Let's set the scene: It's 1860. Richard Wagner is causing a stir in Europe, but not everyone's a fan. His operas are huge, complex, and expensive. Critics are divided. In France, where this book is published, many see German music as heavy and unrefined. Enter Champfleury, a French novelist and art critic with a fascination for the unconventional. Instead of writing about a safe, established composer, he decides to focus on this controversial figure across the Rhine.

The Story

This isn't a straight biography in the modern sense. Champfleury doesn't just list dates and premieres. He tries to capture the essence of Wagner the artist—his ambitions, his theories about 'total artwork,' and the sheer force of his personality. The book walks us through Wagner's major works up to that point, like Tannhäuser and Lohengrin, explaining why they broke the mold. But the real drama is in Champfleury's defense of him. He's arguing with an invisible audience of skeptical French readers, saying, "Look closer. This man is changing everything." The plot, in a way, is the argument itself: Can this difficult, revolutionary composer be understood and appreciated?

Why You Should Read It

What grabbed me was the perspective. Reading a contemporary take from before Wagner's legend was set in stone is thrilling. Champfleury's writing has the energy of someone discovering a secret. You feel his urgency to make his case. It's also a fascinating slice of 19th-century cultural politics—how art crossed (and sometimes crashed into) national borders. You see the early outlines of the cult of Wagner, but through the eyes of an outsider trying to make sense of it all. It makes you think about how history gets written and who gets to decide what's important.

Final Verdict

This is a niche gem, but a fascinating one. It's perfect for music history nerds, Wagner fans curious about his early reception, or anyone who loves stories about critics and tastemakers. If you're looking for a complete life story of Wagner, this isn't it—it stops decades before his death. But if you want a snapshot of a moment when a giant was still climbing, seen through the lens of a passionate advocate, this forgotten little book is a unique and surprisingly engaging read.