I’m sure I am not alone in having fond memories of the first time I saw Julie Andrews in the screen adaptation of The Sound of Music. The hills, the songs, the voices, the story—on the big screen, it couldn’t fail to enchant. To this day, I have family members who seek out reruns in the theaters and have memorized every line of the score. Yet somehow I missed the news that Maria von Trapp was so unhappy with the treatment of her life on the stage that she wrote a letter of protest to Oscar Hammerstein begging him to rewrite the lyrics to more accurately reflect her family’s experience.
The show was in rehearsal on Broadway by the time Maria’s letter reached its destination, so it is perhaps not surprising that her protests had little effect. But that’s not the point of Maria, the charming new novel by Michelle Moran that is the subject of today’s interview. The book moves back and forth between New York in 1959, where a group of fictional writers working for Hammerstein give their perspective on the conflict, and Maria’s own story told from her point of view, beginning in Salzburg, Austria, in 1926, when she is still a novice teaching six-year-olds at the convent. Read on to find out more.
You’ve covered a wide range in your fiction, from ancient Egypt to eighteenth- and nineteenth-century France to India, and more. What appealed to you about Maria von Trapp and her desire to set the record straight?
Maria von Trapp’s story intrigued me because it goes beyond the romanticized version we see in The Sound of Music. Her life was filled with real challenges, resilience, and a profound desire to stay true to her faith and family. Maria’s insistence on setting the record straight was about honoring the authenticity of her family’s journey, which was far more complex and gritty than the musical portrayed. This depth and authenticity were what drew me to her story.
Maria complained about the way Rodgers and Hammerstein portrayed her life onstage, although some of the differences seem inconsequential to an outsider. What upset her so much?
Maria was deeply frustrated by how Rodgers & Hammerstein took creative liberties with her family’s story. To an outsider, the differences might seem minor, but for Maria, they were extremely significant. She felt deeply concerned about how Georg was portrayed in the musical, since he’d been quiet, kind, and soft-spoken in real life. She also felt the musical glossed over the hardships the family endured after leaving Austria.
This is, at its heart, a novel about the adjustments required to transform real life into a story—especially in a script or screenplay, where there is so little space to work with. How did Hammerstein, in particular, cope with these constraints?
Hammerstein, like many writers, had to balance factual accuracy with the need for dramatic structure and pacing in a musical. With limited space and time in a script, both he (as the lyricist) and the scriptwriters had to distill the von Trapps’ complex history into a more straightforward, compelling narrative. This meant sometimes altering events or character traits to fit the format of a musical. It was a tricky balancing act, and in the end, I felt I understood their reasons for making some of these changes.
How would you describe the real Maria, since we can assume most readers have seen The Sound of Music?
The real Maria was a force of nature—strong-willed, devout, and fiercely protective of her family. Unlike the always-cheerful version in the musical, she had a fiery temper and was deeply passionate about her beliefs and duties. This determination and depth of character were crucial in navigating the turbulent times her family faced.
And Georg von Trapp? What can you tell us about him and his children?
Georg von Trapp was an incredible father who valued his children’s well-being above all things. He was nothing at all like the disciplinarian portrayed in both the play and the movie. His children remembered him as being happy, kind, and incredibly empathetic—all characteristics the writers gave to Maria in the movie. As for the ten children, they had a wide range of careers and interests. Singing was what paid the bills for the von Trapps and allowed them to escape from Austria, but for most of the children, it wasn’t a calling.
The story of the family’s escape from Hitler is fiction-worthy dramatic. Why did Rodgers & Hammerstein not use that version?
Rodgers & Hammerstein chose not to delve into the full dramatic potential of the von Trapp family’s escape to keep the musical light and uplifting. They were aiming to create a family-friendly production that emphasized hope, love, and music, rather than the grim realities of fleeing from the Nazis. The focus was more on the emotional and musical journey than on a detailed historical account, which would have added a layer of darkness and complexity that might have overshadowed the musical’s optimistic tone.
Not all your characters are historical, although even those who aren’t draw on real-life counterparts. Tell us about Fran Connelly and her relationships with Peter and Jack.
Fran’s relationship with Jack helps her discover who she is and who she truly wants to be, particularly in light of Maria’s story. Maria was fierce, and when Fran finds her light being dimmed by a boyfriend who isn’t as happy about her success as a great partner really should be, she channels her inner Maria to deal with the situation. Peter, of course, is Jack’s foil. And I’m fortunate to have my own Peter in my life, who is always rooting for me!
Are you already on to something new?
Yes! I can’t say much about it, because the contract hasn’t been signed, but it’s set in England pre-WW1.
Thank you so much for answering my questions!
Thank you so much for hosting me here. 😊
Michelle Moran is the internationally bestselling author of eight historical novels, most recently Maria, based on the life of Maria von Trapp. A frequent traveler, she currently lives with her family in England, where she is researching her ninth book.. Find out more about her and her books at https://www.michellemoran.com.
Photograph of the Von Trapp Family Singers in 1941 public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
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