The inspiring story of a musical giant; woven throughout the book are links to selections on the accompanying two compact discs that bring to life the man and his music.

Originally published: UK : Naxos Books, c2006.

Prologue : Beethoven in his time -- The ascendancy -- Beethoven and the piano -- Crisis -- Chamber music (1) : mixed families -- The hero -- Beethoven and the human voice -- The immortal beloved -- Beethoven and the orchestra -- Kidnapped -- Beethoven in the theatre -- The master -- Chamber music (2) : strings alone -- Finale -- Epilogue : The truly immortal beloved -- The eighteenth-century background -- The nineteenth-century foreground -- Personalities.