This volume forms part of the "Life and Times" series of compact and accessible biographies which cover key political, literary and musical figures. This title is about the life and work of British composer Benjamin Britten (1913-1976), the most prolific and celebrated English composer of then 20th century. He shot to international fame with his operas, for which he created the English Opera Group in 1947. David Matthews, his former assistant, describes Britten's life and music with the sensitivity of a fellow composer and close friend. With unprecedented access to the Britten access and estate, Matthews has unearthed previously unpublished material and has shed new light on the work of this much-admired cultural icon.