Body & Soul

By: Frank Conroy

Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin

As a boy, Claude Rawlings looks up through the grated window of his basement apartment to watch the world go by. Poor, lonely, supported by a taxi-driver mother whose eccentricities spin more and more out of control, he faces the terrible task of growing up on the margins of life, destined to be a spectator of that great world always hurrying out of reach. But there is an out-of-tune piano in the small apartment, and in unlocking the secrets of its keys, as if by magic, Claude discovers himself. He is a musical prodigy.

Body & Soul is the story of a young man whose life is transformed by a gift. The gift is not without price - the work is relentless, the teachers exacting - but the reward is a journey that takes him to the drawing rooms of the rich and powerful, private schools, a gilt-edged marriage, and Carnegie Hall. Claude moves through this life as if he were playing a difficult composition, swept up in its drama and tension, surprised by its grace notes. Music, here, becomes a character in its own right, equaled in strength only by the music of Frank Conroy's own unmistakable and true voice.

©1993 Frank Conroy (P)2019 Tantor

Critic reviews

“Beautifully written, and hypnotically readable...the best story I know of in a long, long time.” (Vanity Fair)

Unexpectedly wonderful!

The book was fascinating even knowing nothing about music . The narrator’s pacing enhanced the story.

Mesmerizing!

This is the most compelling book I’ve read in ages. Masterful, both in grand arcs and intimate detail.

Musician’s coming of age and beyond.

I really enjoyed listening to this! I will listen to this again! The character development was exceptional!

Wonderful

Really enjoyed this look at 1940’s post war New York and a delightful coming of age story. Well done.

Spectacular!

This was a wonderful story! The entire time was engaging and relatable. All the characters I felt I could relate and understand, i felt so connected to Claude and his life.
His growing up was so well written it surrounded me like a movie. The writing wasn’t overly descriptive, I was able to put some details together myself and yet not miss anything…
The depth of each character’s life adversity was brilliant and gave such a great view of the world and life in that time… it was so raw and honest.
The narration was fantastic and was consistent and easy to follow.
Overall a brilliant, beautiful story 💜