Mozart: A Life

· Sold by Penguin
3.9
8 reviews
Ebook
176
Pages
Eligible

About this ebook

Eminent historian Paul Johnson dazzles with a rich, succinct portrait of Mozart and his music

As he’s done in Napoleon, Churchill, Jesus, and Darwin, acclaimed historian and author Paul Johnson here offers a concise, illuminating biography of Mozart. Johnson’s focus is on the music—Mozart’s wondrous output of composition and his uncanny gift for instrumentation.

Liszt once said that Mozart composed more bars than a trained copyist could write in a lifetime. Mozart’s gift and skill with instruments was also remarkable as he mastered all of them except the harp. For example, no sooner had the clarinet been invented and introduced than Mozart began playing and composing for it.

In addition to his many insights into Mozart’s music, Johnson also challenges the many myths that have followed Mozart, including those about the composer’s health, wealth, religion, and relationships. Always engaging, Johnson offers readers and music lovers a superb examination of Mozart and his glorious music, which is still performed every day in concert halls and opera houses around the world.

Ratings and reviews

3.9
8 reviews
Mary B
February 19, 2018
Easy to read because the writer gets on with the story of Mozart--and avoids being an encyclopedia. Good writing and informative.
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A Google user
April 11, 2014
From richard wayne adams.
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About the author

Paul Johnson is the bestselling author of numerous books, including Darwin: Portrait of a Genius, Socrates: A Man for Our Times, Napoleon: A Penguin Life, and Churchill. He lives in London.

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