George Sand and Her Lovers (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1907. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIX George Sand and Liszt--Liszt's elopement with Madame d'Agoult -- Friendship of George Sand for Madame d'Agoult -- She visits Madame d'Agoult and Liszt at Geneva--They visit her at Nohant--Relations begin to be strained--Practical jokes at Nohant--Eugene Pelletan's experiences as tutor to George Sand's children. L1szt's relations with George Sand were the subject of malicious gossip. Heine first declared that he was her lover, and afterwards withdrew the charge in strangely offensive language, saying that she had "never felt the least attraction towards the swaggering little insect." Apparently, however, the charge and the retractation were equally untrue. There was a moment, indeed, when Alfred de Musset was jealous of Liszt; but Musset was just then capable of being jealous of anybody, on the strength of any idle rumour that he heard. All our evidence goes to show that the terms on which they lived were only those of Bohemian camaraderie. The great pianist was at that time the spoiled darling of Parisian salons, living not only "in the movement," but in all the movements, Romantic, Saint-Simonian, and fashionable. Musical critics "ran " him against Thal berg; and before his star the star of Thalberg paled. Women pursued him, as women always do pursue the fashionable pianist of the hour, holding, as women generally do hold in such a case, that love may level ranks, on the one condition that it is illicit . Aristocratic ladies refused him the hands of their daughters, but offered him their own hearts freely; and one aristocratic lady -- Marie, Comtesse d'Agoult, whom we have already met as one of George Sand's correspondents--did not even wait to be asked before leaving her husband for his sake. Madame d'Agoult, nde de Flavigny, was thirty, a...