ChopinFrom the Blurb: Against the tumultuous background of Europe in the first half of the nineteenth century-political revolution and social upheaval-this beguiling biography presents the young Polish genius (and patriot) who arrived in Paris in 1831, at the age of twenty-one, and was instantly acclaimed and accepted by its circle of brilliant artists, poets and aristocrats. The tide of Romanticism was at its height-in literature, painting, manners and morals. The mistresses of great men were hardly less famous than their lovers, and extravagance was-in that segment of society-the order of the day. Despite his ingrained reserve and conservatism, Chopin quickly absorbed the tastes of his new intimates. And a notable crew they were: Delacroix, Heine, Liszt, the superb Pauline Viardot-Turgenev's muse-and the resident Polish grandees. The beautiful wife of one expatriate nobleman, Delfina Potocka, became a pupil of Chopin's not long after he settled in Paris, and a newly discovered batch of letters to her-startlingly explicit in their eroticism-reveal unsuspected details about their relationship. Then came the nine years with George Sand-in Paris, Nohant, Majorca and Nohant again-years of marvelous creativity in Chopin's life but also the period when the onslaughts of tuberculosis, of which he was to die at the age of thirty-nine, first became menacing, exacerbated by the mounting tensions between the two lovers. Marek writes absorbingly of Chopin's relationships with Sand's son and daughter, with her former lovers, her friends and competitors-all of whom, like true Romantics, poured out their feelings in letters to (and about) one another. Chopin's last years, after his break with Sand, were marked by worsening health and increasing fame. But he was sustained by the unfailing tenderness of his friends, who outdid one another to protect, divert, and console him. And the drama of his life did not end with his death. The subsequent fate of his manuscripts, possessions and -specifically-George Sand's letters to him provide a tragicomic epilogue to the turbulent story. |
Common terms and phrases
A-flat major admiration Anton arrived artist asked Balzac beautiful became Beethoven Berlioz biography called Chopin played Chopin wrote Chopin's death Clésinger composer compositions concert Countess Czartoryski daughter dear Delacroix Elsner famous father feeling francs Frederic Frédéric Chopin French gave genius George Sand girl give Grzymala hear heard heart Hôtel Lambert Hugo husband invited Jane Stirling Julian Fontana Kalasanty Kalkbrenner knew later lessons letter Liszt lived London looked Louise lovers Marcellina Maria Marie Marie d'Agoult Marliani Maurice Mazurkas Mendelssohn Mickiewicz minor Opus mother Musset never Nicolas night Nocturnes Nohant once opera Opus Paris Parisian Pauline Viardot pianist piano Place Vendôme Pleyel poet Poland Polish Polonaise published pupil Romantic Rozières Sainte-Beuve Sand's sister Skarbek Solange Sonata soon talent tell thought tion Titus told took Vienna wanted Warsaw woman word writing written young