Biographies
- Newman, Ernest. Life of Richard Wagner. New York: Knopf, 1933–1946. 4v.
Reprint, New York: Cambridge U.P., 1976. ML410 .W1 N52.
A well-documented, interesting life story. Quotations from letters and other
materials are given in English translation only. The bibliography is poor, but
the expansive index of names, titles, and topics in each volume is useful.
1989.The New Grove Wagner. Ed. Carl Dahlhaus and John Deathridge. New York:
Norton, 1984. 226p. ISBN 0-393-30092-7. ML410 .W1 D4.
A brief account, revised from the NGarticle, valuable for encompassing all
newer research and for the strong worklist. - Westernhagen, Curt von. Wagner.2nd ed. Zurich: Atlantis, 1979. 601p. ISBN
3-7611-0287-9. ML410 .W1 W52.
In English as Wagner: A Biography,trans. Mary Whittall (New York: Cam-
bridge U.P., 1978. 2v.). First edition, 1968. A scholarly work, citing letters and
primary documents. Detailed life chronology, plain worklist. Meager bibliog-
raphy, and name index only (the English translation has a good expansive
index of names and titles). Problems with the book are that it does not account
for much recent scholarship, although it does advance beyond Newman in
some respects (such as the coverage of Cosima’s diaries), and that it is fre-
quently unreliable regarding facts. Compared with Newman’s detached man-
ner, Westernhagen is more than a little adulatory about his subject.
Of a fairly large number of shorter biographies published in recent years, a few may
be mentioned:
- Chancellor, John. Wagner.Boston: Little, Brown, 1978. x, 310p. ISBN 0-316-
13622-0. ML410 .W1 C43.
An adequate narrative in short, informal format, with a few footnotes. A life
chronology is the main reference feature. Weak bibliography, expansive index
of names and titles. - Watson, Derek. Richard Wagner: A Biography. London: Dent, 1979. 352p.
ISBN 0-460-03166-X. ML410 .W1 W338.
A general work, without footnotes, presenting a dispassionate view of Wag-
ner’s personality. Considerable commentary on the prose writings; nothing
about the music. Appendix of biographical sketches about persons mentioned.
Weak bibliography, partly expansive index of names and titles. - Taylor, Ronald. Richard Wagner: His Life, Art and Thought.London: Paul
Elek, 1979. 285p. ISBN 0-2364-0071-X. ML410 .W13 T24.
A good introduction: sympathetic to Wagner but not adulatory. Strong in
background matters, such as the revolution of 1848 and its consequences,
Bavarian politics, and the like.
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