Excellent and easily readable biography setting Bbethoven's life in its histrorical context. ( )

The Life of Beethoven
By sally tarbox on 9 September 2017
Format: Kindle Edition
I'm not a music buff but found this biography fascinating. I knew of Beethoven's deafness and irascibility. But I hadn't heard about his unpleasant father, his difficult relationships with his brothers, his poor nephew Karl, whom he took custody of on his brother's demise - to general misery all round. Alsso his unsuccessful dealings with the fairer sex and the mysterious 'Immortal Beloved'.

Against this, of course, Beethoven is composing earth-shatteringly complex music (I checked out one of his earliest on Youtube- the Dressler Variations- composed as a boy, and it's quite astounding). More difficulties with his wealthy patrons and with musicians who refuse to play it ('too difficult') , while contending with the growing realisation that he will never hear again...

A very readable and interesting work. ( )

I enjoyed this, but it was a bit sensationalist for me. I was expecting that (how could you not with a subtitle like 'The Man Revealed'), but still. A little too much guesswork, filling in the blanks, and insinuation for me. He does apologize for it in advance a number of times, though. A fun read. ( )

Review soon over at Insatiable Booksluts! ( )