INFORMATION ABOUT THIS E-TEXT EDITION

The following is an e-text of “Life of Chopin,” written by Franz Liszt and translated from the french by Martha Walker Cook.  The original edition was published in 1863; a fourth, revised edition (1880) was used in making this e-text.  This e-text reproduces the fourth edition essentially unabridged, with original spellings intact, numerous typographical errors corrected, and words italicized in the original text capitalized in this e-text.  In making this e-text, each page was cut out of the original book with an x-acto knife to feed the pages into an Automatic Document Feeder scanner for scanning.  Hence, the book was disbinded in order to save it.  Thanks to Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading team for help in proofreading this e-text.

DEDICATION OF THE TRANSLATION TO JAN PYCHOWSKI

“Without your consent or knowledge, I have ventured to dedicate this translation to you!

As the countryman of Chopin, and filled with the same earnest patriotism which distinguished him; as an impassioned and perfect Pianist, capable, of reproducing his difficult compositions in all the subtle tenderness, fire, energy, melancholy, despair, caprice, hope, delicacy and startling vigor which they imperiously exact; as thorough master of the complicated instrument to which he devoted his best powers; as an erudite and experienced possessor of that abstruse and difficult science, music; as a composer of true, deep, and highly original genius,—­ this dedication is justly made to you!

Even though I may have wounded your characteristically haughty, shrinking, and Sclavic susceptibilities in rendering so public a tribute to your artistic skill, forgive me!  The high moral worth and manly rectitude which distinguish you, and which alone render even the most sublime genius truly illustrious in the eyes of woman, almost force these inadequate and imperfect words from the heart of the translator.

M.W.C.

PREFACE

To a people, always prompt in its recognition of genius, and ready to sympathize in the joys and woes of a truly great artist, this work will be one of exceeding interest.  It is a short, glowing, and generous sketch, from the hand of Franz Liszt, (who, considered in the double light of composer and performer, has no living equal,) of the original and romantic Chopin; the most ethereal, subtle, and delicate among our modern tone-poets.  It is a rare thing for a great artist to write on art, to leave the passionate worlds of sounds or colors for the colder realm of words; rarer still for him to abdicate, even temporarily, his own throne, to stand patiently and hold aloft the blazing torch of his own genius, to illume the gloomy grave of another:  yet this has Liszt done through love for Chopin.