Alkan

Ronald Smith lived in Sussex and was educated at the Brighton College of Music and later won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music. He studied privately with Marguerite Long in Paris and completed a BMus degree at Durham University. As a concert pianist, Smith championed the piano works from the romantic period, in particular those of Charles-Valentin Alkan, who he recorded extensively. His detailed research led him to discover much new information about this reclusive composer.

'This book, which contains a number of fascinating illustrations, should interest all lovers of 19th century piano music and introduces us to an uniquely historic figure.' - Humphrey Searle, HiFi News; 'This is a book to linger over and savour, and from which to gain much more knowledge of some of the greatest piano music ever written.' - Harold Truscott, Music & Musicians; 'I found this book completely absorbing.' - Max Harrison, Musical Opinion; 'I'll tell you how good this book is: it kept me from piano practice before an important engagement. I'm sure its wisdom will inform my future piano practice and compensate for what it stole today.' - Ronald Stevenson, Piano; "This is an excellent overview of the life and works of the greatest pianist who ever lived by one of his foremost interpreters. Even Liszt was intimidated by the thought of playing in front of Alkan! It is strongly recommended for all lovers of classical music, but for pianists, it is indispensible."

• Book 1: Alkan - The Man, Acknowledgements, Introduction, 1. Prodigy, 2. Virtuoso, 3. Delaborde, 4. A Lost Symphony, 5. The "Grande Sonate", 6. Marmontel, 7. Recluse, 8. Prometheus Bound, 9. Les Petit Concerts, 10. The Final Years, 11. The Death of Alkan, 12. Rescue of a Lost Cause, 13. Personality and Appearance, 14. The Reluctant Virtuoso, 15. The MusicIndex, Index of Alkan's Works, List of Illustrations, Family Tree of Alkan Morhange, Book 2: Alkan - The Music, Introduction and Acknowledgements, 1. Early Works, 2. The Concerti da Camera, 3. The Crystallisation of Style, 4. The Miniatures, 5. The Thirty Chants, 6. The Grande Sonate and Sonatine, 7. Trois Grandes Etudes Op.76, 8. Douze etudes Op.35, 9. Douze etudes Op.39, 10. Miscellaneous piano music, 11. Transcriptions and Cadenzas, 12. Chamber Music, 13. Orchestral and Vocal Music, 14. Organ or Pedal-piano? 15. Alkan's Creative Personality