The biography for the 200th birthday. Born in the year of the "Great Comet," the path of the child prodigy from Raiding in Burgenland led through Vienna to Paris, the Mecca of the music world of his time, where Franz Liszt, as a unique piano virtuoso, sparked storms of enthusiasm and lived a life as a beloved bohemian. Always in search of recognition as a composer as well, Liszt's inner turmoil shaped his artistic development as much as his love relationships. After concert tours across Europe, he became the court conductor in Weimar, where he helped Richard Wagner's works achieve success. In this book, Jan Jiracek von Arnim embarks on an exciting quest for traces: he accompanies Liszt through the pilgrimage years as a virtuoso, visionary, pioneer, superstar, and seeker of meaning, exploring his inner landscape as a person and as a musician. The result is a magnificent portrait.