This volume was first published in 1927, on the centenary of Beethoven’s death, as part of the
Masters of Music
series. The author was an established biographer of organ composers, such as
The Organ Works of Bach
. Attributing Beethoven’s disagreeable demeanour to his childhood, the author embarks on a passionate defence of Beethoven’s essential nobility of character, hoping to assuage the then-prevalent anti-Beethoven chill and to encourage readers to discover Beethoven anew. The volume covers an overview of Beethoven’s life, followed by his personality and an assessment of his works in an exploration of the most important characteristics of Beethoven’s works and their influence on his successors.