Chopin, the Reluctant Romantic
"It is the virtue of this biography that Siepmann has woven the  story of Chopin's life sufficiently into his estimation of the music that  one emerges with a much clearer understanding of the music within its own  time, as well as of its influence over subsequent composers."  --Literary Review"This is the first major biography of Chopin to appear in many  years, and it is valuable and enjoyable."  ---American Record Guide