Memories Before and After the Sound of Music: An Autobiography

After reading a book about movie musicals, I decided to read something more about the story behind one of the biggest musicals ever—The Sound of Music. Agathe Von Trapp was the second child and oldest daughter of Captain Georg Von Trapp, and Memories Before and After The Sound of Music is her autobiography. It is mostly delightful and includes sketches drawn by the author. However, fans of the movie may be disappointed that the life of the Von Trapp family is often quite different from the movie-version.Memories Before and After The Sound of Music spends much time describing Agathe’s childhood. Her father was a handsome submarine commander in the Austrian Navy. Their mother, also named Agathe, came from Austrian aristocrats on one side, and a wealthy British inventor and industrialist on the other. They married and had seven children before Agathe died from scarlet fever. Their childhood is disrupted by World War I, and then again with the rise of the Nazi party and World War II. The author makes a special effort to tell the reader all the fiction in the movie based on their lives. She claims that their father wasn’t stern but loving and kind. He was always interested in music and never had them stop performing after the death of his wife. Step-mother Maria was also not the wonderful woman portrayed by Julie Andrews, and she was only hired to tutor one sister who was sick at home. Although it seems like there was genuine affection between Maria and her step-children, Agathe claims that Maria could also be quite difficult. But at some point, Agathe comes to accept The Sound of Music and the role it will play in the lives of all the Von Trapps.I will admit that I thought this book got bogged down in spots. There seems to be a lot of name dropping with castles and estates in which the family stayed. But several themes shine through, and they are family, faith and music. Even after the family stopped touring in 1956, they remained close and the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont is still the center of family activity.Even though Agathe’s story doesn’t always parallel The Sound of Music, it is still a fascinating one. And where The Sound of Music ends with their escape from Austria, Agathe fills in the time after that as they settle into American life.

I have watched the movie many, many times! It is a favorite of mine! It is great to enjoy your book. I wish I knew the actual story before. It is great to hear the actual characters and how actually Made the Sound of Music. I am sorry that they didn't realize any of the profits, but they might not have been the same Family!

Like many who have enjoyed The Sound of Music movie, I was interested in finding out how much of the story was true, and how much Hollywood had taken “artistic license” with the story. They seem to have gotten three things right. The Von Trapps were Austrian, they were almost all musically talented and could sing, and lastly, Maria was a problem for the Abby! The rest of the movie they took large license with how they portrayed the story. Agathe, the eldest daughter does provide a more intimate view of the family and the timeline of events that lead us to know them as portrayed in the movie. I was especially interested in Captain Von Trapp and his Word War I experiences that lead up to his notoriety as a hero to the Austrians. The book is very much a memoir and drags with too much detail from her early memories. However it does portray a family life that at times fit the movie version, but most of the time was filled with the family memories that you would expect. Worth the read.

I always enjoy reading about the average person and I suspect Agathe von Trapp would have considered herself average even though she tells of a life foreign to most of us. No show biz glamour and even her early life of privilege doesn't sound overly coddled.Before buying the book, I read one review which puzzled me and I am addressing it to help others. The reviewer remarked that the book seemed to have been written to "get even" although no suggestion as to with whom. Having previously Maria von Trapp's story (decades ago) and enough other commentary to know that the original Maria was not the sweet naif of the show and movie. She was a strong willed woman capable of dominating her husband and directing everyone's life as she thought. Perhaps just what was needed at the time, but I wondered if Agathe had spoken unkindly of the woman she called Mother. No such thing. She speaks respectfully and fondly of Maria.The only point at which I felt there was any regret shown was in the reaction to the Sound of Music. She admits to being unhappy with the show, especially with unflattering and totally inaccurate portrayal of her beloved father.She is certainly not the first person to be disappointed when dramatic license is chosen over accuracy of detail. I recall that upon seeing Sunrise at Campobello, Eleanor Roosevelt remarked something to the effect that it was an interesting play but the characters were not accurate portrayals of the originals. In time Agathe von Trapp came to have similar feelings about the Sound of Music.

I enjoyed this b/c I am a big fan of the movie. I think I read Maria's book about the family back when I was a kid before the movie even came out so I was eager to read one by one of 'the children' who, as she points out, were pretty well grown before they started their singing career. I read somewhere a long time ago that Maria was extremely difficult & very controlling, that she wouldn't let any of them live their own lives, etc even when they wanted to marry & have families of their own. Agathe said Maria was "difficult to live with at times" but didn't go any detail other than that. It sounded like they were all in agreement when they decided to stop performing, The oldest one, a boy, followed the career he wanted rather than what was suggested to him, left & married before that so maybe that wasn't true about Maria. I think Agathe gave an extremely rosy recounting of their lives, nothing could be that wonderful & perfect but I learned some things about them & did enjoy it. If you love the movie I think you will like & appreciate th is book

Excellent read, I found this book so interesting and very enjoyable. As a big fan of the film I was always curious to read about the real lives of the von tramp family singers. I really loved reading this book and could no put it down. It's such an amazing read,would highly recommend this book to be read.

This book is fascinating if you have an Interest in the sound of music and the von Trapp family it's a great book just don't expect it to be a written record like the sound of music it's not like the film at all but I actually thought it was better because of that. Shows you a different side to the family everyone thinks they know.

I really enjoyed this book having just read the book written by Maria herself . This made some things clear about the first book and also showed Maria was not the so so sweet little thing as she was seen in the film. I is good to know the talent of making music has been passed on through the generations.

This is a very pleasant and competently written account of the Von Trapp family.

Thank God for Agatha Von Trapp.....Writing a book that IS EASY to Read & A Total Delight.....including being 'A Light Read'......& About her and the very 'Real & Alive People' in her life.....that helped 'paint a picture' of Clarity & Understanding & Compassion, loss & Trust.....Thanku Amazon for this Book!! 👍👍🏾👏👏🏾😜