Georg Friedrich Handel passed away in 1759 at the age of 74. His death and the illnesses of the famous composer are surrounded by numerous speculations: he is said to have suffered from rheumatism, and he also reportedly experienced a stroke, similar to his mother. In his final years, he was affected by blindness. Ultimately, he is believed to have succumbed to a tumor-related illness. In this book, Heinz Baum embarks on a quest for answers. He relies on contemporary sources and examines the diagnoses from Handel's time against modern scientific and medical standards. In the 18th century, medicine was still committed to humoral pathology, and diagnoses made on that basis do not hold up to today's medical standards. Baum provides a detailed account of the potential illnesses that could have affected Handel and carefully weighs the evidence.