Alan Walker's biography of Liszt... has been widely hailed as a groundbreaking work of scholarship.... Not only did his dogged research correct numerous, mostly damaging preconceptions about Liszt, but his cogent musical analyses made the case for the importance of the music.... Love him or hate him as a saint or a sinner, Liszt still has the capacity to stir great passions... and Mr. Walker has done a great service in correcting many misconceptions and thus raising the question about the true character of Liszt.