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We are doubly blessed that Beethoven should have led such an extraordinary life. Laura has combined the two - the genius of his music and the richness of his experiences - to shine a revealing light on our greatest composer--John Humphrys This book is really wonderful! Nine works of Beethoven from different times in his life tell the story of that life - nine windows through which the man and his music are revealed with captivating clarity. We often speak about the 'universal spirit' of Beethoven but this book also brings to life how he fits into, and indeed creates, the new universe of cultural life which was born as the nineteenth century began. However many books on Beethoven you own, find the space for one more. This one--Stephen Hough, pianist, composer, writer In a year when everyone's looking for a new take on Beethoven, Laura Tunbridge has found nine. It makes great sense to look at the composer not thematically but in selected fragments, taking us nine small steps closer to his elusive totality. Fresh and engaging--Norman Lebrecht, author of Genius and Anxiety I truly enjoyed reading it . . . Excellent . . . Laura Tunbridge upends the two-centuries-old image of Beethoven as a Promethean Titan heroically composing works of genius on his isolated rock of suffering. She convincingly argues that Beethoven's current iconic status must be understood within the context of his financial dealings and lifetime of often affable, sometimes acerbic, vibrant interchanges with family members, other composers, patrons, friends, musicians, singers, publishers, producers, and makers of musical instruments. Her detailed musical analyses of familiar as well as now rarely-performed works of Beethoven converse with one another as well as with other music of the era and with quotidian life in Vienna. This well researched and accessible book is a must read for all who seek to know more about the flesh and blood tangible Beethoven and the checkered history of his reception than about the Beethoven of unfathomable mythic immensity--John Clubbe, author of Beethoven: The Relentless Revolutionary Mark that young man, he will make a name for himself in the world--Mozart after hearing the young Beethoven play Tunbridge has come up with the seemingly impossible: a new way of approaching Beethoven's life and music . . . and in every chapter a superb - and accessible to non-musicians - analysis of the music . . . profoundly original and hugely readable--John Suchet, author Beethoven: The Man Revealed Remarkable . . . she captures the essence of his genius and character. I'll always want to keep it in easy reach--Julia Boyd, author of Travellers in the third Reich Beautifully written, warmly-accessible, fascinating--BBC Music Magazine on Singing in the Age of Anxiety Thought-provoking, superb--Classical Music on Schumann's Late Style

Illuminating . . . Tunbridge's pithy A Life in Nine Pieces is different and welcome: a biography presented through the focus of nine different compositions, each casting light on aspects of Beethoven's life, character and, given equal and readily comprehensible attention, the music. --Fiona Maddocks, The Guardian Focusing on nine pivotal works, this study, equal parts musicological and biographical, complicates the simplistic portrait of Beethoven as an isolated, single-minded genius. --New Yorker, Briefly Noted section A concise, subtly revealing survey, [that] complements [Beethoven's] protean image by emphasizing the many-sidedness of the composer's spirit. --Alex Ross, New Yorker Intelligent throughout --Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution Rewarding . . . a lot of information is packed into her musical portraits. --Richard Fairman, Financial Times Elegantly-inquiring . . . Tunbridge's writing has a richness which makes this book much more than an extended program note. --Julian Glover, Evening Standard A book that will be enjoyed by anyone interested in Beethoven's life and works. --Tim Bouverie, Air Mail [It's] a book of great value, because it enlivens Beethoven through small details, human details. --Conlan Salgado, Sun News Tucson Over the years, scores of Beethoven biographies have been written, some of which have fostered a number of myths about him. Tunbridge's impeccably researched, elegantly written volume sets the record straight. . . . Music students and aficionados alike will appreciate this engaging and accessible portrait of the composer. --Library Journal One could hardly expect something new and distinctive, no matter the vastness of the output, on such a venerable subject, yet here it is! . . . Tunbridge's writing is vivid, so evocative of time and place as to be almost cinematic. She utilizes source material both familiar and unfamiliar to draw some conclusions not heard before, and these are convincing. . . . The present volume, ingenious and somehow inevitable (rather like a Beethoven piece), is for everyone who cares about Beethoven's music. . . . . Essential. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty; general readers. --B. J. Murray, Choice CHOICE Outstanding Academic Titles 2021 Laura Tunbridge pursues her subject with consistently perceptive critical acumen. --Kenneth Stilwell, Nineteenth-Century Music Review We are doubly blessed that Beethoven should have led such an extraordinary life. Laura has combined the two--the genius of his music and the richness of his experiences--to shine a revealing light on our greatest composer. --John Humphrys, broadcaster In a year when everyone's looking for a new take on Beethoven, Laura Tunbridge has found nine. It makes great sense to look at the composer not thematically but in selected fragments, taking us nine small steps closer to his elusive totality. Fresh and engaging. --Norman Lebrecht, author of Genius and Anxiety Tunbridge has come up with the seemingly impossible: a new way of approaching Beethoven's life and music...and in every chapter a superb--and accessible to non-musicians--analysis of the music.... [P]rofoundly original and hugely readable. --John Suchet, author Beethoven: The Man Revealed Remarkable.... [Tunbridge] captures the essence of his genius and character. I'll always want to keep it in easy reach. --Julia Boyd, author of Travellers in the Third Reich

A concise, subtly revealing survey, [that] complements [Beethoven's] protean image by emphasizing the many-sidedness of the composer's spirit. --Alex Ross, New Yorker Illuminating . . . Tunbridge's pithy A Life in Nine Pieces is different and welcome: a biography presented through the focus of nine different compositions, each casting light on aspects of Beethoven's life, character and, given equal and readily comprehensible attention, the music. --Fiona Maddocks, The Guardian Focusing on nine pivotal works, this study, equal parts musicological and biographical, complicates the simplistic portrait of Beethoven as an isolated, single-minded genius. --New Yorker Rewarding . . . a lot of information is packed into her musical portraits. --Richard Fairman, Financial Times Over the years, scores of Beethoven biographies have been written, some of which have fostered a number of myths about him. Tunbridge's impeccably researched, elegantly written volume sets the record straight. . . . Music students and aficionados alike will appreciate this engaging and accessible portrait of the composer. --Library Journal One could hardly expect something new and distinctive, no matter the vastness of the output, on such a venerable subject, yet here it is! . . . Tunbridge's writing is vivid, so evocative of time and place as to be almost cinematic. She utilizes source material both familiar and unfamiliar to draw some conclusions not heard before, and these are convincing. . . . The present volume, ingenious and somehow inevitable (rather like a Beethoven piece), is for everyone who cares about Beethoven's music. . . . . Essential. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty; general readers. --B. J. Murray, Choice Elegantly-inquiring . . . Tunbridge's writing has a richness which makes this book much more than an extended program note. --Julian Glover, Evening Standard Intelligent throughout --Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution [It's] a book of great value, because it enlivens Beethoven through small details, human details. --Conlan Salgado, Sun News Tucson A book that will be enjoyed by anyone interested in Beethoven's life and works. --Tim Bouverie, Air Mail CHOICE Outstanding Academic Titles 2021 Laura Tunbridge pursues her subject with consistently perceptive critical acumen. --Kenneth Stilwell, Nineteenth-Century Music Review We are doubly blessed that Beethoven should have led such an extraordinary life. Laura has combined the two--the genius of his music and the richness of his experiences--to shine a revealing light on our greatest composer. --John Humphrys, broadcaster In a year when everyone's looking for a new take on Beethoven, Laura Tunbridge has found nine. It makes great sense to look at the composer not thematically but in selected fragments, taking us nine small steps closer to his elusive totality. Fresh and engaging. --Norman Lebrecht, author of Genius and Anxiety Tunbridge has come up with the seemingly impossible: a new way of approaching Beethoven's life and music...and in every chapter a superb--and accessible to non-musicians--analysis of the music.... [P]rofoundly original and hugely readable. --John Suchet, author Beethoven: The Man Revealed Remarkable.... [Tunbridge] captures the essence of his genius and character. I'll always want to keep it in easy reach. --Julia Boyd, author of Travellers in the Third Reich

Illuminating . . . Tunbridge's pithy A Life in Nine Pieces is different and welcome: a biography presented through the focus of nine different compositions, each casting light on aspects of Beethoven's life, character and, given equal and readily comprehensible attention, the music. --Fiona Maddocks, The Guardian Focusing on nine pivotal works, this study, equal parts musicological and biographical, complicates the simplistic portrait of Beethoven as an isolated, single-minded genius. --New Yorker, Briefly Noted section A concise, subtly revealing survey, [that] complements [Beethoven's] protean image by emphasizing the many-sidedness of the composer's spirit. --Alex Ross, New Yorker Intelligent throughout --Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution Rewarding . . . a lot of information is packed into her musical portraits. --Richard Fairman, Financial Times Elegantly-inquiring . . . Tunbridge's writing has a richness which makes this book much more than an extended program note. --Julian Glover, Evening Standard A book that will be enjoyed by anyone interested in Beethoven's life and works. --Tim Bouverie, Air Mail [It's] a book of great value, because it enlivens Beethoven through small details, human details. --Conlan Salgado, Sun News Tucson Over the years, scores of Beethoven biographies have been written, some of which have fostered a number of myths about him. Tunbridge's impeccably researched, elegantly written volume sets the record straight. . . . Music students and aficionados alike will appreciate this engaging and accessible portrait of the composer. --Library Journal One could hardly expect something new and distinctive, no matter the vastness of the output, on such a venerable subject, yet here it is! . . . Tunbridge's writing is vivid, so evocative of time and place as to be almost cinematic. She utilizes source material both familiar and unfamiliar to draw some conclusions not heard before, and these are convincing. . . . The present volume, ingenious and somehow inevitable (rather like a Beethoven piece), is for everyone who cares about Beethoven's music. . . . . Essential. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty; general readers. --B. J. Murray, Choice Laura Tunbridge pursues her subject with consistently perceptive critical acumen. --Kenneth Stilwell, Nineteenth-Century Music Review We are doubly blessed that Beethoven should have led such an extraordinary life. Laura has combined the two--the genius of his music and the richness of his experiences--to shine a revealing light on our greatest composer. --John Humphrys, broadcaster In a year when everyone's looking for a new take on Beethoven, Laura Tunbridge has found nine. It makes great sense to look at the composer not thematically but in selected fragments, taking us nine small steps closer to his elusive totality. Fresh and engaging. --Norman Lebrecht, author of Genius and Anxiety Tunbridge has come up with the seemingly impossible: a new way of approaching Beethoven's life and music...and in every chapter a superb--and accessible to non-musicians--analysis of the music.... [P]rofoundly original and hugely readable. --John Suchet, author Beethoven: The Man Revealed Remarkable.... [Tunbridge] captures the essence of his genius and character. I'll always want to keep it in easy reach. --Julia Boyd, author of Travellers in the Third Reich

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Laura Tunbridge is professor of music at the University of Oxford.

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