- Hardcover: 384 pages
- Publisher: Yale University Press; 1 edition (29 May 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0300111606
- ISBN-13: 978-0300111606
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 16.3 x 4.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 633,081 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Literary Review, July 2007
...beautifully written and meticulously researched and footnoted.
The Guardian, July 28, 2007
'...engaging, well written and clearly aimed at the general
reader...for those wanting to read an affectionate life of one of the
greatest and most loveable figures of the early 19th century, this book can
be recommended.'
reader...for those wanting to read an affectionate life of one of the
greatest and most loveable figures of the early 19th century, this book can
be recommended.'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This biography has been generally well received and I would concur in the remarks on the author's meticulous research and presentation. However, I would like to comment on his treatment of the speculation that the composer suffered bipolar disorder. Much more is known now about BD - which is nowadays regarded as a spectrum encompassing other forms as well as classical manic depression -that the author seems not familiar with. This includes dysphoric BD i.e. an agitated mania not showing the euphoria usually associated with mania, bipolar 2 (characterized by longer periods of depression with fewer and less extreme episodes of mania) or cyclothymia which is a lifelong cycle of mood shifts less marked than the BD 1 or 2. In Schumann's day the concept of BD would anyway not have been known, nor would it have been treatable. After all, the first useful treatment - lithium - was only discovered about fifty years ago. It is therefore not surprising that contemporary medics may have had difficulty in understanding his condition. However, this does not mean he did not suffer from bipolar. As to possible confusion about how Schumann could function in order to compose while being insane, well, the whole point about BD is that the condition develops in cycles, between which the person is stable and certainly not insane. Indeed, one of the problems with the condition is diagnosing when stability turns into mania or depression so one can head it off with treatment. BD Type 1 (classical manic depression) shows the most extreme mood shifts with psychotic episodes. The less extreme forms noted above almost by definition do not involve episodes of psychosis or temporary insanity, although depression in BD 2 may approach this . In regard to the fact that Schumann may also have suffered from neurological effects of syphilis, this does not of course prevent possible overlap with BD at other stages of his life (when the syphilitic effects may have been dormant). Certainly Schumann's labile personality comes across in the sharp mood shifts in his music and his emotional life and his method of working very rapidly over relatively short periods. All these traits fit a bipolar diagnosis. Whether the attempted suicide towards the end of his life derived from manic depression or insanity associated with tertiary syphilis is open to conjecture. Other suicide attempts or earlier episodes of losing touch with reality would suggest bipolar; lack of them and the late onset of a single suicide attempt would point to the latter. In short I would say we are far from having debunked the idea that Schumann may have been subject to mood swings falling somewhere on the bipolar spectrum. I suspect the author is too quick to rush to judgement about this without adequate medical background, perhaps keen to adopt a revisionist agenda.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
8 reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Detailed Biography of Schumann the Man
17 Jan 2008
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a very well written and nicely paced account of Schumann's life that draws heavily on his and Clara Schumann's diaries. Schumann's private personality emerges very nicely, and goes a long way towards dispelling the myths that were created by a tradition of biography in which the observations of those that did not know Schumann well took center stage and exaggerated the pathological elements of his personality and his eccentricities. Schumann was of course still a very unusual and unique man, but this is revealed in the context of the arc his entire life and in the context of his relationship with Clara.
This book is also a very good choice for those that are uncomfortable with the technical language of music and music notation. Schumann's music is not dealt with in these terms, but rather in the context of his life and musical development. This treatment is thorough enough, however, that those who are more familiar with music will gain much in reading it.
One quibble I have with the book is that I find Worthen's concept of manic-depressive disorder (bipolar I) very narrow, if not outright wrong at times. For example, he mentions times in which Schumann was particularly agitated and hyper-sensitive for periods of weeks or months. In doing so, he stresses that Schumann is not depressed since he is not showing the classic signs of depression that would characterize the depressive state of manic-depressive disorder, and that he was still able to work effectively through these periods. As someone who is familiar with this subject, my own thoughts are that these periods sound in fact, VERY much like dysphoric MANIC states or mixed states, which are often seen in patients with bipolar disorder and often misinterpreted by non-specialists. With this in mind, I very much doubt that this book has disproved the myth that Schumann had bipolar disorder, and in fact may make the case stronger, though I recognize the almost undeniable role that tertiary syphilis played in Schumann's final years. Worthern is very thorough in this respect, and gives very strong medical evidence to support this.
This book is also a very good choice for those that are uncomfortable with the technical language of music and music notation. Schumann's music is not dealt with in these terms, but rather in the context of his life and musical development. This treatment is thorough enough, however, that those who are more familiar with music will gain much in reading it.
One quibble I have with the book is that I find Worthen's concept of manic-depressive disorder (bipolar I) very narrow, if not outright wrong at times. For example, he mentions times in which Schumann was particularly agitated and hyper-sensitive for periods of weeks or months. In doing so, he stresses that Schumann is not depressed since he is not showing the classic signs of depression that would characterize the depressive state of manic-depressive disorder, and that he was still able to work effectively through these periods. As someone who is familiar with this subject, my own thoughts are that these periods sound in fact, VERY much like dysphoric MANIC states or mixed states, which are often seen in patients with bipolar disorder and often misinterpreted by non-specialists. With this in mind, I very much doubt that this book has disproved the myth that Schumann had bipolar disorder, and in fact may make the case stronger, though I recognize the almost undeniable role that tertiary syphilis played in Schumann's final years. Worthern is very thorough in this respect, and gives very strong medical evidence to support this.
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
A bio which may revolutionize the way we view Schumann.
25 Oct 2007
Format:Hardcover
Solidly researched, splendidly argued, John Worthen's Schumann biography takes an untraditional approach. Every biography of the composer I've read stresses a schizophrenic or bipolar personality leading to madness and death in an asylum. Worthen strenuously argues for a physiological cause for Schumann's end. Even if Worthen turns out to be wrong, I find this the most nuanced account of Schumann's personality, and the prose is tremendous, besides. Worthen does not set out to give us an account of Schumann's music, but of the man. This might be frustrating for people who want to explore the music, but Schumann -- unlike many composers -- had a personality that justifies this kind of approach.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
A wonderfully insightful biography on Schumann's life and music.
14 Mar 2008
Format:Hardcover
This is an exceptional and fascinating biography of Schumann. Reading about his life brought renewed interest and enthusiasm for Schumann's glorious music. After reading such a book, and I could hardly put it down, I cannot think of a better outcome.
Hats off to you, John Worthen!
Hats off to you, John Worthen!
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