**WINNER of Presto Books'' Best Composer Biography**NINE WORKS OF BEETHOVEN, NINE WINDOWS INTO THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF A MUSICAL GENIUS. ''We are doubly blessed that Beethoven should have led such an extraordinary life. Laura has combined the two - the genius of his music and the richness of his experiences - to shine a revealing light on our greatest composer'' John Humphrys_________________________Ludwig van Beethoven: to some, simply the greatest ever composer of Western classical musicYet his life remains shrouded in myths.In Beethoven, Oxford professor Laura Tunbridge cuts through the noise. With each chapter focusing on a period of his life, piece of music and revealing theme - from family to friends, from heroism to liberty - she provides a rich insight into the man and the music Revealing a wealth of never-before-seen material, this tour de force is a compelling, accessible portrayal of one of the world''s most creative minds and it will transform how you listen for ever. ______