The Book of Liszts

John Spurling spent four years researching Liszt's life and listening almost exclusively to his music. The resulting novel, 'A Book of Liszts, Variations on the theme of Franz Liszt', published on the bicentenary of the composer's birth comprises fifteen self-contained chapters in different styles and from different viewpoints. In company with pianist Grace Francis he reads from 'A Book of Liszts', while she begins and ends the programme with music by Liszt.