Spine title: Ludwig van Beethoven.

"Drawing on the classicism of Haydn and Mozart, the great masterpieces of Ludwig van Beethoven mark the beginning of the Romantic Era in music. These compositions, noted for their emotional intensity and full-bodied sound, are the backbone of today's concert repertory.
Always a difficult man, the moody and ill-tempered Beethoven nevertheless won the acclaim and approval of his contemporaries with a string of innovative scores beginning with his Third Symphony('Eroica') and culminating with the magnificent Symphony No. 9 ('Choral'). The prolific composer also produced a violin concerto, five piano concertos, hundreds of songs and incidental pieces, a number of string quartets, and such well-known solo works as the 'Moonlight' and 'Appassionata' sonatas.
With the aid of contemporary paintings, prints, and drawings, the story of this troubled creative titan is told, giving the reader a fresh insight into the principal personalities, places, and events of the composer's life and career.
You will meet the many aristocratic ladies to whom Beethoven offered his affections in vain; his loyal and generous patron, Count Razumovsky; and the friends and relations he loved but often offended during the difficult years of his tragic deafness.
This vivid, illustrated biography of a dynamic and complex musical master is a valuable addition to the library for every music lover." -- Inside cover