Richard Wagner: His Life and His Dramas is W. J. Henderson’s biographical study of the composer and an explanation of his work, aimed at helping the English-speaking public understand the music dramas. Henderson, a leading American critic, surveys Wagner’s life alongside the theories and operas that revolutionised the stage.
The book recounts Wagner’s turbulent career and then guides the reader through the great works, from The Flying Dutchman to the Ring and Parsifal, explaining their dramatic and musical aims. Henderson writes lucidly for the intelligent concert-goer rather than the specialist. As an accessible introduction to a difficult and influential body of work, it remains a helpful companion to Wagner’s art.