A revealing and comprehensive biography of Sergey Prokofiev (18911953), versatile Russian composer and pianist, who is best known for Peter and the Wolf and the ballet Romeo and Juliet. Examines the works of Prokofiev, who primarily wrote for the stage but who also contributed to the genres of symphony and concerto with works inseparable from the political context in which they were composed. Shows how pressure from Soviet authority, following his return to Russia after years abroad, stimulated as much as it limited his creativity ultimately leading to the denunciation of his music in 1948 as 'formalistic'.