This is a very different kind of biography, which blends story with music theory and composition.
The author is quite enamored, and rightly so, of the subject, Claude Debussy, a child prodigy and great composer whose works have withstood over a century. But often the story and details of his life are forgone for many pages as the intricacies of Debussy’s “innovative harmony,” stylization, and analyses of his songs are explained, especially in comparison to other, less popularly-known musicians and influences (with the except of the great Tchaikovsky). To anyone who has studied music theory or composition, this is probably quite riveting and they would be able to appreciate it the best. For the layman, however, these stretches can be a bit of a long tangent of jargon and therefore a bit difficult to follow, though explanations are offered at times, which help the common reader return to understanding.

The excessive use of French expressions could also be daunting for an English-speaking audience, for though it is the native language of the composer, many of the expressions are not commonly known and could be ignored as argot.

This book would be a good purchase for musical theorists, composers, or students of music who are already interested in the composer Claude Debussy. Fans of the composer without a music language background might find it a bit too much music theory digression and not enough story development or telling about the actual person. This is a biography perfect for musicians, music teachers, or fans of music composition who have studied its elaborate intricacies.