• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

Struggling for Perfection is the story of the famous pianist, an enigmatic figure who made some of the most acclaimed classical recordings of the last century. A former child prodigy and an unpredictable, passionate man, Glenn Gould was known as much for his eccentricities as his vast musical genius. After retiring prematurely from performing, Gould branched out into work in film and radio and helped bring classical music recording technology into a new age. He has became a national icon in Canada. Vladimir Konieczny delivers a sensitive and affectionate portrait of this imposing figure in music history. The book is illustrated with sketches and archival photos.

Vlad Konieczny is a writer specializing in corporate communications. He is also a part-time instructor in the Writing and Publishing Program at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. Born in a refugee camp in Germany in 1946, he immigrated to Canada with his parents in 1951. As a child, he studied piano and accordion in Toronto, competed in many music festivals and played in clubs during the late 1960s and early 1970s before attending university. A former teacher of English and music for the Vancouver School Board, Vlad is also an amateur musician who plays flute in a concert band and alto sax in a fifteen piece swing band. He first heard Glenn Gould play on CBC Radio in the early 1960s, and became an instant fan, following the pianist’s career until his death in 1982. Struggling for Perfection: The Story of Glenn Gould is his first book.

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