Beethoven's Ninth: Culture Personified

I must admit to being a fan of Ludwig van Beethoven's work. His musical genius is not to be denied. However, I did not know the full significance of Beethoven's work -- and specifically, his NInth Symphony, until I read this account by an obvious Beethoven scholar.

The above hyperlink directs you to a reprint of just a few pages of a formidable tome on the life and works of Beethoven, written by Esteban Buch. And although I haven't yet read the book itself, if its anything like the excerpt, it should be monumental in its scope and analysis.

To see eternity in a grain of sand -- that was Blake's passion. To see culture in a single work of genius -- it is a challenge that we would do well to meet