From Marilyn to Mussolini, people captivate people. A&E's Biography, best-selling autobiographies, and biographical novels testify to the popularity of the genre. But where does one begin? Collected here are descriptions and evaluations of over 10,000 biographical works, including books of fact and fiction, biographies for young readers, and documentaries and movies, all based on the lives of over 500 historical figures from scientists and writers, to political and military leaders, to artists and musicians. Each entry includes a brief profile, autobiographical and primary sources, and recommended works. Short reviews describe the pertinent biographical works and offer insight into the qualities and special features of each title, helping readers to find the best biographical material available on hundreds of fascinating individuals.

A wealth of previously unpublished letters and personal documents drawn from the family archives of the Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

The Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was a monumental figure of the Romantic period, whose works are among the most popular music in the classical repertoire. Celebrated for his melodic ingenuity, impressive harmonies and colourful, picturesque orchestration, Tchaikovsky’s works evoke a profound emotional response. He was the first Russian composer to produce music that made a lasting impression internationally, leading the way for future generations of aspiring composers. Delphi’s Great Composers Series offers concise illustrated guides to the life and works of our greatest composers. Analysing the masterworks of each composer, these interactive eBooks include links to popular streaming services, allowing you to listen to the pieces of music you are reading about. Evaluating the masterworks of each composer, you will explore the development of their works, tracing how they changed the course of music history. Whether a classical novice or a cultivated connoisseur, this series offers an intriguing overview of the world’s most famous and iconic compositions. This volume presents Tchaikovsky’s masterworks in succinct detail, with informative introductions, accompanying illustrations and the usual Delphi bonus features. (Version 1) * Concise and informative overview of Tchaikovsky’s masterworks * Learn about the classical pieces that made Tchaikovsky a celebrated composer * Links to popular streaming services (free and paid), allowing you to listen to the masterpieces you are reading about * Features a special ‘Complete Compositions’ section, with an index of Tchaikovsky’s complete works and links to popular streaming services * Also features two biographies - explore Tchaikovsky's intriguing musical and personal life * Includes Tchaikovsky’s brother seminal biography, including the composer’s letters - spend hours exploring Tchaikovsky’s personal correspondence Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to browse through our range of exciting eBooks CONTENTS: The Masterworks Symphony No. 1 in G minor, Op. 13 Six Romances, Op. 6 Romeo and Juliet, TH 42 String Quartet No. 1 in D Major, Op. 11 Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 23 Swan Lake, Op. 20 The Seasons, Op. 37a Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 36 12 Morceaux, Op. 40 Eugene Onegin, Op. 24 Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 41 Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35 1812 Overture, Op. 49 Serenade for Strings in C Major, Op. 48 Manfred Symphony in B minor, Op. 58 Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64 The Sleeping Beauty, Op. 66 The Nutcracker, Op. 71 Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 74 Complete Compositions Index of Tchaikovsky’s Compositions The Biographies and Letters The Life and Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky by Modeste Tchaikovsky Brief Biography: Peter Ilich Tschaikovsky Please visit www.delphiclassics.com to learn more about our wide range of exciting titles

Philip Ross Bullock looks at the life and works of Rosa Newmarch (1857-1940), the leading authority on Russian music and culture in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century England. Although Newmarch's work and influence are often acknowledged - most particularly by scholars of English poetry, and of the role of women in English music - the full range of her ideas and activities has yet to be studied. As an inveterate traveller, prolific author, and polyglot friend of some of Europe's leading musicians, such as Elgar, Sibelius and Jank, Newmarch deserves to be better appreciated. On the basis of both published and archival materials, the details of Newmarch's busy life are traced in an opening chapter, followed by an overview of English interest in Russian culture around the turn of the century, a period which saw a long-standing Russophobia (largely political and military) challenged by a more passionate and well-informed interest in the arts Three chapters then deal with the features that characterize Newmarch's engagement with Russian culture and society, and - more significantly perhaps - which she also championed in her native England; nationalism; the role of the intelligentsia; and feminism. In each case, Newmarch's interest in Russia was no mere instance of ethnographic curiosity; rather, her observations about and passion for Russia were translated into a commentary on the state of contemporary English cultural and social life. Her interest in nationalism was based on the conviction that each country deserved an art of its own. Her call for artists and intellectuals to play a vital role in the cultural and social life of the country illustrated how her Russian experiences could map onto the liberal values of Victorian England. And her feminism was linked to the idea that women could exercise roles of authority and influence in society through participation in the arts. A final chapter considers how her late interest in the music of Czechoslovakia pi