The German composer, performer and critic Ferdinand Praeger (1815-91) moved to London in 1834, and served as the London correspondent of the Neue Zeitschrift fur Musik from 1842. A lifelong devotee of Wagner, he helped engage the composer to conduct eight concerts at the Philharmonic Society in 1855. His enthusiasm for Wagner led to the publication of this work in English in 1892, although it was soon claimed that he had greatly overplayed his role in the composer's career. There were accusations of invented stories, distorted facts and altered letters, subsequently supported by evidence obtained by biographers such as William Ashton Ellis, and also by Houston Stewart Chamberlain's comparison of original letters with those featured in this biography. Such negative publicity caused the publishers of the German edition to withdraw the book. Nonetheless, it contains personal impressions which remain of interest, and is now considered less exaggerated than previously thought.
- ISBN10 115032337X
- ISBN13 9781150323379
- Publish Date 1 February 2012 (first published 9 August 2003)
- Publish Status Unknown
- Out of Print 27 October 2016
- Publish Country US
- Imprint General Books
- Format Paperback (US Trade)
- Language English