Christine Eichel tells the captivating story of Ludwig van Beethoven, a genius composer and pronounced nonconformist. Who was the man who fought with his most important patron and occasionally threw rotten eggs at his cook? What connection exists between his painful childhood and his uniquely emotional music? What influence did his progressive political stance have on his work? Why were happy relationships elusive for him? Eichel vividly and knowledgeably portrays Beethoven's intellectual cosmos, recounts delicate romantic complications and bizarre moods, and writes about his notorious financial struggles and the composer's explosive humor. Beyond common myths, the man Beethoven becomes accessible in a new and exciting way.