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Serialised book readings, featuring works from various genres

Serialised book readings, featuring works of non-fiction, biography, autobiography, travel, diaries, essays, humour and history

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Book of the Week: Chopin: Prince of the Romantics

Book of the Week: Chopin: Prince of the Romantics: Episode 1

Factual: Life Stories

Music: Classical

Chopin: Prince of the Romantics

Episode 1

BBC Radio 4 - Book of the Week, Chopin: Prince of the Romantics, Episode 1

Chopin's prodigious talent as a pianist is recognised early on.

A child piano prodigy, Frederic Chopin leaves his native Poland at age 19 for bohemian Paris. Read by Stephen Campbell Moore.

Adam Zamoyski's biography of the brief but eventful life of the great Romantic composer Frederic Chopin, from Polish child prodigy to Paris dandy, his turbulent relationship with George Sand and his early death, penniless in Paris.

Chopin's prodigious talent as a pianist is recognised early on. But despite being lauded as the great nationalist hope in his native Poland, where his polonaises and mazurkas are inspired by the harmonies of Polish folk songs, the teenage Chopin soon becomes stifled by the provincialism of Warsaw. At 19, he leaves Poland for the temptations of bohemian Paris, never to live in his homeland again.

Abridged by Doreen Estall.

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Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Adam Zamoyski's portrait of the life of the composer Frederic Chopin

Adam Zamoyski's biography of the brief but eventful life of the great Romantic composer Frederic Chopin

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