Fryderyk Chopin

The magisterial portrait of Chopin, the man and his music, that you've been waiting for.

A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice. The Sunday Times (UK) Classical Music Book of 2018 and one of The Economist's Best Books of 2018.

Based on a decade of research and previously untapped sources, this landmark biography by leading Chopin authority Alan Walker provides a comprehensive and intimate look at the life and work of the legendary Fryderyk Chopin. Walker's engaging yet scholarly prose dispels myths and illuminates the Polish composer's dramatic life, from his childhood in Poland to his nine-year romance with George Sand.

Meticulously researched and highly readable, this monumental work wears its scholarship lightly. It offers a corrective view, replacing legends with facts about the confounding, beloved genius and his music, and is perfectly suited for professional pianists and casual music lovers alike.

Walker's definitive biography brings 19th-century composer Chopin and his extraordinary music to life with unprecedented clarity, just as he did for Liszt, making this magisterial portrait an indispensable resource for all who love the piano and classical music.