Edmund Morris' "Beethoven: The Universal Composer"
This biography of Beethoven (which I am still reading) is both entertaining and enlightening. I've listened to his music all my life, but I’ve never really known much about his development as a composer or his relationships with Mozart and Haydn, the giants of his day.
This highly readable biography does an excellent job of placing Beethoven not only within the musical environment of his time but also within the broader social, economic, and political challenges he faced. As his talent began to emerge, he gradually became recognized for his musical genius—initially through his piano playing.
What I find most impressive so far is not only the engaging and, at times, clever writing but also the author’s uncanny ability to bring Beethoven’s early compositions to life, even for a non-musician like me.
I’ll update this review as I continue reading.
Text copyright 2025 by Dennis D. McDonald
