The Horn Book Guide

THE ARTS

Martin, Russell , Nibley, Lydia

The Mysteries of Beethoven's Hair

120 pp. | Charlesbridge | February, 2009 | Trade ISBN 978-1-57091-714-1 $15.95

(2) 4-6 While paying last respects, composer-in-training Ferdinand Hiller snipped a lock of Beethoven's hair. Mysteries dogging the memento are the focus of this absorbing book (adapted from Martin's adult work Beethoven's Hair). The text explores Beethoven's troubled life, the modern-day quest to prove his cause of death, and the keepsake's journey through history. Many well-captioned black-and-white art reproductions and photographs add tangibility. Ind.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2009