About this item
A poignant memoir that weaves chronic illness and classical music into a raw, inspiring tale of grace and determination. Andrea, already a promising and ambitious classical pianist at twelve, was diagnosed with a severe case of rheumatoid arthritis that threatened not just her musical aspirations but her ability to live a normal life. As Andrea navigates the pain and frustration of coping with RA alongside the usual travails of puberty, college, sex, and just growing-up, she turns to music -- specifically Franz Schubert's sonata in B-flat D960, and the one-armed pianist Paul Wittgenstein for strength and inspiration. The heartbreaking story of this mysterious sonata -- Schubert's last, and his most elusive and haunting -- is the soundtrack of Andrea's story.
About the Author
Andrea Avery is a writer and teacher based in Phoenix, AZ. She is the author of Sonata: A Memoir of Pain and the Piano (Pegasus Books) . Her work has appeared in Ploughshares, The Oxford American, Real Simple, and The Politics of Women's Bodies: Sexuality, Appearance, Behavior (Oxford U. Press) . She is an active volunteer with the Arthritis Foundation and available for speaking engagements, signings, book clubs, and other events. Learn more at www.andreaaveryauthor.com.
