Percy Grainger

This biography traces the life and music of Percy Grainger, the composer and pianist who was born in Australia. Grainger's original compositions, his work collecting folk songs, and his busy career as a touring concert soloist are all examined alongside the difficult private life behind them. The author looks at a childhood and adulthood shaped by a dominant mother, unusual sexual inclinations, an unconventional love of physical exercise, and an intense spiritual drive. He also considers Grainger's shifting personal philosophy, including his preoccupation with Anglo-Saxon identity and his notion of the "Blue-Eyed English."

The volume goes beyond narrative. It includes a catalogue of Grainger's published compositions, a discography of recordings of his performances, and a selection of his most important writings. This revised edition adds a good deal of biographical material the author uncovered in his continuing research.

Grainger's standing as an individual composer has grown steadily, and this book is written for readers interested in classical music, its performers, and the unusual personalities who shaped it.