Beethoven in Love; Opus 139: Concerto Quasi Una Fantasia - Tapa blanda

A daring, compelling, and impeccably researched historical novel that offers dramatic new insight into the life of the greatest composer the world has ever known. Its fresh perspective and deeply felt understanding of Beethoven's motivations, passions, and challenges speak eloquently to us today, connecting us to our own successes, failures, and dreams, and ultimately to the true consequence of our lives. At the moment of his death on a snowy afternoon in March, 1826, Ludwig van Beethoven pleads with Providence to grant him a final wish—one day, just a single day of pure joy. But first he must confront the many failings in his life, so the great composer and exceedingly complex man begins an odyssey into the netherworld of his past life. As he struggles to confront its ugliness, we encounter the women who loved and inspired him. In their own voices, we discover their Beethoven—a lover with whom they savor the profound beauty and passion of his creations. And it’s in the arms of his beloveds that he comes to terms with the meaning of his life and experiences the moment of true joy he has always sought.

Howard Jay Smith spent over a dozen years in the entertainment industry working on numerous film, television, radio, and commercial projects, during which time he was an executive at ABC Television and Embassy TV. He taught for many years at the UCLA Extension and has lectured nationally. A frequent Op-Ed contributor to magazine and newspapers, his articles and photographs have appeared in the Washington Post, Horizon Magazine, the VCEDA News, the Journal of the Writers Guild of America, the Ojai Quarterly, and numerous trade publications. His book Opening the Doors to Hollywood was published by Random House. Smith is a member of the board of directors of the Santa Barbara Symphony and is a member of The American Beethoven Society.