Henry Purcell's prolific output encompassed works for court, church and theatre. Within his short life-span (1659-95), he impressed his stamp on the music of the whole country; both as an organist at Westminster Abbey and as official composer to four monarchs. In the theatre, he collaborated with the greatest writers and poets of his age, including Dryden. Margaret Campbell tells the story of Purcell, painting a vibrant picture of the political, artistic and social world in which he lived, from his childhood in the Restoration and experiences of the Great Plague and the Great Fire to the complex politics of the later 17th century. New insights into Purcell's work are offered, including a controversial interpretation of the date of the opera "Dido and Aeneas".