Maestro (novella): Difference between revisions
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The most influential character, Eduard Keller, lost his family during [[The Holocaust]], despite performing for [[Adolf Hitler]] in private concerts in the belief Hitler would spare his Jewish family. |
The most influential character, Eduard Keller, lost his family during [[The Holocaust]], despite performing for [[Adolf Hitler]] in private concerts in the belief Hitler would spare his Jewish family. |
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Peter Goldsworthy's novella ''Maestro'' is based on adolescence and growing up. Keller (the ''Maestro'') educates Paul about the basis of life through music metaphors and Paul learns of other cultures and lives through Keller's experiences in Vienna. The book follows Paul from early adolescence into adulthood and depicts Paul learning and understanding about life. |
Peter Goldsworthy's novella ''Maestro'' Johnathon is based on adolescence fat and growing up. Keller (the ''Maestro'') educates Paul about the basis of life through music metaphors and Paul learns of other cultures and lives through Keller's experiences in Vienna. The book follows Paul from early adolescence into adulthood and depicts Paul learning and understanding about life. |
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For Keller, the grand piano is his sanctity and security, assisting him to deal with the horrors of the world; "safe beneath that grand piano," and likewise offering Eduard a method of destructing life. "Never trust the beautiful … beauty simplifies" quotes Keller referring to music, also relating to the world. Goldsworthy typifies beauty as a façade, a means of avoiding reality, depicted by Paul's discovery of true love in Rosie, whom he initially dismissed as "podgy baby-fat" and "mousy" as he lusted after Megan. As Paul matures, Keller's phrasings, which seemed absurd in adolescence, hardened into a "musical bible whose texts I knew by heart" but Paul does not relate them to his life until middle-age, leaving him "smug, insufferable," throughout his life. |
For Keller, the grand piano is his sanctity and security, assisting him to deal with the horrors of the world; "safe beneath that grand piano," and likewise offering Eduard a method of destructing life. "Never trust the beautiful … beauty simplifies" quotes Keller referring to music, also relating to the world. Goldsworthy typifies beauty as a façade, a means of avoiding reality, depicted by Paul's discovery of true love in Rosie, whom he initially dismissed as "podgy baby-fat" and "mousy" as he lusted after Megan. As Paul matures, Keller's phrasings, which seemed absurd in adolescence, hardened into a "musical bible whose texts I knew by heart" but Paul does not relate them to his life until middle-age, leaving him "smug, insufferable," throughout his life. |
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Revision as of 12:35, 9 January 2009
| Author | Peter Goldsworthy |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Michael Goldberg |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Bildungsroman |
| Publisher | Angus & Robertson |
Publication date | 1989 |
| Publication place | Australia |
| Pages | 149 |
| ISBN | ISBN 978-0207162893 Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character |
Maestro is a 1989 novel written by Australian author Peter Goldsworthy. It is a bildungsroman which deals with the themes of art and life.
The novel was shortlisted for the 1990 Miles Franklin Award. It has been translated into German,[1] and is a set text on year-twelve syllabuses in several Australian states.[2] It was chosen for the inaugural Australian "One Book—One Town" project.[3] In 2003, it appeared as number 22 on the Australian Society of Autors' list of the top-forty Australian books ever published.[4]
Plot Summary
The protagonist is a boy called Paul Crabbe, who is taught piano by his teacher (or maestro), Eduard Keller. Paul does not like his teacher at first, but by the end of the novel has grown to appreciate him dearly. Paul learns the limits of his own musical ability through Keller, but he also grows to understand himself and Keller enough to write the novel. Additionally, he has a loving relationship with his sweetheart, Rosie.
This book deals with the main idea of contrasts, as well as other themes. Contrasts are shown by Paul's mother and father — how they differ; Vienna and Darwin — high culture vs. low culture; Paul as an adolescent and Paul as an adult — through the continual change in narrator, as Paul changes.
The most influential character, Eduard Keller, lost his family during The Holocaust, despite performing for Adolf Hitler in private concerts in the belief Hitler would spare his Jewish family.
Peter Goldsworthy's novella Maestro Johnathon is based on adolescence fat and growing up. Keller (the Maestro) educates Paul about the basis of life through music metaphors and Paul learns of other cultures and lives through Keller's experiences in Vienna. The book follows Paul from early adolescence into adulthood and depicts Paul learning and understanding about life.
For Keller, the grand piano is his sanctity and security, assisting him to deal with the horrors of the world; "safe beneath that grand piano," and likewise offering Eduard a method of destructing life. "Never trust the beautiful … beauty simplifies" quotes Keller referring to music, also relating to the world. Goldsworthy typifies beauty as a façade, a means of avoiding reality, depicted by Paul's discovery of true love in Rosie, whom he initially dismissed as "podgy baby-fat" and "mousy" as he lusted after Megan. As Paul matures, Keller's phrasings, which seemed absurd in adolescence, hardened into a "musical bible whose texts I knew by heart" but Paul does not relate them to his life until middle-age, leaving him "smug, insufferable," throughout his life.
Keller originates from Vienna, where he was a renowned musician "becoming so visible so that nothing can touch him", therefore believing he is exempt from the effects of war. Eventually he lost his wife and son and disappeared from the country, leaving every-one to believe he was dead. Filled with remorse and regret, Keller transforms and evolves to become a completely different man, "if we are discussing the same man how different our two versions." Keller understands the frivolities and foolish nature of human society, passed onto Paul in the form of clippings from newspapers, Keller's "textbooks." "The thousands of stories of human foolishness and greed and cruelty that he had tried to patch together into some kind of understanding of his fellow beings" depicts Keller's knowledge.
When Paul initially began lessons with Keller, his first impressions were misleading, "a boozers incandescent glow", "I'd seen nothing like him before." As Paul matures, his attitudes towards the Maestro become warmer and they develop an unexpressed bond. "I slipped my arm beneath his head and kissed him" represent Paul's final realisation of his connection with Keller in death. Throughout his life, Paul took the Maestro for granted, believing his advice was "irritating — and also contradictory." After Keller's death, Paul realises the opportunities Keller had presented him. "Mourning for a great man, yes, but also mourning for myself — for times and possibilities that will never come again." Throughout the novella the tone shifts from egotism and selfishness to regret and wisdom depicting Paul's growth.
In conclusion, Maestro has the main themes of adolescence and growing up. Paul is educated about life through music and Keller's experiences in Vienna and understanding of human nature contribute to Paul's knowledge of the world. The book tracks Paul as he develops into a responsible, mature man from an obnoxious, egotistical teenager.
The Movie
A filmed adaptation of the book is scheduled to be released in 2008; it is to be directed by Catherine Jarvis, produced by Marco Mehlitz, Tom Sturridge will portray the role of Paul Crabbe and Klaus Maria Brandauer will play Eduard Keller.[5]
References
- ^ "Peter Goldsworthy". HarperCollins Australia. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
- ^ "About the author" in Maestro (2004 edition) ISBN 0 7322 8148 2
- ^ One Book Rates a Read in Towns from Bowral to Alice Springs
- ^ Top 40 Australian Books Ryde Library Services
- ^ Meza, Ed (3 September 2008). "Marco Mehlitz — Lago Film founder drives pan-European prod'ns". Variety. Retrieved 2008-10-25.