Anyone Read This New Mahler Biography Yet?

[J]

For years I've wished for a readable and compelling "Life" of Gustav Mahler - somewhere between the
too massive (for me) multi-volume tomes by De La Grange & Donald Mitchell and the too sketchy treatments
of Jonathan Carr & Michael Kennedy (among those I'm familiar with) - and wonder if this might be it:

"To Live for You!, To Die for You!" The Life of Gustav Mahler (2009) (428pgs)  by John Searight

Just read the MusicWeb review which was very recommending.

Has anyone here been through it who can offer another evaluation?

[greg]

I would read it if they had a torrent of it.

[Spotswood]

If you're interested in a good, concise biograplhy, I'd recommend "Gustav Mahler" by Kurt Blaukopf. Only 279 pages and available used at Amazon for 71 cents.

[brunumb]

Hi J,

Can't help you with a recommendation, but agree that the review sounds very positive.  I'm also interested in hearing from anyone who has read this biography and can offer any helpful comments.

I have just finished reading "MAHLER, The Man and His Music" by Egon Gartenberg (about 400 pages).  Excellent book and thoroughly recommended.  You can find very inexpensive copies at Amazon along with one review.

[J]

For years I've wished for a readable and compelling "Life" of Gustav Mahler - somewhere between the
too massive (for me) multi-volume tomes by De La Grange & Donald Mitchell and the too sketchy treatments
of Jonathan Carr & Michael Kennedy (among those I'm familiar with) - and wonder if this might be it:

"To Live for You!, To Die for You!" The Life of Gustav Mahler (2009) (428pgs)  by John Searight

Just read the MusicWeb review which was very recommending.

Has anyone here been through it who can offer another evaluation?

I never did acquire or read the Searight volume (has anyone?).

But now I see the newly issued English translation of (German) Jens Malte Fischer's (2003) "bestselling" 700pp Mahler biography available, - and this one excites my anticipation considerably. 

Could it be that Fischer does for Mahler what Jan Swafford did for Brahms some years ago (in the finest composer biography I myself have ever read), - provide an up to date, comprehensive, and readable narrative (contra De La Grange's awesome but encyclopedic study) that compellingly "opens up" man, mileau, and music in a serious but accessible way suitable for non-musicians and non-scholars?

Has anyone read it who can confirm (or dash) my hopes?