Sergey Prokofiev (1891-1953) composed some of this century's most widely loved music, yet he remains one of the least written about or understood  musicians of this century.  Having left his native Russia for the USA and subsequently Paris, he spent the last 17 years of his life in the USSR, where his work was heavily influenced by Stalin's cultural policies.  This comprehensive biography which contains several hitherto unpublished illustrations, combines an intimate portrait of Prokofiev and his circle with a lucid account of the political events that shaped his career.