Cheap Beethoven (Book) (Maynard Solomon) Price

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Customer Reviews of Beethoven

The book is written from a psychoanalytic point of view that all may not find convincing. However, the rudiments of Mr. Solomon's analysis, in terms of tracing Beethoven's life problems, his difficulties with women, with peers, and with himself to his childhood experiences probably transcends any specific psychological dogma and is insightful.

The book is a biography rather than an attempt at technical musical analysis. Even so, it elucidates the music well and with an obvious love for it. I found the discussion of Beethoven's final period works, and of his sometimes neglected vocal writings, particularly good.

The sections on Beethoven's relationship with Haydn, on his testament written upon the discovery of his impending deafness on the immortal beloved, and on his relationship with his nephew are all thoughtful and helped me better understand Beethoven.

A wonderful book for anybody who loves this composer or wants to learn more about why other people love him.

Not really a biography
I have spent over half of my life researching the life of Beethoven. Like many people, I was excited to learn of the new edition. However, I found it as disappointing as the original. If you are SERIOUS about Beethoven research, stick with Thayer. Unlike Solomon's biography, Thayer's reads as if it were a diary. Solomon provides too much analysis, which should be left to some of the fine articles and papers he has written in the past. This book would serve well as a supplement instead of a cornerstone. Thayer provides facts, and very little opinions. It is important to remember that Solomon is not the first person to do extensive Beethoven research. Many other authors and researchers have come before him with richer results. Take his finding as that of only one of a hundred authors on Beethoven. Check his facts with others and decide for yourself. If you are just interested in reading one or two books on Beethoven, please select another biography. Solomon's is not completely acceptable.

Too much pseudo-psychoanalysis
A generally interesting, and presumably authoritative, narrative of Beethoven's life and music is too often de-railed by whole chapters of amateurish, armchair Freudian psychoanalysis. It is further side-tracked by the long-winded pursuit or trivia [for example, an entire chapter (40 pages) of stuffy prose evaluates alternative theories on "who was his 'immortal beloved'" -- who cares? her identity is irrelevant].

The New York Times Book Review may think this is "a landmark of Beethovian scholarship and interpretation", but in my view, the narrative frequently suffers from a rather pompous style of pseudo-academic writing. A good edit is clearly warranted. Not really recommended.