Thayer's Life of Beethoven

by Alexander Wheelock Thayer

The book description for the previously published "Thayer's Life of Beethoven. (2 Vols.)" is not yet available.

Genres: Biography, Music, History

1141 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1879

About the author

1817-1897

Reviews

[Ann-Marie Messbauer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I owned this book because it is a foundational classic among Beethoven biographies, but for thirty years I didn't read it, thinking that the scholarship must be so old as to be completely outdated. Also, it is an imposing tome. But this year I made a commitment to read it, and I'm glad I did. It was slow-going at first, and the second half got bogged down at one point when focusing on Beethoven's battles with his publishers. But overall, I found it informative and enjoyable. Thayer's aim was to present as much of the facts of Beethoven's life as could be ascertained by documents and reliable eyewitnesses rather than come at it with a new angle or thesis to prove. I especially liked editor Elliot Forbes' inclusion of a list of what compositions Beethoven wrote and what was published for the year(s) covered at the end of each chapter.

This book has a complicated history, involving the work of more people than Thayer and Forbes. That in itself was fascinating to read about in the preface. I also appreciated the additional material in the appendices, and how the team of writers/editors would make a point to state when there was information they did not know or that was inconclusive or lost. And in the end, the book is about Beethoven, who had an eventful and artistically unparalleled life, and I was moved by his story.

[Toby · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a Nineteenth century biography that has not travelled the centuries well. In fact I'm sure that had I realised that this was over 100 years old when I bought it from the Folio Society in 2001 I would probably have refrained. It was purchases like these that eventually encouraged me to leave - life is too short for long and unreadable books.

Not that it is dreadful. The chronology is clear, and I have been introduced to some of Beethoven's works (Christus am Olberge) that I had never encountered before, but this is a biography written before the tools of psychology were widely available and there are no useful insights into Beethoven's character. A lot of use is made of epistolary sources, only some of which are particularly interesting, and overall it feels a little bit like a very extended Wikipedia article. That being said, lives of composers are possibly the most difficult of all biographies as their work is impossible to quote in visual form. I know that a vast modern biography of Beethoven has recently been published, but I don't think that I will be tempted to revisit. The last quartets are his own testimony.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I am a passionate listener of all things Ludwig, this book was a must. I am only a quarter of the way through this 1000+ page bio and am intrigued. The details and proof of all that occurred is staggering, starting with the issue of little Louis' (that's what they called my beloved Ludwig during his childhood) year of birth and ancestry. We are told of all the scenarios and reports from the variety of people around at the time and proof of why one is right and the other wrong. I have his complete works so I'm playing the pieces as I read about them. I will report back as soon as I've finished.

[Peter Bond · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very large book on Beethoven. Should be known it is a very acaademic. Not a casual read.

[Tell Tale Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very long book with a lot of detail, but worth it if you love Beethoven!
-Gregory Kerkman

[Donald]

it's impossible, not the writing but the mass of information and sheer size of the book compared to what little time I actually have to read for pleasure... yes the man was brilliant and graced with a god-given ear as anyone who has heard his work obviously knows, however, I will not be able to finish this book (in this life??? perhaps the next one), sadly, it has languished on my night stand for too long.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating biography

Of course one has to allow for its being outdated etc (I trust research will continue and one will be able to say the same of today's better biographies in the future.) It seems importantly to have taken scholarship, broad and patient evidence collection seriously, doing somewhat for Beethoven what Walker more recently tried to do, too, for Liszt (a favorite 3 volume biography of mine.)

[Schwarzenberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent, thorough exploration of Beethoven's life written in a quaint slightly antiquated style that is full of facts, anecdotes and just good reading about one of Western Civilization's musical masters.