Dennis, David B. Beethoven in German Politics, 1870-1989.  Yale, 1996. 251p index afp ISBN 0-300-06399-7, $30.00

Beginning with the unification of modern Germany and the celebrations marking the centennial of Beethoven's birth, Dennis (history, Loyola Univ.) investigates approaches to using Beethoven as propaganda through imperial Germany and WW I, the Weimar Republic, the Nazi era and WW II, and the divided Germany of Cold War years.  At each stage of history, governments and political groups appropriated Beethoven as their advocate; whether promoting peace or war, the cosmopolitan or the nationalistic, revolution or democracy, constituencies pressed Beethovents music and persona into service.  This widely researched and copiously documented book draws on an impressive range of primary sources, especially newspapers and journals,.and many secondary sources, including earlier Beethoven studies by Paul Bekker, Arnold Schering, Lading Schiedermair, and others.  Through these sources Dennis portrays an image of Beethoven frequently at odds with history.  Like Alessandra Comini's The Changing Image of Beethoven (CH, Nov'87), this is "a study in mythmaking.? Dennis's study of politics complements Comini?s, which deals only with cultural history.  This well-written, readable book, of interest in history and political science as well as in music explores new territory and is an important contribution to reception history.  Undergraduate through professional. - R. R. Smith, Rhode Island College