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Chopin in Paris: The Life and Times of the Romantic Composer
Chopin in Paris introduces the most important musical and literary figures of Fryderyk Chopin's day in a glittering story of the Romantic era. During Chopin's eighteen years in Paris, lasting nearly half his short life, he shone at the center of the immensely talented artists who were defining their time -- Hugo, Balzac, Stendhal, Delacroix, Liszt, Berlioz, and, of course, George Sand, a rebel feminist writer who became Chopin's lover and protector.
Tad Szulc, the author of Fidel and Pope John Paul II, approaches his subject with imagination and insight, drawing extensively on diaries, memoirs, correspondence, and the composer's own journal, portions of which appear here for the first time in English. He uses contemporary sources to chronicle Chopin's meteoric rise in his native Poland, an ascent that had brought him to play before the reigning Russian grand duke at the age of eight. He left his homeland when he was eighteen, just before Warsaw's patriotic uprising was crushed by the tsar's armies.
Carrying the memories of Poland and its folk music that would later surface in his polonaises and mazurkas, Chopin traveled to Vienna. There he established his reputation in the most demanding city of Europe. But Chopin soon left for Paris, where his extraordinary creative powers would come to fruition amid the revolutions roiling much of Europe. He quickly gained fame and a circle of powerful friends and acquaintances ranging from Rothschild, the banker, to Karl Marx.
Distinguished by his fastidious dress and the wracking cough that would cut short his life, Chopin spent his days composing and giving piano lessons to a select group of students. His evenings were spent at the keyboard, playing for his friends. It was at one of these Chopin gatherings that he met George Sand, nine years his senior. Through their long and often stormy relationship, Chopin enjoyed his richest creative period. As she wrote dozens of novels, he composed furiously -- both were compulsive creators. After their affair unraveled, Chopin became the protÉgÉ of Jane Stirling, a wealthy Scotswoman, who paraded him in his final year across England and Scotland to play for the aristocracy and even Queen Victoria. In 1849, at the age of thirty-nine, Chopin succumbed to the tuberculosis that had plagued him from childhood.
Chopin in Paris is an illuminating biography of a tragic figure who was one of the most important composers of all time. Szulc brings to life the complex, contradictory genius whose works will live forever. It is compelling reading about an exciting epoch of European history, culture, and music -- and about one of the great love dramas of the nineteenth century.
452 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
19 people are currently reading
365 people want to read
About the author
Tad Szulc
40Ìýbooks9ÌýfollowersTadeusz Witold Szulc was an author and foreign correspondent for The New York Times from 1953 to 1972
Szulc is credited with breaking the story of the Bay of Pigs invasion.
Szulc was born in Warsaw, Poland, the son of Seweryn and Janina Baruch Szulc.
He attended Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland.
In 1940 he emigrated from Poland to join his family in Brazil; it had left Poland in the mid-1930s.
In Brazil, he studied at the University of Brazil, but in 1945, he abandoned his studies to work as a reporter for the Associated Press in Rio de Janeiro.
In 1947 he moved from Brazil to New York City, and in 1954, he became a US citizen.
His emigration had been sponsored by United States Ambassador John Cooper Wiley, who was married to his aunt.
In 2001, Szulc died of cancer at his home, in Washington, D.C.
Szulc is credited with breaking the story of the Bay of Pigs invasion.
Szulc was born in Warsaw, Poland, the son of Seweryn and Janina Baruch Szulc.
He attended Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland.
In 1940 he emigrated from Poland to join his family in Brazil; it had left Poland in the mid-1930s.
In Brazil, he studied at the University of Brazil, but in 1945, he abandoned his studies to work as a reporter for the Associated Press in Rio de Janeiro.
In 1947 he moved from Brazil to New York City, and in 1954, he became a US citizen.
His emigration had been sponsored by United States Ambassador John Cooper Wiley, who was married to his aunt.
In 2001, Szulc died of cancer at his home, in Washington, D.C.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 27, 2009
Prior to reading this book I had no knowledge of this great composer or his music. If it were not for the previous good reviews of this book I would not have bothered buying a copy. I am so glad that I did, I just fell in love with this story, it was a captivating account! During the time I read this book I purchased about five CD's of Chopin's music. This is more a book of the man and his time in Paris than an in-depth account of his music, his style and his compositions. Regardless of that, you still come away after reading the book with a deeper understanding of Chopin's music and a great feeling towards the sound of his Nocturnes, Polonaises and Etudes. The author also provides a fascinating look at the society that surrounded Chopin while in Paris, so many great names come alive during this story that you come away amazed with the amount of talent that was moving in the same society and producing great books, music, art and events. This is a great story, the narrative moved you along with Chopin, during his periods of depression and illness to his highs and accounts of his compositions. My favourite is the story of Prelude No. 15 in D flat major, Opus 28, No.15 "Raindrop". I really don't think that anyone who has a love for music or Chopin would be disappointed in this book.
December 24, 2019
To me, a great biography brings the subject to life, a rarity in the genre and no simple task. Doris Kearns Goodwin succeeded in doing so with Lincoln in "Team of Rivals;" David McCullough made John Adams come alive in his famous bio of the 2nd President. I cannot say the same for Tad Szulc's bio of Chopin. The reader mainly learns that Chopin was sickly and moody but could be charming (which I already knew.). Szulc basically tells the entire story by quoting letters, many of them mundane. Do I really need to read long lists of items that Chopin repeatedly instructed one of his friends to pick up for him? Instead of delving into his subject, Szulc seems content to just outline what Chopin did from week to week, much of it not terribly fascinating. On the plus side, he did a fairly decent job of explaining Chopin's turbulent affair with author George Sand but again, the narrative was spoiled by the use of letters. Obviously, I was disappointed particularly because the Amazon reviews promised a more personal approach to Chopin's years in Paris.
#thestrangecourtshipofabigailbird
#thestrangecourtshipofabigailbird
May 14, 2008
Really enjoyed this. It wasn't just a biography of Chopin--it was an account of his times and the people he knew. Now I want to read some of George Sand's work and finally finish Un hiver a Majorque which I started years ago.
August 18, 2013
If you like Chopin and Paris, especially its history and then artists who have made it a cultural capitol, then this is a book for you. It's very well-researched by Szulc, a former NY Times reporter born in Poland and obviously familiar with Polish and French, as well as musical theory. He's written a wonderful history of Paris in the first half of the 19th century and an account of the personal, political, and aesthetic lives of Chopin, George Sand, who lived with Chopin for ten years, and the circle of artsy beautiful people who surrounded them during their time together. It's a book that moves and teaches at the same time.
February 23, 2015
So incredibly dry and difficult to finish. I was hoping this would bring Chopin alive, but it only made him seem... Dead.
July 30, 2016
An interesting read, but peppered throughout with conjecture presented as fact and unfortunate elements of the author's discomfort with anything resembling queerness.
July 28, 2024
A MASTERFUL (BUT NOT "MUSICOLOGICAL") STUDY OF THE COMPOSER'S LIFE
Tad Szulc is a journalist who is also the author of books such as Pope John Paul II, Fidel: A Critical Portrait, etc. He wrote in the Preface to this 1998 book, "My fascination with this man of genius provided the overwhelming reason for writing this book. I wanted to present in an entirely new light---often in his own words and words of those close to him---this immensely complex man... It is NOT a study of Chopin's music because I am neither a musician nor a musicologist." (Pg. 10-11)
He notes early in the book, "He was a Polish patriot to his bones and the divinely inspired romantic poet of Polish music... Strangely, however, Chopin never returned---by deliberate and unexplained choice---to his homeland." (Pg. 19-20) He observes that "Fryderyk did not enjoy playing before large audiences---'people I don't know,' as he put it many years later---and therefore he did not care to discuss it with his friends." (Pg. 36)
He records, "Because opera was so popular (and profitable) all over Europe... powerful pressure was again place on Chopin to turn to composing an opera himself... Chopin, however, remained firm... he had no intention of entering the world of the opera that he adored as a listener. His true destiny, Freyderyk was convinced, was to continue composing for the piano." (Pg. 94-95) Later, he notes that George Sand "could not understand his perfectionism." (Pg. 230)
He observes, "Fryderyk's sexuality was extremely limited in every direction." (Pg. 181) Later, he includes a quotation that Chopin's relapse "had proved to George [Sand] that Chopin was not made for pleasures of love. Always ill, he could not stand them, and... very soon adopted a moderation that subsequently become total abstention." (Pg. 231) Of their breakup, he said, "The rupture was, indeed, a catastrophe for Chopin and a tragedy for both him and George Sand. Much has been written apportioning the blame... but the truth remains elusive." (Pg. 349)
He notes at the end, "That he was not very (religiously) observant nor religiously inclined was common knowledge among those who knew him well, but unquestionably he was a believer, often invoking God's name... Fryderyk chose not to compose works that would come under the rubric of 'religious music' in the accepted sense. Perhaps, being such a private person, his communion with God through his music was very private, too." (Pg. 400)
This is perhaps the best biography of Chopin available, and will be of great interest to anyone wanting to know more about the man behind the music.
Tad Szulc is a journalist who is also the author of books such as Pope John Paul II, Fidel: A Critical Portrait, etc. He wrote in the Preface to this 1998 book, "My fascination with this man of genius provided the overwhelming reason for writing this book. I wanted to present in an entirely new light---often in his own words and words of those close to him---this immensely complex man... It is NOT a study of Chopin's music because I am neither a musician nor a musicologist." (Pg. 10-11)
He notes early in the book, "He was a Polish patriot to his bones and the divinely inspired romantic poet of Polish music... Strangely, however, Chopin never returned---by deliberate and unexplained choice---to his homeland." (Pg. 19-20) He observes that "Fryderyk did not enjoy playing before large audiences---'people I don't know,' as he put it many years later---and therefore he did not care to discuss it with his friends." (Pg. 36)
He records, "Because opera was so popular (and profitable) all over Europe... powerful pressure was again place on Chopin to turn to composing an opera himself... Chopin, however, remained firm... he had no intention of entering the world of the opera that he adored as a listener. His true destiny, Freyderyk was convinced, was to continue composing for the piano." (Pg. 94-95) Later, he notes that George Sand "could not understand his perfectionism." (Pg. 230)
He observes, "Fryderyk's sexuality was extremely limited in every direction." (Pg. 181) Later, he includes a quotation that Chopin's relapse "had proved to George [Sand] that Chopin was not made for pleasures of love. Always ill, he could not stand them, and... very soon adopted a moderation that subsequently become total abstention." (Pg. 231) Of their breakup, he said, "The rupture was, indeed, a catastrophe for Chopin and a tragedy for both him and George Sand. Much has been written apportioning the blame... but the truth remains elusive." (Pg. 349)
He notes at the end, "That he was not very (religiously) observant nor religiously inclined was common knowledge among those who knew him well, but unquestionably he was a believer, often invoking God's name... Fryderyk chose not to compose works that would come under the rubric of 'religious music' in the accepted sense. Perhaps, being such a private person, his communion with God through his music was very private, too." (Pg. 400)
This is perhaps the best biography of Chopin available, and will be of great interest to anyone wanting to know more about the man behind the music.
September 27, 2018
Chopin's life was not as fascinating as Liszt's, and not as sordid as Tchaikovsky's. A shy man who played piano in front of a public audience only a handful of times in his life. No wife, no children, and died at the age of 39. An interesting read if you like his music. The focus is only on his adult life in Paris; so if you are interested in his childhood in Poland this is not the book for you.
October 23, 2017
You will fall in love with Chopin reading this book! It was a little slow going for me at first with lots of names and information. But his personality starts to shine through more with the appearance of George Sand. I enjoyed his subtle sense of humor. Unknowingly I started reading this on the day after the date of his death, which was Oct 17.
January 16, 2020
Features a detailed biography of Fryderyk Chopin's life. It includes everything about Frycek, from birth to death. Shows the whole life of this amazing composer - it almost feels like you are living with him!
January 8, 2018
Very interesting, however, the author didn't seem to
capture the personality of a composer who wrote such sensitive music.
capture the personality of a composer who wrote such sensitive music.
November 24, 2020
I give it a 3.50. Sometimes I felt I was plodding through, particularly in the first half, but what I learned about this enigmatic composer in the end made it worth it. Still, the book was longer than it needed to be and that is always a pet peeve of mine. Where's the editor? Having said that, I learned what to me were fascinating facts. I had no idea that he was actually considered close to royalty in his time, enjoying great fame though not, unfortunately, fortune. He was surrounded by a band of friends, largely other well known composers, artists, writers, but also friends from his youth in Poland. As a pianist, I enjoyed reading about his state of mind when he wrote certain pieces. He was terribly ill the majority of his life with tuberculosis for which little could be done and he suffered a horrible death at the age of 39, leaving behind a legacy of hundreds of works. He also suffered with severe bouts of depression and feelings of not being enough and yet he was one of the most brilliant piano composers of all time.
February 6, 2016
A very meticulous account of Chopin's life and his relationships with his contemporaries. Told in the third person with digressions consisting of quotes from letters between Chopin and his family, friends and acquaintances, it doesn't really read like a story. The narrative follows a fairly strict chronological order. There is some interpretation but not much profound insight. The detail is rich and faithfully conveyed, but the style of the book is dry and fairly uninspiring. This is a great book to read if you want information, and if you have a special interest in the composer and his music. I didn't find it entertaining in itself, and it didn't really help me understand Chopin as a person.
December 21, 2013
"A wonderful account of Chopin's life, and mostly of his life in Paris, where he seems to have met all the great artists of his time, and of his love affair with the complex and tumultuous George Sand. Richly detailed and lovingly written, it brings back to life not only the great composer but a whole society that has lost none of its power to fascinate."
November 23, 2008
A wonderful account of Chopin's life, and mostly of his life in Paris, where he seems to have met all the great artists of his time, and of his love affair with the complex and tumultuous George Sand. Richly detailed and lovingly written, it brings back to life not only the great composer but a whole society that has lost none of its power to fascinate.
March 9, 2012
What a brilliant way to look at Chopin the man and his music. Szulc focuses on Chopin's surroundings and influential friendships as well as his personal life and the life of Parisians at the time Chopin lived there so we the reader garner a much better understanding of this musical genius.
August 3, 2011
Very good re
October 12, 2011
I developed a huge crush to Chopin when I was 14. I cut out his photo in the book and hid it inside my diary.
April 14, 2015
Loved it.
May 24, 2010
This is actually a great book on George Sand.
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