Beethoven, A Life

"This biography of a musician, written by a musician, becomes music itself. It literally resonates. And it is enjoyable and moving to listen to--as informative as it is entertaining."--Gerhard Stadelmaier, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

"In a pleasantly analytical way, Caeyers questions many of the clichés of the commercial literature on Beethoven."--Wolfram Goertz, Die Zeit "An extremely readable study, composed in the present for the present . . . . It is amazing how in a much-grazed field like Beethoven, a biography can come along and bring completely new insights into its topic through clarity, lack of prejudice, and rigor."--Kai Luehrs-Kaiser, Die Welt "Jan Caeyers has written a major book on Beethoven . . . that doesn't require any specialist historical or musical knowledge. In addition, the author, a highly regarded performer of Beethoven, is able to create a particular closeness with his subject. He achieves a vibrant portrait of the composer, his contemporaries, and society in provincial Bonn and the metropolis of Vienna."--Tobias Schwartz, Märkische Allgemeine "With both profound knowledge and a lively narrative, Caeyers has achieved a comprehensive biography that captivates emotionally."--A. Gerth, Operapoint "Caeyers's command of the vast scholarship on this iconic composer is impressive."--Stephen Hinton, Stanford University