GABRIEL FAURE

Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924) is one of the best-loved French composers of his era: works such as the 'Requiem', 'Pavane and the Cantique de Jean Racine' are perennial favourites.

Fauré has often been thought of as a somewhat unworldly individual; this book, however, clearly reveals his ambition and decisiveness. Born in southern France and educated at the Ecole Niedermeyer rather than the powerful Paris Conservatoire, he struggled to achieve recognition from France's musical establishment, which deemed him a dangerous outsider. His music, with its unique blend of vigour and restraint, sensuality and purity, served to inspire a new generation of French composers.

This stimulating biography is the first ever to give equal weight to Fauré's private and public lives: while professionally he eventually achieved recognition as a composer and as an influential composition teacher, in his personal life he struggled against depression, an unsatisfactory marriage and, later, devastating deafness.