This book was originally published in two volumes. The first (Alkan the Man) dealt with the composer's life, background and personality. The second (Alkan the Music) reviewed and analysed the composer's considerable output. This extensively revised reprint in one volume encompasses recent Alkan discoveries, new works, manuscripts, supporting documents and other fresh evidence. There are new appendices, an expanded bibliography and a new discography which allows the reader to track the proliferation of recordings up to the present day.