Marie D'Agoult: The Rebel Countess by Richard Bolster

Author:Richard Bolster [Bolster, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Authors; French, French, Literary, Stern; Daniel, Literary Criticism, 19th century, Historical, Biography & Autobiography, Authors; French - 19th century - Biography, Women, Biography, European
ISBN: 9780300082463
Publisher: Yale University Press
Published: 2000-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

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the print version of this title.]

Franz Liszt, by Henri Lehmann, 1839.

(Photothèque des Musées de la Ville de Paris) 142

life with liszt

and thoughts are lost for me. I drag myself from hope to hope, and your letters burn my heart like a hot iron. Yesterday I ran out of courage, I am not even capable of wanting anything. I know that I shall be sad when I see you again, and yet what you tell me of your stay in Paris makes me so happy. Why do you think I do not approve of everything you have said and done? Have we not one heart? 5

The separation of more than two months had been too much, and the demons of her depression returned, possibly triggered by her recent maternity. One part of her knew that his absences in Lyon and Paris were useful to his career, and she felt the sincerity of his love even from afar, but still she had dark, irrational days. When Liszt returned to Geneva, the two devoted time exclusively to themselves, clutching at a happiness which already appeared fragile. Liszt understood her all the better because he too had moments of lassitude and doubt.

During Marie’s long stay in Geneva, she was to develop a new and passionate friendship with George Sand, who had for some time maintained a cordial relationship with Liszt. Marie was excited at the thought of meeting the creator of the character Indiana, this fictional sister in whom she saw so much of herself. She must also have considered the risk of losing Liszt to George, who was well known for her love affairs and had just broken off a relationship with Musset. When Liszt told her of Marie’s literary ambitions, George sent her an effusive and flattering letter: ‘‘Beautiful, blonde Countess, I do not know you personally but I have heard Franz speak about you and I have seen you. For this reason I think I am not doing something foolish and forward if I tell you my affection for you, and say that you are the only fine, valuable and truly noble thing which I have seen shining in the patri-cian sphere.’ 6 Marie responded with an invitation to Geneva, and George replied with another flattering letter expressing the hope that Marie’s social class would not be an obstacle between them: ‘ Your rank is a high one, and I salute and recognise it. It is that you are kind, intelligent and beautiful.

Let me have your noble coronet and I will break it, giving you a coronet of stars which will suit you better.’ 7 Their correspondence continued in the same complimentary mode as George repeatedly admired Marie’s intelligence, beauty, and happiness in love. George also warned Marie of her bluff manners. She was playful, capricious, and rude and could be as prickly as a

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