Frank Conroy: Body and Soul

[Ricordanza]

CMG members should find this book especially interesting. The central character of this novel, Claude Rawlings, is a musical prodigy. He overcomes a difficult childhood thanks to a refugee music store owner, who becomes his first teacher and mentor. Through a series of meetings with people who are in a position to help him, a few lucky events and several opportunities to display his enormous talent, he emerges as a successful pianist and composer. His personal life, however, does not follow such a smooth path. You do not have to be a musician to appreciate this book, but if you have a musical background, you will find special enjoyment in Conroy’s extensive descriptions of music-making. The story of this prodigy is engrossing on many levels, and this is one of those rare books that I was sorry to reach the end.

[jserraglio]

Thanks. Never heard of it or him though I gather he was pretty well known. I'll try to enKindle it from a library today.