Frederic Chopin

After Chopin died in Paris in his fortieth year, on October 17, 1849, Liszt, who had been his close friend, was moved to create a literary monument to his great Polish contemporary. Early in 1852 a book appeared in the French capital, with the simple title "F. Chopin" by the author "F. Liszt." In the hundred-odd years since, the biographical literature on Chopin has grown in proportion to his posthumous fame; yet Liszt's volume remains unique and essential. As a document of the nineteenth century, it is distinguished by the vivid impressions and insights of a true exemplar of the Romantic period. On a personal level, it is a souvenir of the relationship between two of the greatest composer-pianists in history, a portrait of one genius by another. Edward N. Waters of the Music Division in the Library of Congress has translated and introduced this work.