Claudia Von Canon was born and educated in her native city of Vienna, Austria. She studied both harpsichord and voice and, after coming to the United States in 1956, taught music at a variety of levels from elementary school to graduate school, including at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Moonclock and The Inheritance, both historical novels, are her only major works for young adults, although she has also written articles and essays both on music and about Austria.

Both of her novels have been recognized by inclusion on lists of best books. The Moonclock, which is set in Vienna in 1683, is included in both the American Library Association's Notable Children's Books 1976-1980 and Major Booksfor Young Adults. The Inheritance, which is set in Europe (primarily Spain, Italy, and Switzerland) during the sixteenth century, is listed in the University of Chicago Press's The Best in...