Fryderyk Chopin: A Life and Times

The first English-language attempt at a comprehensive and definitive biography in over a century, this excellent book encompasses more recent research and is enhanced particularly by Polish scholarship on Chopin's early years and the work of George Sand scholars. Includes analysis of his musicianship and works and debunks some persistent myths. (The early years in Poland are made vivid. Sand's belittling commentary on her "Chip-Chip" is as irritating as ever.) Just wonderful.

Incidentally--and I'd lost this moment somewhere in the back of my mind--Chopin, on meeting Lady Byron in London, 1848: "a curiosity--I can well believe that she bored Byron."

An extensive life story about one of my favorite composers. Alan Walker's Chopin is a wonderful companion to Chopin's music and an intriguing source for information about his life.

This extensive biography on the life of Chopin brings to life the characteristics of the man and the times that influenced him. It is debatable whether he should be considered the greatest composer of the piano in history but there is no question the marks he made set him apart.

The biography takes us through the formative time in Poland to his imposed exile to France, his forays into England and back to his final period in France. His heart that began in his beloved Poland returns physically to its resting place back in Warsaw.

Chopin's life in music is on display here in its prolific output broken down by staves and chords that made it his genius. We are also presented with the arduous twisting and turning of his long term relationship show more with his life partner George Sand.

It is sad to think of what we have missed with his early passing, but there is no doubt what he left behind is still and will continue to be the standard of excellence in artistry on the keyboard. show less

Fryderyk Chopin is one of my favorite composers of classical music, so when I saw this book on the shelves of my local library, I felt I had to snatch it up and read it. I have never heard of Alan Walker but apparently, he also did a definitive biography of Franz Liszt, so if I can find that I will be quite satisfied.

As with most biographies that I have read, Walker begins at the beginning, with Chopin’s family heritage and where his father and mother were from. The book has enjoyable extras in the little tidbits that come in the form of both original music sheets from Chopin’s pen and pictures of the period he lived in. There is other information to be excited about as well; since the author had access to original manuscripts and show more birth records of the time, he was able to piece together Chopin’s family.

The only real problem I have with the book is the matter of Chopin’s given name. It is spelled in many different ways, and I find it somewhat annoying, but with this book, I will go with the title of the book itself. The other thing is that the book is a bit long. On the one hand, that makes it heavy, but on the other hand, that probably means that the book could have been even longer. show less

Audiobook.

Great write up on this book on Jessica Duchen's Classical Music blog

Interessant om het leven van Chopin en zijn tijdgenoten te lezen. Zo wordt het leven en de composities van Chopin in een grotere context geplaatst. Wat details betreft zal ook dit boek meedoen aan de controverse omtrent bijvoorbeeld de liefdes van Chopin, zijn liefde voor Polen, etc. De relatie met George Sand blijft soms wat onderbelicht en ook Alan Walker kan niet alle vraagtekens oplossen, niet verwonderlijk na meer dan 150 jaar. Omdat Chopin geen echt dagboek bij heeft gehouden moeten we het doen met de brieven die bewaard gebleven zijn.