Schumann

The biography delves into Robert Schumann's complex life, revealing his artistic evolution within the Romantic era. Judith Chernaik combines scholarly research with narrative flair, exploring Schumann's literary influences and his struggle between originality and tradition. His passionate love story with Clara Wieck unfolds amidst familial opposition, while his relationships with contemporaries like Mendelssohn and Chopin are examined. Newly accessed medical records from his time in the Endenich asylum provide fresh insights into the circumstances of his early death, highlighting the connection between his tumultuous life and his profound music.