Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good but not definitive, June 12, 2002
By A Customer
How to describe Solomon's very good book on Beethoven? It is part psychohistory, which is always a perilous operation for a writer. I am one of those people who actually like Freud, but sometimes Solomon's psychoanalysis irritated me, and I was always glad when he left the couch and went back to more or less solid facts. There is a huge chapter on the Immortal Beloved that bored me after a couple of dozen pages, but those particularly interested in this aspect of Beethoven's life are in for a real treat! I'd like to have seen more discussion of B's politics and social views; Solomon's discussion of these is, overall, pretty thin. But Solomon's weaknesses (and that is my judgment) do not ouweigh his great strengths. He has certainly done his homework on B's life, and he is a skilled writer and a patient, tireless researcher. He knows his Thayer as well, and he isn't above questioning long-held assumptions about this flawed but very great man. Solomon's discussion of B's music is sufficient for a biography (those who want a lot of details on the music should go elsewhere), and he does a great job of showing how the composer followed the classical models and broke away toward romanticism. He does well in showing the man's great genuis without ever worshipping him (the way 19th century music lovers did). No doubt about it, Beethoven was a real crumb in a lot of ways, and Solomon makes this clear. As good as this book is, I wouldn't call it definitive. I imagine some bright peson coming along some day who has a deep understanding of the Enlightenment, of early romanticism, of music, and of German and Viennese society who will give a truer picture of the man in his full context. It is very difficult to describe music in words, but my imaginary writer will be adept at this as well. Until this person comes along (and we're talking about a reincarnation of Samuel Johnson or Shakespeare), Solomon will do just fine.
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29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE IMMORTAL COMPOSER, September 11, 2000
This is the second edition of Solomon's biography of Beethoven and it is an improvement in terms of both analysis and lucidity.The book is written from a psychoanalytic point of view that all may not find convincing. However, the rudiments of Mr. Solomon's analysis, in terms of tracing Beethoven's life problems, his difficulties with women, with peers, and with himself to his childhood experiences probably transcends any specific psychological dogma and is insightful. The book is a biography rather than an attempt at technical musical analysis. Even so, it elucidates the music well and with an obvious love for it. I found the discussion of Beethoven's final period works, and of his sometimes neglected vocal writings, particularly good. The sections on Beethoven's relationship with Haydn, on his testament written upon the discovery of his impending deafness on the immortal beloved, and on his relationship with his nephew are all thoughtful and helped me better understand Beethoven. A wonderful book for anybody who loves this composer or wants to learn more about why other people love him.
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35 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
As exciting and interesting as the subject and his music!, August 23, 2000
I found this book impossible to put down! I'm neither a musicologist nor a professional musician and this book was still enjoyable as well as readable (didn't have to refer to other books for further elucidation of terminology). I found Mr. Solomon's style quite pleasant and his analysis insightful. Being a Psychiatrist, I easily become disinterested in amateur journalistic psychoanalysis. Mr. Solomon presented multiple theories to help explain a complex personality and his behavior. His reasoning is on target. This is a wonderful book, a story well told about a personality riveting from before his birth till after his death.
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