A review by shirleytupperfreeman
The Gustav Sonata by Rose Tremain

While this is another WWII novel, it takes a different approach. Tremain uses the background of Swiss neutrality to tell the story of Gustav, a young Swiss boy whose policeman father has died, and his friend Anton, a wealthy Jewish piano prodigy whose family left Germany while they still could. Gustav's mother teaches him to 'master himself' in all things. Anton is creative and a bit of a tortured soul. Not until they are in their 60s do they allow themselves to become who they are each meant to be.