Beethoven’s Letters 1790-1826, Volume I presents the correspondence of the great composer in his own words, gathering letters from the years of his rise in Vienna and his maturity. The letters reveal Beethoven’s character directly: his pride, his struggles, his humour, and his fierce devotion to his art.
Addressed to friends, patrons, publishers, and fellow musicians, the letters illuminate the circumstances behind many of his works and the painful course of his deafness. They show the man behind the legendary music with unguarded immediacy. For readers and scholars alike, this primary source offers an intimate and indispensable view into the life and mind of Beethoven.