This work investigates the structural evolution and artistic significance of Ludwig van Beethoven's sixteen string quartets. Joseph Kerman, a prominent musicologist, provides a comprehensive analysis of these compositions by situating them within the context of Beethoven's creative development and the broader history of Western classical music. The text employs a formalist approach to examine how these works reflect the composer's transition through his early, middle, and late stylistic periods.

Musicologists and scholars frequently cite this text as a foundational study in the analysis of Beethoven's chamber music. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which requires a strong background in music theory to fully appreciate the technical arguments presented.