The Mémoires de Hector Berlioz are an autobiography by French composer Hector Berlioz. First serialised in several contemporary journals including Journal des Débats and Le Monde Illustré, [1] their compilation into one book was completed on New Year's Day, 1865 [2] and after much proof-reading, an initial printing of 1200 was carried out in July. [3] After distributing some copies to certain friends, they were put aside until Berlioz died. After Berlioz's death in 1869, they were published in 1870. [4] They provide an extremely colourful, [5] if biased, account of Berlioz's life, and are invaluable to anyone with an interest in the artistic life of the time.