This wide-ranging and incisive biography unfolds the life and work of the much-loved twentieth-century composer Sergei Prokofiev.

In it, Christina Guillaumier reveals Prokofiev's surprisingly optimistic spirit amidst a tumultuous backdrop of geopolitical chaos and ever-shifting musical landscapes. Guillaumier breathes life into the people and worlds that shaped Prokofiev's complicated life, capturing the unwavering passion of a musical genius whose love for his craft transcended all barriers. This new critical account is a vivid portrait of the artist's indomitable drive.

'Like Prokofiev's finest, most popular works, Guillaumier's biography is accessible, ingratiating and economical. It's also devoid of jargon and free of generalizations about his life as a Soviet composer.' Simon Morrison, author of The People's Artist: Prokofiev's Soviet Years