The Amazon No. 1 Bestseller 'A beautiful and important book.' — Marina Mahler 'Highly recommended' — Société Gustav Mahler France 'A book that sends you back to listen again to music you thought you knew, with fresh insight and understanding.' — Tim Ashley, Guardian 'Masterfully paced, just the right balance of continuous narrative and individual essays, all framed in beautiful writing. Can’t recommend it highly enough!' — Brian McCreath, WCRB Classical Radio Boston 'One does not expect a book on music to be this philosophically erudite. [The] use of language is masterful. […] It's an enormous achievement. An essential book.' — Jeffrey A. Tucker 'This is an important contribution to the Mahler bibliography. David Vernon has written a perceptive, insightful and thought-provoking book. Mahler devotees will find much in its pages to enhance their understanding of these ever-fascinating works in which we can always find something new to excite us. […] Vernon has a deep knowledge of the symphonies – and a great enthusiasm for them. His descriptions of the works are detailed and, clearly, the product of extensive and careful listening – as well as wide reading around his subject. He can bring the music to life through vivid and enthusiastic turns of phrase.' — MusicWeb International Gustav Mahler wrote some of the most challenging and cherished music of all time: eleven extraordinary symphonies that continue to fascinate, intrigue and infuriate music lovers around the world. In his dazzling new book, David Vernon — author of Disturbing the Universe: Wagner's Musikdrama — celebrates these vast but often very private works of art. In stimulating prose, he investigates their theatricality and grandeur, as well as their poetry and intimacy, examining the personal, philosophical and musical influences which shaped their creation. Each symphony, including Das Lied von der Erde and the unfinished Tenth, is given its own chapter, which also includes a detailed guide to the music, movement by movement. Above all, this is a book that recognizes the importance of Mahler in musical and cultural history and takes us far into both his creative processes and the works themselves. WITH A FOREWORD BY MARINA MAHLER