Beethoven: The Story of a Little Boy Who Was Forced to Practice

Every prodigy has a story. This is the boyhood of Ludwig van Beethoven, told for young readers who dream of making music. In the cobblestone streets of Bonn, a father sees something extraordinary in his young son - and decides to forge it. Johann van Beethoven pushes little Ludwig relentlessly, dragging him from bed before dawn, demanding hours of piano practice until the boy's fingers ache. The neighborhood children mock the strange boy who cannot play their games, who must practice instead. But Ludwig has no choice: his father believes greatness requires sacrifice, and so the boy becomes a man who creates some of humanity's most powerful music - all while losing the one sense a musician needs most. Written in the early 20th century as part of a series introducing children to the great composers, this biography captures both the wonder and the weight of Beethoven's childhood. It is for young musicians and curious readers who want to understand the price - and the glory - of becoming a genius.