My Life — Volume 1

Mein Leben

Richard Wagner (1813–1883)

"My Life — Volume 1" by Richard Wagner is an autobiography written between 1865 and 1880, covering his life from birth in 1813 to 1864. Dictated to his mistress Cosima von Bülow at the request of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, Wagner recounts his tempestuous career, friendships, and controversies in surprisingly frank detail. Originally printed in limited editions for private circulation, the memoir sparked rumors due to its restricted availability. The work offers a racy, readable account of Wagner's development and the musical world of his era, though his subjective perspective reveals condescending views toward contemporaries and attacks on rival composers.