Liszt has been the subject of countless biographies and other studies. The most important early work was Lina Ramann’s Franz Liszt als Künstler und Mensch, published between 1880 and 1894. An English translation of the first part (now divided into two volumes) appeared in 1882. Ramann (1833–1912) was a music teacher and a composer as well as a prolific author. Her earlier writings included a book about Liszt’s oratorio Christus. It induced Liszt’s longtime companion Carolyne von Sayn-Wittgenstein to ask her to write an authorized biography. Ramann knew Liszt well, and she interviewed him extensively in writing.

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