Ludwig van Beethoven: njegov život i stvaranje

The popular biography of the German (Austrian) writer Joseph August Lux (1871–1947), published in German in 1927 and in Zagreb during World War II, is one of the classic biographical works about Beethoven available in Croatian at the time. Joseph August Lux was a prolific Austrian writer, critic and art theorist, known for his biographies and books on culture.

In the book, Lux follows Beethoven's life from his childhood in Bonn, through his early successes in Vienna, conflicts with his father, the deafness that befell him in his prime, and all the way to his late years and death in 1827. He pays special attention to the creative process – the creation of key works (symphonies, sonatas, quartets, opera Fidelio), Beethoven's revolutionary role in music and his fight for artistic freedom.

The book is not a strictly scientific biography, but a vivid, readable and romantic-tinged reading intended for a wider audience. Lux highlights Beethoven's genius, his strong and eccentric personality, difficult financial circumstances, conflicts with publishers, love failures (including the mysterious "immortal love") and the deep humanistic and revolutionary dimension of his music.

The 1944 edition contains 16 illustrations (portraits, manuscript reproductions, scenes from life), which was significant for a popular biography at the time. The translation was adapted to the Croatian reader, and the book was printed under wartime conditions, which makes it an interesting testimony to the publishing industry of the NDH.