BL Fascinating medical histories of 20 composers, explained without the use of medical jargon The lives of many great composers were beset by sever pain and disease, often exacernbated by the dubious medical practices of the time. Drawing on recent research, John O'Shea describes their courage in the face of illness and offers explanations to such mysteries as the cause of Mozart's death, of Beethoven's deafness, and Robert Schumann's mental breakdown.