Maestro (novel)

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Maestro is a 1991 novel written by Australian author Peter Goldsworthy. It is a bildungsroman which deals with the themes of art and life.

[edit] 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 & father - how they differ; Vienna & Darwin - high culture vs. low culture; Paul as an adolescent and Paul as an adult - through the continual change in narrator, as Paul changes.