The Road to Mozart is a book about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-91), his childhood and upbringing, and his dramatic journey towards liberation and independence up until his sudden and unexpected death at the age of 35 when he was at his most creative and productive. It is also a book about the significance of Mozart today.

Ketil Bjørnstad tells us about his first experience of Mozart and how it was to grow up with a composer he still plays every day. This is therefore also a personal memoir of Bjørnstad’s own upbringing in Oslo in the 50s, 60s and 70s, where connections to his trilogy about Aksel Vinding are evident. Bjørnstad writes about the decisions he had to make early in life when he realized he would have to abandon his career as a classical pianist and instead make a future out of being an author, composer and jazz musician. He weaves two widely different stories together to shape a tale of the control exercised by the authorities, the daily struggle for existence, and the miracles of liberation. A tribute to the groundbreaking power of music.