A masterly novel of genius, passion and anguish, Passion and Glory is the final volume in John Suchet's remarkable telling of the life of Ludwig Van Beethoven.

Beethoven's last years were a time of great artistic triumph, yet unrelenting personal torment. With his 'Eternal Beloved' now in the past, Beethoven returns to Vienna in 1812, a city celebrating the defeat of Napoleon. This is the era of Symphony No. 7, the 'Battle' Symphony, and of Symphony No. 9 with its 'Ode to Joy'. Monumental pieces composed in solitude and performed with ferocious energy. As the story culminates in Beethoven's epiphany at the moment of death, John Suchet invests him with a tragic grandeur missing from conventional biographies and completes a tale as immortal as the music itself.

Suchet's achievement is masterly, bringing Beethoven and the Vienna of his day convincingly to life * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *
The heart-shaking story of genius and passionate loneliness is brilliantly researched and lovingly told * MAIL ON SUNDAY *
The overall effect is convincing. Beethoven's music is our soul, and here is a readable and sensitive account of how this music came about. * TLS *
Beethoven's raison d'etre- his compositions- come to life thanks to Suchet's passionate descriptons the first performances of some of Ludwig's great works. Ideally read while listening to some of the symphonies. * BELFAST TELEGAPH *

John Suchet is an award-winning television journalist and newscaster, who in 1996 was voted Newscaster of the Year by the Television and Radio Industries Club. He is the regular presenter of the EARLY EVENING NEWS and frequently presents NEWS AT TEN.