I have recently come into possession of this book published by SE. However, I notice that in the Einaudi editions the pages are 240, while here there are only 196. What is the reason for this? Forgive my pedantry, but being an important document, I want to make sure I have read everything.
Mientras in Einaudi the preface is by Luigi Ronga, in SE it is the POSTface that is his (6 pages). Perhaps it is the one that is more voluminous in one and less in the other?
In the book, all of Schumann's essays on the most important compositions of the main Romantic composers are transcribed; there is also talk of Cherubini, Meyerbeer, Berlioz. There are also charts present as harmonic reference for some pieces. In chronological order, these writings range from 1834 to 1842. There is also a collection of "fantastic letters" on music, in addition to many citations scattered throughout the book. I find the reading pleasant and the language fluid - but don't trust what I say too much, it all seems light to me given what I usually read eheh - however, it is a truly valid document for deepening one's knowledge of 19th-century music (and rightfully so, Schumann wrote it).