This biography offeres a fresh understanding of the life and work of Spanish composer Manuel de Falla (1876 - 1946), recognised as the greatest composer in the Spanish cultural renaissance that extended from the latter part of the nineteenth century until the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936. The biography incorporates recent research of Falla while drawing on untapped sources in the Falla archives, reevaluates Falla's work in terms of current issues in musicology, and considers Falla's accomplishments in their historical and cultural contexts.