Recommendation for Wagner biography

[Stanfordian]

I am looking for a recommendation for a biography of Wagner. I have several Wagner books but they seem to be collections of various essays by different authors. If possible I would like a traditional birth to death, chronological biography written by a single hand. Many thanks.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The most readable (IMO) is Ernest Newman's four-volumer - one to borrow from a public Library unless you have £138 lying around that you don't know what to do with!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Richard-Paperback-Cambridge-Library-Collection/dp/1108007732/ref=sr_1_13?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393327590&sr=1-13&keywords=wagner+biographies

... it was written in the '30s, so a more recent bio to fill in facts discovered more recently would be necessary. Curious how few there are - most of the Wagner literature is interpretation. This one's cheap, recent and gets a couple of enthusiastic reviews on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Richard-Wagner-Critical-Raymond-Furness/dp/1780231822/ref=sr_1_31?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393327907&sr=1-31&keywords=wagner+biographies

[VodkaDilc]

Barry Millington's The Sorcerer of Bayreuth is recent (2012), readable and authoritative (written by one of the leading living specialists on Wagner.)

[Beef Oven!]

I am looking for a recommendation for a biography of Wagner. I have several Wagner books but they seem to be collections of various essays by different authors. If possible I would like a traditional birth to death, chronological biography written by a single hand. Many thanks.

A fascinating read is Richard Wagner by Houston Stewart Chamberlain. I bought a copy of this book from the Wagner Society Of Scotland years ago (my copy is 114 years old now!), but is available for £2.04 as a Kindle Download (can be downloaded to your laptop, desk-top computer, iPad, or smartphone if you don't have a Kindle).

In other fields, HSC's view of the world is rather unsavoury to most of us, but putting that aside, as the husband of Wagner's step-daughter (and Liszt's granddaughter), the book gives a different perspective to the other biographies of Wagner that I have read, and I would recommend it as a supplementary read.

[gurnemanz]

My wife gave me this a couple of years ago as a birthday present. Very good.

[Beef Oven!]

My wife gave me this a couple of years ago as a birthday present. Very good.

Agreed, a good read.

[Thropplenoggin]

I expect you have the essential Aspects fo Wagner by Brian Magee: if not, don't let its brevity put you off it. It is excellent.

As for a good way in, I read this in December: Richard Wagner, part of a Critical Lives series. Covers all the key events and is generally well-written (though suffers from a few typos, as first editions often do).

[verismissimo]

I have a shelf full of books on Wagner and his world - but no biography.

So I've invested in the Furness, as recommended.

[Beef Oven!]

I expect you have the essential Aspects fo Wagner by Brian Magee: if not, don't let its brevity put you off it. It is excellent.

As for a good way in, I read this in December: Richard Wagner, part of a Critical Lives series. Covers all the key events and is generally well-written (though suffers from a few typos, as first editions often do).

Magee's book is excellent.

The Furness looks very tempting.

I hope this doesn't turn into one of those threads that costs money!

[Flosshilde]

And if you are at all interested in R. Wagner & Bayreuth you can't ignore Cosima. Oliver Hilmes' biography - Cosima Wagner; the lady of Bayreuth is fascinating & fair.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cosima-Wagner-Bayreuth-Oliver-Hilmes/dp/0300170904/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393338207&sr=1-1&keywords=cosima+wagner

[Serial_Apologist]

Bonfire.

(Only joking!)

[Stanfordian]

Thanks so much for all the Wagner book suggestions the help is much appreciated.

[Petrushka]

I'd second FHG in recommending the mammoth Newman biography. I bought my set some 30 years ago and can see it now on my shelves as I type. No Wagnerite should be without it.

[Roehre]

I'd second FHG in recommending the mammoth Newman biography. .... No Wagnerite should be without it.

wholeheartedly thirded.

But Stanfordian, if you're reading German, it might be an idea to have a look at the Wagner Lexikon and its related publications

[Stanfordian]

wholeheartedly thirded.

But Stanfordian, if you're reading German, it might be an idea to have a look at the Wagner Lexikon and its related publications

Thanks Roehre, English only I'm affraid; strictly of the Anglo-Saxon variety.