The reference biography of the composer who put a brilliant culmination to the great Italian operatic tradition of the 19th century
Puccini has been, is and will continue to be one of the most popular figures in the world of opera. And the author of this book, Julian Budden, has been one of the most prominent researchers of Italian opera. The union of both names resulted in what many consider the great biography of the Lucca composer.

With a skillful mix of musical analysis and colorful storytelling, its different chapters offer an enlightening vision of some of the most popular titles in the operatic repertoire of all time, such as Manon Lescaut, La boheme, Tosca, Madama Butterfly or Turandot. Budden acutely addresses the process of making an opera, in the figure of who can be considered to put the end to the Italian opera of the nineteenth century. Thus, in its pages the reader witnesses the struggle to find the right interpreters for the premiere of La boheme, Puccini's anguish at finishing Turandot or his animosity towards some contemporaries such as Leoncavallo (whom he ironically called Leonasino or «lion-ass »).

In addition, he provides an informed analysis of the operas themselves, examining the music act by act. Among other issues, the influence of Wagner on Puccini stands out, the only one among his Italian contemporaries to follow the example of the German when giving prominence to the musical motif, which sometimes allows him to give voice to thoughts not expressed by the singers. , and others emit to the public a signal of which the character is not aware. And, of course, he also leaves us a fascinating and most interesting portrait of the Puccini man: talented but modest, a person with friends of all kinds and social conditions: shopkeepers, priests, wealthy landowners, fellow artists. Good-natured, courteous, gifted with a great sense of humor, he rarely failed to dazzle everyone who came across him.