In this book the German music scholar Ludwig Nohl provides a fascinating narrative of Joseph Haydn's life from an impoverished childhood to international renown that includes insightful and often amusing anecdotes. It also includes some analysis of the components of his compositions and traces the effect of his predecessors and contemporaries on his development as an artist. He had a close relationship with Mozart and influenced and was influenced by him. He was often referred to by Mozart and others as "Papa" Haydn and he is considered the "Father" of the symphony and the string quartet. (Summary by mkirkpat)