"The two-hundreth anniversary of Beethoven's birth is the occasion for an extensive review of his life and career. In many ways Beethoven epitomizes the conventional view of genius: the lone outsider, the self-absorbed creator and pathfinder, the passionate, heroic, tragic figure ahead of his times. His life spanned one of the most turbulent and decisive periods in European history, and his music formed the bridge between classicism and romanticism. This restless, cantankerous, single-minded and oversensitive man attained his only true fulfilment in his music; even among his contemporaries he was recognized as a blazing genius, too large for life. This book combines illustrations and documents to give a comprehensive and vivid view of Beethoven's background, the world in which he lived, his friends and patrons, musicians, the women he loved, the places he visited. New research has a large number of hitherto unpublished and, in some cases, unknown paintings; other portraits and prints are here published for the first time in colour. The documents include copious extracts from Beethoven's letters and conversation-books, as well as contemporary diaries, letters and newspaper notices; related closely to the illustrations, they provide a commentary on Beethoven's personality and appearance, his piano-playing, conducting and musical ideas. There are also many reproductions of his scores, in autograph and first edition; some of these are new discoveries. As a portrait of a unique man, and as a documentary representation of his times, this book will be of the greatest interest and value to all who love great music."--Publisher's description.