Erudite, passionately argued, and extraordinarily moving.

An engrossing recovery project.

Long and complex.

Profoundly moving.

Masterful.

Eichler's examination of these artists and their works is authoritative, but the book is not an easy read. The text is dense, and some of the author’s detours, such as his lengthy discourse on Mendelsohn, do not seem to fit his theme. He also assumes that readers will have a detailed grasp of classical music. Consequently, this book is not for everyone, but those who choose to accept the challenge will find it fascinating and, in its own way, inspiring. A noteworthy piece of scholarship giving context and depth to key composers and their work..