'David Vernon's book helps everyone, no matter how previously informed, to find their own way into Sibelius's extraordinary world.' - Sakari Oramo, chief conductor, BBC Symphony Orchestra

'Sibelius's music is as synthetic as a skyscraper but as natural and spontaneous as a dividing cell'

Developing a style and logic all his own, outside the trends of modernism, Jean Sibelius wrote some of most captivating and resonant orchestral works of the twentieth century, and his symphonies and tone poems have become among the most celebrated music of all time - yet it is music which is darker, more challenging and complex, than has often been supposed.

In his new book, David Vernon - author of Beauty and Sadness: Mahler's 11 Symphonies and Beethoven: The String Quartets - explores these evocative, compelling and thought-provoking works of art, examining in particular their relationship with the natural world and the great Finnish literary epic, the Kalevala.

Each work, including Kullervo, the seven symphonies, and the tone poems from En Saga to Tapiola, is given its own chapter, which includes an essay followed by a detailed movement-by-movement guide to the music.