The Life and Death of Mozart

by Michael Levey

The bicentenary of Mozart's death both confirmed and rejuvenated the enduring appeal of this remarkably gifted composer. Yet our understanding of the man has been clouded; his personality has all too often been seen as an inevitable by-product of genius, a portrayal that is as misleading as it is unsatisfactory. In his biography, Michael Levey sees behind that darkened varnish and reveals the clear image of a man of great liveliness and humanity, not at all at odds with the genius so evident in his music.