Beethoven

J.W.N. Sullivan's study of Beethoven starts from the view that the composer's greatest music was an attempt to express his personal outlook on existence. He treats the man and the composer as connected rather than separate, drawing on what is known of Beethoven's life to explain the character heard in his work.

The book is written for listeners who love music but have no formal training in it. Its discussion extends past the music itself into questions about human life in general.