This biography covers the full range of Bela Bartok s (1881--1945) work from his early explorations of the folklore of Hungary to his Third Piano Concerto composed on his deathbed in the United States. Illustrated throughout with contemporary photographs of people and events, the book brings a reclusive creator strikingly to life, showing inextricable links between his life, his music and the turbulence of two world wars. This biography is essential reading to understand the singular nature of Bartok's genius and the originality of his contribution to music.