Beethoven: The Universal Composer (Eminent Lives)

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was a genius so universal that his popularity, extraordinary even during his lifetime, has never ceased to grow. It now encircles the globe: Beethoven's most famous works are as beloved in Beijing as they are in Boston. Edmund Morris, the author of three bestselling presidential biographies and a lifelong devotee of Beethoven, brings the great composer to life as a man of astonishing complexity and overpowering intelligence. A gigantic, compulsively creative personality unable to tolerate constraints, he was not so much a social rebel as an astute manipulator of the most powerful and privileged aristocrats in Germany and Austria, at a time when their world was threatened by the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. But Beethoven's achievement rests in his immortal music. Struggling against progressive, incurable deafness (which he desperately tried to keep secret), he nonetheless produced towering masterpieces, such as his iconic Fifth and Ninth symphonies. With sensitivity and insight, Edmund Morris illuminates Beethoven's life, including his interactions with the women he privately lusted for but held at bay, and his work, whose grandeur and beauty were conceived "on the other side of silence."Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edmund Morris (__The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, Theodore Rex, Dutch__) is one of America’s most distinguished biographers, known for his rich, compulsively readable prose style. His biography of Beethoven, one of the most admired composers in the history of music, is above all a study of genius in action, of one of the few giants of Western culture. __Beethoven__ is another engaging entry in the HarperCollins’ “Eminent Lives” series of biographies by distinguished authors on canonical figures.

ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827) Was A Composer Of Universal Genius Whose Popularity, Extraordinary Even During His Lifetime, Has Never Ceased To Grow And Now Encircles The Globe. His Most Famous Works Are As Beloved In Beijing As They Are In Boston. A Lifelong Devotee, Edmund Morris, The Author Of Three Bestselling Presidential Biographies, Brings The Great Composer To Life As A Man Of Astonishing Complexity And Overpowering Intelligence—a Gigantic, Compulsively Creative Personality Unable To Tolerate Constraints. But Beethoven's Achievement Rests In His Immortal Music, Whose Grandeur And Beauty Were Conceived On The Other Side Of Silence.

the Washington Post - Tim Page

… As A Historian, Morris Knows How To Set A Scene, Tell A Story, Reconstruct A World. At 240 Pages, His Beethoven Is Succinct But Sufficient -- A Deft, Deeply Satisfying Mid-length Compromise Between The Brilliant Popular Profile In Harold C. Schonberg's the Lives Of The Great Composers And The Exhaustive Scholarly Biography By Maynard Solomon.

Beethoven was a genius so universal that his popularity, extraordinary even during his lifetime, has never ceased to grow. It now encircles the globe: Beethoven's most famous works are as beloved in Beijing as they are in Boston. Biographer Morris brings the composer to life as a man of astonishing complexity and overpowering intelligence. A gigantic, compulsively creative personality unable to tolerate constraints, he was not so much a social rebel as an astute manipulator of powerful and privileged aristocrats, at a time when their world was threatened by the rise of Napoleon. Struggling against progressive, incurable deafness (which he desperately tried to keep secret), he nonetheless produced towering masterpieces. Morris illuminates Beethoven's life, including his interactions with the women he privately lusted for but held at bay, and his work, whose grandeur and beauty were conceived'on the other side of silence.'--From publisher description. Beethoven was a genius so universal that his popularity, extraordinary even during his lifetime, has never ceased to grow. It now encircles the globe: Beethoven's most famous works are as beloved in Beijing as they are in Boston. Biographer Morris brings the composer to life as a man of astonishing complexity and overpowering intelligence. A gigantic, compulsively creative personality unable to tolerate constraints, he was not so much a social rebel as an astute manipulator of powerful and privileged aristocrats, at a time when their world was threatened by the rise of Napoleon. Struggling against progressive, incurable deafness (which he desperately tried to keep secret), he nonetheless produced towering masterpieces. Morris illuminates Beethoven's life, including his interactions with the women he privately lusted for but held at bay, and his work, whose grandeur and beauty were conceived "on the other side of silence."--Publisher description A Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and classical pianist presents a detailed portrait of the genius composer, tracing his rise from a child prodigy to one of Europe's most celebrated musical artists, and describing his fierce ambitions and early death. FOR FORTY HOURS the snow tumbled over New England, settling up to six feet deep on every city, forest, and frozen river.