This one-volume study of all Verdi's operas provides a musical portrait of the composer as well as a guide to the music. The author looks at each opera from four different points of view: Verdi's life at the time it was written; the story, which is linked to the major musical features; information about the libretto, the librettist and Verdi's relations with his publishers; and a musical analysis, with musical examples. The treatment of each opera is preceded by a list of characters and details of first performance. Charles Osborne's other books include The Complete Operas of Mozart and The Compete Operas of Puccini.