Beethoven (Sutton Pocket Biographies) [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Anne Pimlott Baker (Author)

Book Description

Series: Sutton Pocket Biographies | Publication Date: September 25, 1997

Considered by many the world's greatest composer, Ludwig van Beethoven achieved his ambitions against the difficulties of a bullying and drunken father, growing deafness and mounting ill-health. This biography tells the story of his life and work from his birth in Bonn in 1770 and his early employment as a court musician to his death in Vienna in 1827. It describes his studies with Haydn in Vienna and his work during the French Revolution and the rise of Napoleon. His most financially successful period followed the Congress of Vienna in 1815, despite several unhappy love affairs and continuous worry over his nephew, Karl.

Editorial Reviews

From AudioFile

The magnificent music came from a flawed human. Lonely, often at odds with his family, plagued by money worries and going deaf, Beethoven alternated periods of great creative output with stretches of depressed downtime. There's a lot of information here, but it flows smoothly thanks to Wright's crisp delivery. She paints many verbal pictures of this complicated man; he once conducted 10 bars ahead of the orchestra, silently unaware. Some of his best works, like the MISSA SOLUMNIS, came late in life; some of his most popular works during his lifetime are never played today. Culled partly from the composer's journals and letters, this is a compact but well-rounded biography; you might not even miss the music. J.B.G. (c) AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 116 pages
• Publisher: Sutton Publishing; illustrated edition edition (September 25, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0750915099
• ISBN-13: 978-0750915090
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,553,196 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #56 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Specific Groups > General

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Beethoven Bio, June 11, 2007

By 

L. Diane Seremi "Music Lover" (NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beethoven (Pocket Biography Series) (Audio Cassette)

This biography of Beethoven is well done. However, I just ordered the
Naxos biography because it has his music compositions within the story
of his life. I ordered this because I just finished the Naxos edition
of the life of Mozart. I then realized how much more enjoyable it is
with the music included. This edition of Beethoven's life is complete.
Whereas the Naxos edition is abridged. So I felt that both were necessary
to have a complete picture of this complicated, talented composer.