The autobiography of composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) is essential reading if you are even the slightest bit interested in the history of classical music and the lives of the great composers. The book is well written and it gives good details about the art music scene of 19th century Russia and the development of ''Russian style'' classical music. In the book there are also interesting viewpoints on Rimsky-Korsakov's friends and contemporaries such as Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, Borodin and Balakirev. 8/10.