The Letters of Beethoven

by Ludwig van Beethoven Translated by Emily Anderson

Beethoven wrote a lot of letters, because of his deafness. He wonders how he can face people. How can he of all people face the public when the one organ that distinguishes him and gives him his art is not working? It agonised him. The other thing that comes through in the letters is this absolute confidence – not arrogance, just complete confidence in his, I suppose, destiny: schicksal.