Maria

A Novel of Maria von Trapp

By: Michelle Moran

Narrated by: Eileen Stevens, Natasha Soudek

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.

©2024 Michelle Moran (P)2024 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Moran proves herself to be a master storyteller of historical fiction in this engaging and thoughtful novel with lush descriptions in every chapter. . . . Fans of The Sound of Music will want to read the author’s note for real historical tidbits that are awakened within the story.”—Booklist, starred review

“Maria looks at a well-known story with fresh eyes. Alternating between the life and experiences of beloved heroine Maria von Trapp in the 1940s and the perils of adapting her story for the silver screen years later, Moran adds new dimensions to a story that has captivated hearts and minds for decades. Heartwarming, earnest, and endlessly fascinating, the hills truly do come alive with the sound of music in this deftly crafted tale.”—Aimie K. Runyan, bestselling author of The Memory of Lavender and Sage

"Readers, prepare to meet the real Maria, a complex and compelling leading lady who will both delight and surprise all who feel they already know the story of the fabled von Trapp family. Michelle Moran has delivered a gem of a novel, rich in historic detail, page-turning pacing, and lyrical, lush storytelling. As immersive, heartbreaking, and ultimately redemptive as the musical for which Maria von Trapp is so widely known and loved, this one is not to be missed. Brava!”—Allison Pataki, New York Times bestselling author of Finding Margaret Fuller

Blast from the past

Michelle Moran is a favorite of mine. Bringing real people from back in time and then creating a glorious narrative to express their story. I appreciate the epilogues that follow explaining truth from fiction and also her writing process. Most everyone knows the movie with Julie Andrews. However, most don’t know the film before it or the true person that inspired it. Learning about Maria and her family was captivating and shed such a light on the people who lived this seemingly fairy tale during a period of time that was anything but.

How well written it was. Weaving the accurate story through the imagined story of a young writer.

It stayed interesting through every chapter. Each chapter ended with a cliffhanger, and each character was so well-developed.

Great read

What a great story about a beautiful family
Well written great characters truthful information
Loved it