The Last Master: Passion and Anger - Volume 1

I am prompted to write this review mostly as a rebuttal to the two low marks given by readers who are unhappy about Suchet's writing style. OK, so it's not exactly rich academic writing, but that's not what the author promises to deliver. What he does deliver is transportation from the dull, two-page cardboard cutout treatment of Beethoven that we usually have to settle for, to a realistic down-to-earth, life-on-the-street view of the Master, his contemporaries, and the streets of his times. For me, everything became vividly real and exciting. This was a true three-volume page-turner for me. Oh yes, I also hear his music from an entirely different perspective now, and that alone is worth the price of the volumes. You won't be sorry!

THIS IS A FUN AND AMAZINGLY WONDERFUL READ!!!! You won't be sorry that you started this series -- except maybe that you can't stop reading once you start! It is well written -- wonderful use of words -- wonderful imagination from this creative author. I couldn't be more impressed. I saw a review here that said it was awful -- please don't believe it. You will understand and love Beethoven (and John Suchet!!) even more than you already do, when done with these books. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!!!!!!

I was overjoyed to find a book such as the one written by John Suchet. I commend the author for writing a book about Beethoven in a way that I don't think was accomplished before. I hope that John Suchet may provide future "historical novels" about other famous composers. I am a pianist myself, and I love reading about the lives of the great composers. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn about Ludwig van Beethoven from the point of view of a story.

Memorising facts about Beethoven is difficult enough, yet when I had finished this book I understood how he began his musical education, his family situation, his longing to meet Mozart in Vienna and his difficulty in getting there. The book gives details of his personal friendships and those who gave him patronage. You may wonder why the Pathetique was dedicated to Lichnowsky, yet the book sets out the nature of their relationship and those similar. This first volume captures the beginnings of Beethoven's hearing problems and the attempts by many doctor's to cure him. Based on accounts by friends of Beethoven and letters to him and from him, the book successfully gives the reader an insight into the life of Beethoven without being boring. The author has added the dialogue , but as he says 'always in accordance with the known facts'. (Suchet 1996: Postscript)

Though the topic may fall within the category of books and issues that one would shy away from on first glance - biographies, classical music and history - John Suchet breathes life into the character of Beethoven, and takes his reader on a journey of discovery - not only of Beethoven and his music, but of his times, and as the title of the book aptly describes - his passion and anger. An excellent read for us who knew little of the composer's life.