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My Interview with Beethoven
Named one of Kirkus Reviews Best Indie Fiction of 2017! It's 1826, and young Virginia newspaperman George Thompson leaves his unhappy past for Vienna, "the city of music." His interview the famous composer, Ludwig van Beethoven. But George wants more than an interview. He wants to get close to Beethoven because he's been told the musical genius is his natural father. George also needs to know what his mother, Hannah Bekker, had meant to Beethoven. While Beethoven tells George of his rise to fame, his tragic deafness, and the women he loved and lost, George wonders about Beethoven's intimate relationship with Hannah—and how he is to confess his real reason for interviewing the moody composer. What transpires turns George's life inside out, and forces Beethoven to reveal a disturbing, personal secret. Inspired by true events, My Interview with Beethoven is about a young man's journey that leads him to right wrongs, find love in unexpected ways, and heal the deep wounds of those he touches.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
380 pages, Paperback
First published May 17, 2017
5 people are currently reading
708 people want to read
About the author
L.A. Hider Jones
2 books15 followersAn escapee from decades in corporate communications, L.A. Hider Jones is an award-winning author, writer, and public speaker. She was inspired to write “It Happened One Morning…” after listening to so many male relationship coaches advise women on relationships, yet these straight advisers never dated men themselves. Now, Boz Studebaker, as Bonnie, has—and becomes a new and improved man. Ms. Jones's previous novel, "My Interview with Beethoven", is historical fiction that has been honored as Nevada's best indie novel for 2022 (through Indie Author Project), as well as by Kirkus Reviews as one of its eight best indie novels for 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 24, 2021
Historical fiction set in 1827 about an educated young Virginian who has reason to believe that Beethoven is his father. Protagonist George Thompson journeys to Austria to interview Beethoven. In the process, he plans to find a way to discuss his paternity. He meets a variety of interesting people along the way. The narrative is centered around the interview, which chronicles Beethoven’s life.
Positives: The book is beautifully detailed. It conveys a sense of 19th century Austria. The characters have been given distinct personalities. I think Beethoven is well-portrayed as a temperamental musician, frustrated in love, and dealing with hearing loss. The musical and operatic passages are convincing. The writer’s skill is evident.
Negatives: At 500 pages, and densely written, it feels rather lengthy. There are a few detours that do not add much to the story. I think it could easily have been shortened, which would have helped with the pacing. The ending seems a bit scattered and vaguely unsatisfying, with a number of coincidences and actions that stretch belief.
Overall, I appreciate stories about classical composers, and I enjoyed reading this book. Though there are a very few modern terms, the story feels authentic to the period. I would read another book by this author.
Positives: The book is beautifully detailed. It conveys a sense of 19th century Austria. The characters have been given distinct personalities. I think Beethoven is well-portrayed as a temperamental musician, frustrated in love, and dealing with hearing loss. The musical and operatic passages are convincing. The writer’s skill is evident.
Negatives: At 500 pages, and densely written, it feels rather lengthy. There are a few detours that do not add much to the story. I think it could easily have been shortened, which would have helped with the pacing. The ending seems a bit scattered and vaguely unsatisfying, with a number of coincidences and actions that stretch belief.
Overall, I appreciate stories about classical composers, and I enjoyed reading this book. Though there are a very few modern terms, the story feels authentic to the period. I would read another book by this author.
November 16, 2018
What a wonderful read! I've recommended it to many friends!
December 13, 2024
This book was excellently written. It’s clear that Beethoven is a topic of passion for the author and the dedicated research is apparent. The prose is beautiful and the detailed descriptions are vivid. The characters as well truly shine, Beethoven among them, the temperamental genius and even George himself, our protagonist who is more than just a device for Beethoven’s tale. Even a lot of the secondary characters I fell in love with, Gabrielle chief among them. The only place the story fell short was in my opinion in the pacing before George’s arrival in Austria. Once past that hurdle, it was a breeze and a joy. Suffice to say, I’m ready to read Miss Jones’ next book.
January 10, 2018
My Interview With Beethoven
A Novel
By L.A. Hider Jones
I’ve listened to some of Beethoven’s famous works, but never known much about the man himself....expect that he was a bit eccentric! - well, upon reading this historical piece of fiction, I feel I know the man intimately! L.A. Hider Jones has created a masterpiece in its own rights - what a fantastic novel!
The story starts with a young boy named George. His brother had just died. His mother, Hanna, taken to a mental asylum, and his father, Robert, reveals to him that he isn’t his real father - Robert was informed by Grandpa Bekker (Hanna’s father) on his deathbed, that Beethoven, Hanna’s piano teacher back in Germany, was indeed George’s real father.
The young George was turfed out of his once family home, and sent to work at the local printing press.
George grew up and had ambitions of becoming a newspaper journalist, but after a drunken night he was replaced and sent packing. George decided he had to go and see his real father, with the intention of interviewing the man. His journey began and he boarded a ship to New York with an old family friend who knew Beethoven. He wrote a letter of recommendation and gave advice to George about how to approach Beethoven. Once in New York he parted with Beethoven’s friend named Malzel, and boarded a ship to Europe.
George travelled through Europe, getting to know Beethoven’s acquaintances and received several letters of recommendation. He stopped off to see his uncle, who owned a newspaper. He then travelled into Vienna, after being warned to stay away from the secret police and not to mention he is a newspaper man.
It proved very difficult obtaining an interview with Beethoven. He had sent three letters and all were unresponsive. Eventually he took the bull by the horns and decided to go to Beethoven’s address with the aid of a befriended ‘lady of the night’
At first Beethoven was angry with George when he found out he was a newspaper man, but he eventually warmed to George’s kind nature.
George decided early on that he didn’t want to reveal straight away that he was his son, so the interview progressed. Beethoven talked with passion about his music, his friendship with Prince Lichnowsky , his lovers, and his fight for custody for his nephew Karl, whom had a love hate relationship. He spoke of his failing health which was evident and the potions he took to try to remedy his hearing loss unsuccessfully over the years. His battle with liver disease and his lack of abstinence when it came to drinking beer and wine, which resulted in agonising abdominal pain.
Finally George confronted Beethoven with the news that he was his son. Again, at first Beethoven was furious, he felt cheated, believing this man was here on the pretence of interviewing him, and that alone.
Beethoven finally admitted he knew his mother and that his one and only opera was based on Hanna rescuing Beethoven - which she did in ‘real’ life upon a meeting one day - the last day they saw each other. Regrettably he informed George that it was impossible for him to be his child as the relationship never got as far as consummation.
Where would George go from here? Who was his real father? Would the secret police catch up with him? I’m afraid you’ll have to read the rest of the book to find out!!
This is L.A. Hider Jones’s first novel - I find that astonishing, for it truly is one of the best pieces of historical fiction I have ever read!
From cover - an attractive cover with a young Beethoven on the front, and an older Beethoven on the back cover - to contents - simply amazing piece of work!
I loved the way Beethoven was portrayed as a man in his later years, with regrets and lonesome. Yes he came across as eccentric, but nowadays maybe he would be classed as something like bi-polar? Whatever Beethoven’s problems, he was most certainly a genius - to be able to compose music by feeling vibrations! I really felt for Beethoven. I wanted to reach out to him and become his friend - that’s down to the brilliant work of the author!
I also loved the story of George. He had a sad upbringing and wanted some clarity in his life, but upon interviewing Beethoven, he didn’t get the outcome he was expecting, but, he gained knowledge and understanding from Beethoven. He loved this man, despite him not being his kin. He admired him and appreciated his music. He went to interview Beethoven a boy, and came out a man.
I won this book through a Goodreads Competition. This is a fair and honest review. I do hope the author reads, and likes it as much as I enjoyed her brilliant book! This is one for my bookcase. I will keep and always treasure it x
5/5 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
A Novel
By L.A. Hider Jones
I’ve listened to some of Beethoven’s famous works, but never known much about the man himself....expect that he was a bit eccentric! - well, upon reading this historical piece of fiction, I feel I know the man intimately! L.A. Hider Jones has created a masterpiece in its own rights - what a fantastic novel!
The story starts with a young boy named George. His brother had just died. His mother, Hanna, taken to a mental asylum, and his father, Robert, reveals to him that he isn’t his real father - Robert was informed by Grandpa Bekker (Hanna’s father) on his deathbed, that Beethoven, Hanna’s piano teacher back in Germany, was indeed George’s real father.
The young George was turfed out of his once family home, and sent to work at the local printing press.
George grew up and had ambitions of becoming a newspaper journalist, but after a drunken night he was replaced and sent packing. George decided he had to go and see his real father, with the intention of interviewing the man. His journey began and he boarded a ship to New York with an old family friend who knew Beethoven. He wrote a letter of recommendation and gave advice to George about how to approach Beethoven. Once in New York he parted with Beethoven’s friend named Malzel, and boarded a ship to Europe.
George travelled through Europe, getting to know Beethoven’s acquaintances and received several letters of recommendation. He stopped off to see his uncle, who owned a newspaper. He then travelled into Vienna, after being warned to stay away from the secret police and not to mention he is a newspaper man.
It proved very difficult obtaining an interview with Beethoven. He had sent three letters and all were unresponsive. Eventually he took the bull by the horns and decided to go to Beethoven’s address with the aid of a befriended ‘lady of the night’
At first Beethoven was angry with George when he found out he was a newspaper man, but he eventually warmed to George’s kind nature.
George decided early on that he didn’t want to reveal straight away that he was his son, so the interview progressed. Beethoven talked with passion about his music, his friendship with Prince Lichnowsky , his lovers, and his fight for custody for his nephew Karl, whom had a love hate relationship. He spoke of his failing health which was evident and the potions he took to try to remedy his hearing loss unsuccessfully over the years. His battle with liver disease and his lack of abstinence when it came to drinking beer and wine, which resulted in agonising abdominal pain.
Finally George confronted Beethoven with the news that he was his son. Again, at first Beethoven was furious, he felt cheated, believing this man was here on the pretence of interviewing him, and that alone.
Beethoven finally admitted he knew his mother and that his one and only opera was based on Hanna rescuing Beethoven - which she did in ‘real’ life upon a meeting one day - the last day they saw each other. Regrettably he informed George that it was impossible for him to be his child as the relationship never got as far as consummation.
Where would George go from here? Who was his real father? Would the secret police catch up with him? I’m afraid you’ll have to read the rest of the book to find out!!
This is L.A. Hider Jones’s first novel - I find that astonishing, for it truly is one of the best pieces of historical fiction I have ever read!
From cover - an attractive cover with a young Beethoven on the front, and an older Beethoven on the back cover - to contents - simply amazing piece of work!
I loved the way Beethoven was portrayed as a man in his later years, with regrets and lonesome. Yes he came across as eccentric, but nowadays maybe he would be classed as something like bi-polar? Whatever Beethoven’s problems, he was most certainly a genius - to be able to compose music by feeling vibrations! I really felt for Beethoven. I wanted to reach out to him and become his friend - that’s down to the brilliant work of the author!
I also loved the story of George. He had a sad upbringing and wanted some clarity in his life, but upon interviewing Beethoven, he didn’t get the outcome he was expecting, but, he gained knowledge and understanding from Beethoven. He loved this man, despite him not being his kin. He admired him and appreciated his music. He went to interview Beethoven a boy, and came out a man.
I won this book through a Goodreads Competition. This is a fair and honest review. I do hope the author reads, and likes it as much as I enjoyed her brilliant book! This is one for my bookcase. I will keep and always treasure it x
5/5 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
August 28, 2018
Why did I choose to read this? Because among all composers, Beethoven is my thing. There are many other great ones (maybe Rachmaninoff gets close, but not a tie), but Ludwig is something else. As a Beethoven lover, I wanted to go beyond his music, and find out more about his personality, life style, and what had happened to him during his life that led him to compose his music. To me, music is not only about the sound. It’s also about the “process,” that is, why did the composer make this, how did he/she feel, etc. The “philosophy” of what happened behind the scenes is “yet more important” than the sound itself (people may disagree here). As Ludwig puts it himself, it’s the composer’s job to take your hand as the audience, and walk you through his/her world. If you don’t go there with the composer, you’ve failed to “understand” the piece.
With this book, I figured, more than ever before, that music comes from deep inside the composer's brain. Maybe nothing but music can evoke the feeling. This in turn is largely due to his/her environment. The composer's daily life, with sadness and grief (like Beethoven in Sonata No. 14, Op. 27, when he was parted from countess Guicciardi), happiness and satisfaction, desire, lust, love (like Beethoven in Fur Elise), greed, power, delicacy (like Chopin, almost always), oppression, depression (like Rachmaninoff after his first symphony), humiliation, jealousy, frustration, disappointment, excitement, even melancholia (like Schumann went crazy after composing Fantasie in C major), and all different types of human feelings resemble in his/her music. I learned that music has no boundaries. Not because of the structure of composing music which actually sets no boundaries on its own, but because human feelings have no boundaries.
Beethoven, in this book, taught me how to look at music and how to think about it, he taught me where music comes from, he taught me the purpose of music, he taught me what music is all about. Bottom line is, I always wondered about the underlying “thought process” behind any piece of music. With this book, I learned it! All masterpieces composed by Beethoven, are simply a result of what happened to him on a daily basis! (Apr 23, 2018)
With this book, I figured, more than ever before, that music comes from deep inside the composer's brain. Maybe nothing but music can evoke the feeling. This in turn is largely due to his/her environment. The composer's daily life, with sadness and grief (like Beethoven in Sonata No. 14, Op. 27, when he was parted from countess Guicciardi), happiness and satisfaction, desire, lust, love (like Beethoven in Fur Elise), greed, power, delicacy (like Chopin, almost always), oppression, depression (like Rachmaninoff after his first symphony), humiliation, jealousy, frustration, disappointment, excitement, even melancholia (like Schumann went crazy after composing Fantasie in C major), and all different types of human feelings resemble in his/her music. I learned that music has no boundaries. Not because of the structure of composing music which actually sets no boundaries on its own, but because human feelings have no boundaries.
Beethoven, in this book, taught me how to look at music and how to think about it, he taught me where music comes from, he taught me the purpose of music, he taught me what music is all about. Bottom line is, I always wondered about the underlying “thought process” behind any piece of music. With this book, I learned it! All masterpieces composed by Beethoven, are simply a result of what happened to him on a daily basis! (Apr 23, 2018)
August 23, 2024
Some books you enjoy so much that you want a nice copy to have for your bookshelf. I kind of wish I hadn't read this on Kindle.
George's childhood is ruined when his younger brother dies, his mother is committed to an asylum and he is told that Beethoven is his father. As an adult, as his life falls apart again, he decides to travel to Vienna to interview Beethoven and confront him about their connection.
Much of the book is George interviewing the composer as he follows him around for a day as Beethoven talks about what events were important in life and inspired his music. He talks of his loves, his family, his rivels and his supporters. He talks of the world around him. He talks of his illness that led to his deafness and his attempts to hide it.
The tone of the book is engaging. George's enthusiasm is infectious. I found myself wanting to finish the book and not wanting to finish the book.
George's childhood is ruined when his younger brother dies, his mother is committed to an asylum and he is told that Beethoven is his father. As an adult, as his life falls apart again, he decides to travel to Vienna to interview Beethoven and confront him about their connection.
Much of the book is George interviewing the composer as he follows him around for a day as Beethoven talks about what events were important in life and inspired his music. He talks of his loves, his family, his rivels and his supporters. He talks of the world around him. He talks of his illness that led to his deafness and his attempts to hide it.
The tone of the book is engaging. George's enthusiasm is infectious. I found myself wanting to finish the book and not wanting to finish the book.
June 19, 2023
This book was written as fiction but not knowing that would would believe this is a true story. A young made pondering if one of the greatest composers was his father.
I was enthralled through every page. I mostly read non-fiction science books but this was a magnificent delight. I have over 100 music pieces that Beethoven composed and played by many. That was the interest in this book.
My biggest enjoyment in reading this story is that Ms. Jones puts such details in every sentence. I could smell the rooms, envision the trails of Vienna, hear the pianos, understand the depths of each character.
This book would make a great movie. I'm sure the score of Beethoven's music would be outstanding.
I was enthralled through every page. I mostly read non-fiction science books but this was a magnificent delight. I have over 100 music pieces that Beethoven composed and played by many. That was the interest in this book.
My biggest enjoyment in reading this story is that Ms. Jones puts such details in every sentence. I could smell the rooms, envision the trails of Vienna, hear the pianos, understand the depths of each character.
This book would make a great movie. I'm sure the score of Beethoven's music would be outstanding.
October 6, 2017
My Interview with Beethoven by L.A. Hinder Jones is a deep yet beautiful tale. I was instantly swept up in its current. Music, love, and choices. A heady combination making this, the best story I've read. I felt my heart pour, tear, and heal whole again. Heartfelt and heart breaking, too. L.A. Hinder Jones is indeed a talented writer. The words came off the pages and came to life. I enjoyed following as one young man goes about finding answers and healing. Love never dies. Overall, I recommend this novel to all.
I received this copy from the publisher. This, is my voluntary review.
I received this copy from the publisher. This, is my voluntary review.
January 13, 2020
I’ve never been a big classical music fan, but LA Hider Jones book made me download some of his more famous works and truly listen to them. She did a wonderful job with character development, and also describing life in the mid 1800s. This is not a book to be raced through- it takes time to appreciate the language and artistry. I recommend it for fans of historical fiction or those who want to know more about Beethoven’a life.
September 1, 2024
L.A. Hider Jones crafts a masterful tale in which we get to meet the maestro himself -- Beethoven! I highly recommend this book not only to fans of classical music and historical fiction but also to anyone who appreciates well-drawn characters and intricate world-building. Throughout the novel, you will feel like you are in the main character George Thompson's shoes as he travels to meet the famed composer and uncover a family secret.
July 27, 2018
My review
I won this book from Goodreads. It was an interesting read and held my interests. At times it got a little confusing with the beginning of the next transition in the story wasn't too much where I could not understand what was going on. Not bad for your first novel. Thanks!
I won this book from Goodreads. It was an interesting read and held my interests. At times it got a little confusing with the beginning of the next transition in the story wasn't too much where I could not understand what was going on. Not bad for your first novel. Thanks!
June 24, 2020
Overall, I enjoyed this book, although the pace was a bit too slow for my liking at times. It offered an interesting look into Beethoven's life. His passion really came through. I was unimpressed with the interviewer, George, at the beginning of the book, but I did come to like him better by the end.
September 6, 2018
This book felt like a 1950s movie - in a good way. The only part that bothered me was the Schubertiad in the tavern, where the conversation felt forced & didn't really give much insight into the political situation. I received a Kindle edition from a Goodreads giveaway.
June 21, 2019
I read this book through the Kindle app after winning it in a Goodreads giveaway. It took me way too long to get through. I enjoyed the concept, but couldn't find myself getting into it. I couldn't really relate to any characters and the storyline didn't pull me along.
September 2, 2024
I really like this author. I look forward to other works by her. If u enjoy historical fiction, and want to know about an intriguing figure that still impacts all our lives, this is a great book for u.
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October 25, 2017Although a little slow to get through - this is an excellent book! George Thompson's world takes an unexpected twist, when he's told that the man he knew to be his father is really his stepfather. He's led to believe that his true birth father is Beethoven. On a mission to meet the man, and as a career journalist, George embarks on a lengthy journey from the United States to Austria to meet and interview Beethoven - to find out about Beethoven from his perspective, and to confess that he is his son.
This book allows the reader to understand that people and things aren't always as they appear. Sometimes you have to dig deeper to understand the entire story, and that once you do, forgiveness is a beautiful thing.
This book allows the reader to understand that people and things aren't always as they appear. Sometimes you have to dig deeper to understand the entire story, and that once you do, forgiveness is a beautiful thing.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews