Much of the music of Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) is among the most accessible of any written in the last hundred years; the man, however, was notoriously difficult to get to know. In Maurice Ravel, Gerald Larner aims to trace the development of the composer's personality not only through events in his life and in the society around him but also through his music, which is more revealing in this respect than is generally believed. This beautifully crafted book offers many fresh insights into the life and work of this enigmatic composer.