeding in doing two things for me that many historical romances no longer do: Delivering a strong sense of time and place set against real life events and sending the reader on glorious flights of fancy. Marrying Mozart is just such a tale. Though it is fiction rather than romance, there is certainly a romantic element to the story that many will enjoy and the author’s portrait of Mozart and the women he loved is especially delightful.
The four Weber sisters – Josefa, Aloysia, Constanze, and Sophie – are the story’s focal point. As the book opens, they are all in their teens and living in a cramped apartment in Mannheim, where their father is a music copyist. The family is quite musical and their Thursday evening entertainments are at the nucleus of family life. It is as a guest at one of these evenings that Mozart first meets the Webers. The girls are drawn to him, and he soon becomes an important friend.
From that first meeting in Mannheim, Cowell’s story moves forward through several years of the Webers’ lives. In addition to experiencing the various friendships and relationships the girls form with Mozart, the reader also becomes privy to the Webers’ attempts to survive financially, Josefa and Aloysia’s attempts to establish themselves as professional opera singers, and Mozart’s efforts to secure for himself a court position.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete text here: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
August 4, 2021
As a soprano long ago, I knew instinctively that Mozart loved women. All his best music was written for the female voice. The Queen of the Night aria is breathtaking. So too is my personal favorite, Laudate Dominum from his Vespers. This fictionalized version of his relationship with the Weber sisters explains a lot concerning this feeling. Surely Frau Weber is portrayed a little to much like Mrs. Bennett from Pride and Prejudice, but sometimes caricature is a good thing. In general this work is very light and fluffy. Nothing heavy or eye-opening. I loved the cover artwork. One of my favorite paintings at the Frick.
January 8, 2018
Good book!
July 12, 2024
Lettura piacevole, scorrevole (l'ho divorata in pochi giorni), ma non troppo memorabile e a tratti ripetitiva.
In una recensione viene definito come "Piccole donne ambientato nel Settecento" e, in un certo senso, è vero. A spiccare sono proprio le quattro e diverse sorelle Weber, a confronto con un Mozart alquanto deboluccio.
Penso che leggerò altro dell'autrice perché ho visto titoli che mi ispirano.
In una recensione viene definito come "Piccole donne ambientato nel Settecento" e, in un certo senso, è vero. A spiccare sono proprio le quattro e diverse sorelle Weber, a confronto con un Mozart alquanto deboluccio.
Penso che leggerò altro dell'autrice perché ho visto titoli che mi ispirano.
April 18, 2013
I came to this book with general notions of Mozart's personality and character. One perception was that he was a victim of parental emotional abuse by what we call today, "stage parents". Cowell seems to agree and fleshes out the portrait of Mother and Father Mozart manipulating their talented son instilling in him an obligation to them for their "suffering" on his behalf. Cowell gives an emotional life to the young Mozart's actions, but not so much as to define what we call today the "neediness" that might account for them.
Cowell sketches a plausible personality for each of the Weber girls based on birth order and what is known of them. She gives Mozart a sensitivity to each of them, and creates dynamics that draw him into each's orbit. Indeed, they become a family to him. Like Laurie in Little Women, Mozart is bound to marry one of them. Of course, this fiction must parallel real life.
A year or so ago I read "Mozart's Women: His Family, His Friends, His Music". The strongest impressions that remain with me from it are the relationships with mother, sister and wife. I will have to return to it to review the record on the other Weber females.
It took me a little bit to get into the story and I don't know why. The writing is good, and the dialog and characters fit. Perhaps it is because there are a number of scene switches in the first 50 pages that it is hard to feel comfortable in guessing where it is going. I almost dropped it, but after 50 pages I was glad I didn't.
Cowell sketches a plausible personality for each of the Weber girls based on birth order and what is known of them. She gives Mozart a sensitivity to each of them, and creates dynamics that draw him into each's orbit. Indeed, they become a family to him. Like Laurie in Little Women, Mozart is bound to marry one of them. Of course, this fiction must parallel real life.
A year or so ago I read "Mozart's Women: His Family, His Friends, His Music". The strongest impressions that remain with me from it are the relationships with mother, sister and wife. I will have to return to it to review the record on the other Weber females.
It took me a little bit to get into the story and I don't know why. The writing is good, and the dialog and characters fit. Perhaps it is because there are a number of scene switches in the first 50 pages that it is hard to feel comfortable in guessing where it is going. I almost dropped it, but after 50 pages I was glad I didn't.
February 18, 2019
I loved this historical fiction. The story is about Mozart's life in his 20s when he was struggling to make a living with his music; and the story is about his relationship with the Weber 4 sisters, their father and mother. Actually, the story is more about the Weber sisters than Mozart, but it is all weaved together.
The bones of the story is true, especially about Mozart's father, his sister, and the steps he went thru in Mannheim and Vienna. But fiction comes from the author's writing about the relationships. Of course, the author could not know the true feelings, conversations, arguments, insight into the Weber family. But, the author read hundreds of letters and any other existing documentation. The girls' Weber mother was truly crazy ...but not unlike many mothers whose lives are not what they wanted, and who live their 'miserable life' by making their daughters as miserable as possible.
The story ends when Mozart marries Constanze, one of the Weber sisters.
My goodness, the author did an impressive job of describing the passion and gift that Mozart had for music! The written words were astounding. I could never have imagined such intensity for music without this author's writing! The author also reinforced the story that Mozart was controlled and made to feel guilty with enormous obligation to his parents and sister.
I was completely engaged in the drama and romance of Mozart and his finding love, enduring a broken heart, and then finding love again!!
The bones of the story is true, especially about Mozart's father, his sister, and the steps he went thru in Mannheim and Vienna. But fiction comes from the author's writing about the relationships. Of course, the author could not know the true feelings, conversations, arguments, insight into the Weber family. But, the author read hundreds of letters and any other existing documentation. The girls' Weber mother was truly crazy ...but not unlike many mothers whose lives are not what they wanted, and who live their 'miserable life' by making their daughters as miserable as possible.
The story ends when Mozart marries Constanze, one of the Weber sisters.
My goodness, the author did an impressive job of describing the passion and gift that Mozart had for music! The written words were astounding. I could never have imagined such intensity for music without this author's writing! The author also reinforced the story that Mozart was controlled and made to feel guilty with enormous obligation to his parents and sister.
I was completely engaged in the drama and romance of Mozart and his finding love, enduring a broken heart, and then finding love again!!
February 2, 2011
There are four Weber sisters- Josefa, plain with a good voice; Aloysia, beautiful with a voice to match; Sophie, bookish and religious; and Constanze, quiet. Their father Fridolin is a music copyist and teacher and full of fun struggling to meet all his family's needs. Their mother Marie Caecilia is socially ambitious especially for her daughters even to the point of keeping a book with all marriage prospects in it.
Mozart enters into the Weber's life on one of their Thursday music nights. Caecilia who is aiming to marry Aloysia to a Swedish baron finds herself thwarted when Aloysia and Mozart fall in love. However first Mozart must earn some money not only to marry but also to support his parents and sister. Aloysia wearies of waiting for Mozart to carry her off to better things and becomes pregnant and elopes with a painter.
As Mozart continues to create beautiful music his broken heart heals and he finds himself again returning to the Webers.
This book really brought Mozart to life. It is interesting to me that in all books about this era the parents are trying to gain esteem through their children and not their own endeavors.
Mozart enters into the Weber's life on one of their Thursday music nights. Caecilia who is aiming to marry Aloysia to a Swedish baron finds herself thwarted when Aloysia and Mozart fall in love. However first Mozart must earn some money not only to marry but also to support his parents and sister. Aloysia wearies of waiting for Mozart to carry her off to better things and becomes pregnant and elopes with a painter.
As Mozart continues to create beautiful music his broken heart heals and he finds himself again returning to the Webers.
This book really brought Mozart to life. It is interesting to me that in all books about this era the parents are trying to gain esteem through their children and not their own endeavors.
February 19, 2010
Cowell's novel portrays Mozart as a passionate, determined young man and focuses on his relationships with the four Weber sisters. Mozart first meets Fridolin Weber, a music copyist, and his four daughters when he and his mother arrive in Mannheim. The second eldest girl, Aloysia, captivates Mozart, who finds her singing talent is matched by her beauty. Against the wishes of his mother, Mozart proposes to Aloysia, but he can't marry her until he makes his fortune. His dream is to be able to compose operas for a living, but when Idomeneo closes after just a few performances, Mozart is forced to beg the arrogant archbishop of Salzburg for a position. Aloysia, who dreams of fame and fortune as an opera singer, elopes with a portraitist. Mozart is heartbroken, but little does he know that true love lies with another Weber sister. As much about the four Weber sisters as it is about Mozart, Cowell's novel is an engaging look at Mozart's colorful world and his struggles during his early twenties
October 12, 2017
I thought I would want to read this book. I was wrong. After spending the first third of the book wondering if no research at all had gone into this book or if it had in fact been so heavily researched that none of these details made it into any music history lesson I'd ever had, I took a moment to reflect on what I know about composers and the 18th century. At which point I had no choice but to determine this book is a load of crap. No effing way was Mozart that much of an angelic goody two shoes. The man wrote The Magic Flute. No way did that happen independent of hard drugs or at least heavy drinking. And that's not to mention the man's relationship with women. I call bull with a capital S.
Many other Goodreads reviewers compared this book to Little Women, which I also found to be a mind-numbingly saccharine, chaste, and (above all) boring. So I'll give them that. If you would like to read a pre-pubescent fan fiction Little Women and Mozart crossover episode then by all means give this a go. If you have any concept of how composers or adults work, I'd skip this one.
Many other Goodreads reviewers compared this book to Little Women, which I also found to be a mind-numbingly saccharine, chaste, and (above all) boring. So I'll give them that. If you would like to read a pre-pubescent fan fiction Little Women and Mozart crossover episode then by all means give this a go. If you have any concept of how composers or adults work, I'd skip this one.
December 17, 2016
I liked the way Cowell showed how difficult such times were (and too often still are) so difficult for women. The Weber girls, including their mother, are constrained in society birth by poverty and by the morals of the time. This book shows how each struggled to find a way to navigate their world, some with more success than others, and some with more kindness than others.
Cowell also shows how difficult it was and is for musicians to make a living.
Cowell also shows how difficult it was and is for musicians to make a living.
April 16, 2012
More like a 3 1/2 star book. Short life for Mozart and most spent with his mom and dad. Don't get sucked into that life.
Read
October 17, 2016While there were a few good parts, overall it wasn't very good. According to my counting breasts were mentioned 17 times. Not that that was the main reason for not liking this book
February 12, 2019
This is the story of the 4 Weber sisters who live in Mannaheim. They are a musical family performing in small venues when Wolfgang Mozart enters their lives. He falls for the second eldest daughter, Aloysia. She is very beautiful and a talented singer and Mozart plans to marry her. Unfortunately, his parents have other plans for him. Mozart's talents have already begun to show themselves, and his parents want him to focus on becoming successful and put of marriage until he is 30 years old.
He continues to put off Aloysia as he returns to Austria to continue to write operas and music. Aloysia then gets a job to sing in Vienna, and the whole family moves with her. Aloysia gets tired of waiting for Mozart, though, and falls in love with another man. Mozart is heartbroken, and delves into his work.
Meanwhile the other sisters are left with their mother. Their father has died and they are trying to care for a retched woman who never says a nice word to the girls. Josepha finally runs away, Sophia joins a convent, and that leaves Constanze at home with her mother. Mozart becomes a boarder at the girl's mother's house and soon finds himself falling for Constanze.
In the end, Constanze and Mozart wed. We know that their married life is short because Mozart dies at the age of 35.
The story does go back and forth between the girl's young lives, and Sophia as an elderly woman telling the story for an interview. I really liked this book. It was well written, and a light read, and I know that it has truth undertones. The author is clear that is basically historical fiction. Mozart was married to Constanze. He was from Austria. He did write fantastic music and operas. This book touches very lightly on his life and focuses mostly on the lives of the four girls.
I enjoyed it. I encourage you to read it. I find it amazing that Mozart - the brilliant musician - struggled so much to just survive almost his whole life. It is truly amazing.
He continues to put off Aloysia as he returns to Austria to continue to write operas and music. Aloysia then gets a job to sing in Vienna, and the whole family moves with her. Aloysia gets tired of waiting for Mozart, though, and falls in love with another man. Mozart is heartbroken, and delves into his work.
Meanwhile the other sisters are left with their mother. Their father has died and they are trying to care for a retched woman who never says a nice word to the girls. Josepha finally runs away, Sophia joins a convent, and that leaves Constanze at home with her mother. Mozart becomes a boarder at the girl's mother's house and soon finds himself falling for Constanze.
In the end, Constanze and Mozart wed. We know that their married life is short because Mozart dies at the age of 35.
The story does go back and forth between the girl's young lives, and Sophia as an elderly woman telling the story for an interview. I really liked this book. It was well written, and a light read, and I know that it has truth undertones. The author is clear that is basically historical fiction. Mozart was married to Constanze. He was from Austria. He did write fantastic music and operas. This book touches very lightly on his life and focuses mostly on the lives of the four girls.
I enjoyed it. I encourage you to read it. I find it amazing that Mozart - the brilliant musician - struggled so much to just survive almost his whole life. It is truly amazing.
April 18, 2019
We know Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a musical wonder. We know where he lived and who he married. We may even know a little about other social aspects of his life. The historical fiction book, “Marrying Mozart”, takes a big leap into his personal life. A leap I could have easily skipped.
Stephanie Cowell’s book is about the young composer, the Weber sisters, and how they come together. Mozart falls in love with one Weber sister and ends up marrying a different one. The book feels like the alter universe to “Little Women” with disappointing results. In fact, I shouldn’t even make that comparison. I love “Little Women.” This book was difficult to finish.
While I don’t know the research done for this book, I can only imagine Cowell used what little there was available (love letters?) and took some generous guesses that fall flat. It is a work of fiction, but I feel the author either didn’t take enough license or she took too much, depending on what she uncovered about these people.
You read the book for the characters and their journey, not necessarily the end results. Sadly, the characters are caricatures of shallow people.
As a reader, I was hoping Mozart would find love and that the Weber girls would escape their parents’ odd visions of life, but in the end, I just didn’t care.
Stephanie Cowell’s book is about the young composer, the Weber sisters, and how they come together. Mozart falls in love with one Weber sister and ends up marrying a different one. The book feels like the alter universe to “Little Women” with disappointing results. In fact, I shouldn’t even make that comparison. I love “Little Women.” This book was difficult to finish.
While I don’t know the research done for this book, I can only imagine Cowell used what little there was available (love letters?) and took some generous guesses that fall flat. It is a work of fiction, but I feel the author either didn’t take enough license or she took too much, depending on what she uncovered about these people.
You read the book for the characters and their journey, not necessarily the end results. Sadly, the characters are caricatures of shallow people.
As a reader, I was hoping Mozart would find love and that the Weber girls would escape their parents’ odd visions of life, but in the end, I just didn’t care.
December 15, 2017
While this is undoubtedly fiction, it was so wonderful and refreshing to read a book just about the Weber sisters, and dear Constanze, whom I have always loved and admired.
The characterization of Mozart himself in this novel contrasts with many of the modern interpretations of his loud, impulsive, and often reckless nature, which is often blown up to massive proportions. While this version of Mozart is quite a few more pegs down on the volume-setting than that of Mozart in Amadeus, it still remains true to facets of his interesting personality that are evident in his letters at the time.
No Mozart Media is perfect, but this novel received a full five stars from me because it felt real while also engaging me in the drama and romance of the story. The subtlety only made it more delicious. I read the entire thing in a single night and was thoroughly touched by the sweetness of the ending. I could go on about the specifics of the book for ages and will definitely be rereading in the future; I have already re-read once since my initial consumption last winter.
The characterization of Mozart himself in this novel contrasts with many of the modern interpretations of his loud, impulsive, and often reckless nature, which is often blown up to massive proportions. While this version of Mozart is quite a few more pegs down on the volume-setting than that of Mozart in Amadeus, it still remains true to facets of his interesting personality that are evident in his letters at the time.
No Mozart Media is perfect, but this novel received a full five stars from me because it felt real while also engaging me in the drama and romance of the story. The subtlety only made it more delicious. I read the entire thing in a single night and was thoroughly touched by the sweetness of the ending. I could go on about the specifics of the book for ages and will definitely be rereading in the future; I have already re-read once since my initial consumption last winter.
March 12, 2022
Historical fiction is probably the only genre for which I am willing to occasionally put up with mediocre writing if I am engaged enough by other aspects of the story. It’s been my favorite type of fiction, by far, for as long as I can remember, and there are aspects of it I will almost always enjoy even if sometimes the storytelling itself isn’t strong.
This was the case for me with this book - the writing is pretty weak, and there were too many inconsistencies and editing errors throughout for me to name them all here without completely boring myself. And yet I admit, I ultimately enjoyed it. I felt pulled into this fascinating Austrian world of music and operas and court politics and, of course, the lives of Mozart and the four Weber sisters. I do wonder just how historically accurate a lot of it was (especially the depiction of Mozart), but you know what? I still had a good time reading it. I just wish it had been written better.
This was the case for me with this book - the writing is pretty weak, and there were too many inconsistencies and editing errors throughout for me to name them all here without completely boring myself. And yet I admit, I ultimately enjoyed it. I felt pulled into this fascinating Austrian world of music and operas and court politics and, of course, the lives of Mozart and the four Weber sisters. I do wonder just how historically accurate a lot of it was (especially the depiction of Mozart), but you know what? I still had a good time reading it. I just wish it had been written better.
January 5, 2025
This is a beautiful little book. I have the hardcover version (as shown), featuring a portrait painting by Ingres on the book jacket with lovely pink flaps. Unlike many modern books, this one is artfully designed, with a tantalizing script font that effortlessly transports the reader to the 18th-century world of Austrian classical music.
The story follows four sisters, their mother, and Mozart, exploring their relationships and yearnings in an uplifting story with characters whose choices are often imprudent. After work, I often need a book like this, fun and entertaining with modern, easy-to-read English while offering a vivid escape to a far away time and place.
I highly recommend this well-written and heartwarming gem to anyone looking for an excursion into history and music with a distinctly feminine predilection.
The story follows four sisters, their mother, and Mozart, exploring their relationships and yearnings in an uplifting story with characters whose choices are often imprudent. After work, I often need a book like this, fun and entertaining with modern, easy-to-read English while offering a vivid escape to a far away time and place.
I highly recommend this well-written and heartwarming gem to anyone looking for an excursion into history and music with a distinctly feminine predilection.
December 23, 2022
Marrying Mozart by Stephanie Cowell
I think The Seattle Times had it right that this novel is a mini-opera filled with twists of affections, musical politics, love, loss and chocolate. A little melodramatic at times for me. The Webber sisters are the story. Women who grow up in a time when women had to be married to wealth and status or suffer and die for real. Fortunately for them they had talents that were acceptable to the times. Mozart showed up in their lives then the comedy-tragedy began.
I think The Seattle Times had it right that this novel is a mini-opera filled with twists of affections, musical politics, love, loss and chocolate. A little melodramatic at times for me. The Webber sisters are the story. Women who grow up in a time when women had to be married to wealth and status or suffer and die for real. Fortunately for them they had talents that were acceptable to the times. Mozart showed up in their lives then the comedy-tragedy began.
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