When the child saw him he shrank back afraid, and hid his face in his mother’s dress (Page 17)
Life Stories for Young People
LUDWIG VAN
BEETHOVEN
Translated from the German of
Franz Hoffmann
BY
GEORGE P. UPTON
Translator of “Memories,” etc.
THIRD PRINTING
CHICAGO
A. C. McCLURG & CO.
1910
Copyright
A. C. McClurg & Co.
1904
Published October 1, 1904
THE UNIVERSITY PRESS
CAMBRIDGE, U. S. A.
Preface
The life-story of Beethoven, containedin these pages, is a résumé of the eventsof his childhood and youth, those of hismaturer years being merely indicated inorder to give symmetry to the narrative. It coversjust that period of his life in which young readersare likely to be interested. Those who have theleisure and inclination to study the details of hisentire career will find them in the biographies ofSchindler, Ries, Marx, Thayer, and others, but itis questionable whether any of these will bringthe reader as closely to the actual man and musicianas this little story. And this is so not onlybecause it is a story, but because it is a storytrue to life, with actual, not imaginary, personages,set in a social, domestic, and musical environmentwhich is accurately reproduced, and dealing withhistorical events which are correctly stated. In astrict sense, therefore, it is not fiction, far less is itrhapsody; and to this extent it is valuable notalone for facts charmingly set forth, but for effectswhich are realistic and which seem to bring theactual Beethoven before the reader. It is the storyof a sad struggle against obstacles which sometimesappeared almost insuperable; but its lesson foryouth is the reward of world-wide fame which followedthe exercise of industry, courage, honesty,self-respect, and self-devotion to his calling. Thetranslator has endeavored to reproduce the story inan English setting without sacrificing its charmingGerman characteristics.
G. P. U.
Chicago, September 1, 1904.
Contents
- In Childhood 11
- The Walk 26
- New Friends 49
- A Merciful Punishment 65
- In Vienna 83
- The End 108
- Appendix 117