In this brilliant portrayal of the world's most famous composer, Lewis Lockwood interweaves his discussion of Beethoven's life and works while placing them in their historical and artistic contexts. Here the music looms larger than the life-the composer dominates the man-but both are discussed at length. Written for the general reader, the book shows how Beethoven's abundant great works reflect both his powerful artistic individuality and the deepest aesthetic, philosophical and political currents of his age.