Things are beginning to be in a bad way with me again. My misfortunes always begin with the beginning of spring. My work is coming to an end and I cannot hope for anything fresh. Added to this I am still not free of debt, and unluckily I have had to pay for the ignorance of French customs which led me to give notice of removal from my lodging too late, so that my scheme of spending this summer cheaply in the country is rendered vain.
I have still no answer from Brockhaus. I have sent a few stories to Lewald, who challenged me to it a year ago. My present journalistic work, useful as it otherwise is, brings in very little. The misery is that I am so totally unable to see what can bring me success as a musician. I must seriously consider risking a decisive venture at the beginning of next winter: I must give a big concert with the Conservatoire orchestra and choir and produce my best things at it; otherwise they will never get to know me here.
Apropos, perhaps you know of a good publisher? My friend Anders the librarian has been collecting material for a Beethoven biography. He has offered to place all his material in my hands if I will write the book and go halves with him. The work is to be an exhaustive history of Beethoven, lightly and pleasantly presented, and in any case a profitable speculation for the bookseller. Anders wants to offer it to Brockhaus; I should prefer someone else.
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Volume 1, ed. Altmann/Hull (London: Dent, 1927), No. 53