![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Book Review
Jul. 9th, 2011 11:20 amThe Life of Schubert
by Christopher Howard Gibbs
This short biography of Franz Schubert manages to be remarkably thorough, given that he only lived to be 31. Gibbs does a good job of addressing the various misconceptions and controversies surrounding Schubert's life and personality, and of delving into the kinds of myth-making that occur after an artist's death. Gibbs also provides a good, if basic, view of early 19th century musical life in Vienna.
I've never been much of a fan of Schubert's instrumental music, either for listening or playing, and, unfortunately, this was not the sort of biography to change that even a little. The only thing Gibbs really piqued my interest about was musical life in 19th century Vienna.
by Christopher Howard Gibbs
This short biography of Franz Schubert manages to be remarkably thorough, given that he only lived to be 31. Gibbs does a good job of addressing the various misconceptions and controversies surrounding Schubert's life and personality, and of delving into the kinds of myth-making that occur after an artist's death. Gibbs also provides a good, if basic, view of early 19th century musical life in Vienna.
I've never been much of a fan of Schubert's instrumental music, either for listening or playing, and, unfortunately, this was not the sort of biography to change that even a little. The only thing Gibbs really piqued my interest about was musical life in 19th century Vienna.
