Fuller Maitland acknowledges that this book is not an exhaustive life of Schumann: 'The time for writing such a life is not yet come.' Nevertheless, it contains a survey of Schumann's compositions as well as his critical writings and a range of contemporary critical responses to his work.

J. A. Fuller Maitland (1856-1936), whose Masters of German Music is also reissued in this series, was music critic of The Times for 22 years, was the editor of the second edition of Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians, prepared an edition of the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, and also worked on Purcell and on folk song. This biography of Schumann, in the 'Great Musicians' series edited by Francis Hueffer, was published in 1884, 28 years after its subject's death. It is dedicated to Schumann's widow, Clara, who the author consulted, along with Joachim and others; but he also acknowledges that those hoping for an exhaustive life of Schumann would be disappointed: 'The time for writing such a life is not yet come.' Nevertheless, this book contains a survey of Schumann's compositions as well as his critical writings and a range of contemporary critical responses to his work.