Beethoven,

by David Jacobs

A biography of the famed German musician emphasizing the times in which he lived.

152 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1970

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book seems to have mostly bad reviews, but I don’t think they are entirely warranted. It’s a fine biography with youth as its target audience.

I read this and “Beethoven For Kids” simultaneously, and although both contained the same information and a great deal of complementary art, “Beethoven For Kids” was probably the better of the two in my opinion, frequently giving more detail and presenting his life more coherently.

Sometimes the details between the two books would be different— not that they were in conflict, but that they chose different particulars to focus on. One example of this is the time in Beethoven’s life when he was fighting for custody of his nephew, Karl. This biography was not afraid to expose the darker and less kid-friendly details of the legal battle, although “Beethoven for Kids” went into more depth about Karl’s suicide attempt and how Beethoven helped him join the military. Another example: “Beethoven for Kids” devotes more pages and detail to Beethoven’s meeting of Goethe, whereas this biography brushes over it briefly in a single paragraph.

One thing that jumped out at me while reading this biography as compared to the other is that the author is more heavy-handed in presenting Beethoven as bitter, clumsy, disorderly, uncouth, unmerciful, verbally abusive, having deplorable manners and being naturally rebellious. There is a continuous demonstration that everything in his life was a chaotic mess except his music, and the better his music became the more messy his personal life became. “Beethoven for Kids” didn’t seem to emphasize this part of Beethoven’s personality and mannerisms as much.

[Gary S · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good, albeit brief (80 pages), summary of the life and work of Ludwig Van Beethoven. The book reads quickly and the writing is interesting, but not overly technical with regard to music and the art of composing. I found intriguing the author’s assertion that the heroic struggle against fate was the foundation of Beethoven’s life and his unique artistry. It places his battle with encroaching deafness in a new context for me. The author’s discussion of Beethoven as the bridge between the Baroque and the Romantic ages of classical music was also interesting. In the end, I think this book served to whet my appetite for a more in depth treatment. Recommended as an introduction to Beethoven and his music.

[Patricia Ibarra · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love Beethoven's work and I decided to read this book to learn more about the composer. I think that when somebody decides to write a biography, he should do it thoroughly. I was utterly disappointed with this book because it only touches the surface of who Beethoven was. What he tells us is something we all know: he was irascible, a very difficult person, with time he was deaf, and so on. Nothing new under the sun. Maybe the only advantage of this book is that now I feel motivated to look for a true biography. Don't waste your time.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good introductory biography

The is the first biography of Beethoven I’ve read, and I think it’s a good foundation for knowledge about the man and the composer. It’s a pretty short book, but the author seemed to know just what details and stories to include to paint a pretty good portrait of Beethoven. If you haven’t read a bio of him yet, I’d recommend this.

[David Raymond · Rating 3 out of 5]

Biography of a master

A very easy read that felt somewhat lightweight considering the stature of the subject, perhaps the most illustrious composer of all time.
Left me wanting more.

[Terry L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent portrait of Beethoven as a man and an artist

This book gives the reader a great insight into the life of Beethoven in an easy-to-read and interesting way. The insights into Beethoven's personal life and especially his troubles add to the understanding of his music.

[Don · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating

A quick but informative book. I remembered doing this subject in school under duress. Now I can appreciate the life history much better at a more senior age myself

[sumedha bhise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written, however the lack of fresh research leads to a fairly derivative biography.

[Mario · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short recap of Beethoven's life, it hits the major points but not much else. I at least feel like I know more about Beethoven after reading this, so this book did its job well enough.

[Francia Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read several books on Beethoven. This is the one I most enjoyed.

[Michelle Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating, read about a complicated genesis

[JHoon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The most renowned, celebrated and respectable musicians but the unhappiest musician ever. The crucial figure in the transition between the classical era and the romantic era. It is probably not an exaggerated praise to call him as "Holy musician". Born in the unstable moment of history, his passion for music got intensified after loosing his hearing completely. His passionate life for his works is described well in the book, providing detailed explanations and pictures. The author describes most part of his life in details, from his familial background to his death. However, this book has some errors, for example, in the explanation of his 3rd symphony the author mentions on the picture that "The funeral march, 2nd movement of the 3rd symphony on this manuscript". The manuscript does not correspond to the real music however, the manuscript is one part of the fourth movement.
After finishing this book I could remind of my journey to Vienna where he performed and lived, his true passion for music and his greatness in history of music.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy, short and interesting read on the life of Beethoven.