Marie d'Agoult facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marie d'Agoult
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Marie d'Agoult (1843), painting by Henri Lehmann.
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| Born | Marie Catherine Sophie de Flavigny 31 December 1805 Frankfurt am Main, Germany |
| Died | 5 May 1876 (aged 70) Paris, France |
| Resting place | Père Lachaise Cemetery |
| Pen name | Daniel Stern |
| Spouse |
Charles Louis Constant d'Agoult, Comte d'Agoult
(m. 1827; separated 1835) |
| Partner | Franz Liszt (1835–1839) |
| Children | 5, including Cosima |
Marie Catherine Sophie, Comtesse d'Agoult (born de Flavigny; December 31, 1805 – March 5, 1876) was a French writer and historian. She wrote many books and articles using her pen name, Daniel Stern. She was an important figure in the Romantic period.
Contents
Marie d'Agoult's Life Story
Early Years and Family
Marie was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Her full name was Marie Catherine Sophie de Flavigny. Her father, Alexandre Victor François, was a French aristocrat. Her mother, Maria Elisabeth Bethmann, came from a German banking family.
Marie spent her early childhood in Germany. Later, she finished her schooling in a French convent. This was after the Bourbon Restoration, when the old royal family returned to power in France.
Marriage and New Beginnings
On May 16, 1827, Marie married Charles Louis Constant d'Agoult. He was a Count, so she became the Comtesse d'Agoult. This was a "marriage of convenience," meaning it was for practical reasons, not necessarily love. They had two daughters, Louise (1828–1834) and Claire (1830–1912).
Even though Marie later lived a separate life, she never officially divorced the Count.
Her Time with Franz Liszt
From 1835 to 1839, Marie lived with the famous composer and virtuoso pianist Franz Liszt. A virtuoso is someone with amazing skill, especially in music. Liszt was six years younger than Marie and was becoming a big concert star.
Marie became good friends with Liszt's circle of friends. This included Frédéric Chopin, another famous composer. Chopin even dedicated his 12 Études, Op. 25 to Marie. Liszt also dedicated one of his first pieces, "Die Lorelei," to her.
From 1837 to 1839, Marie and Liszt traveled a lot. They visited beautiful places in Italy and Switzerland. These travels inspired Liszt to write his famous piano music collection called Années de pèlerinage (Years of Pilgrimage).
Marie's Children with Liszt
Marie and Liszt had three children together. They did not marry, as they both valued their independence. Liszt was also very busy composing music and touring all over Europe.
Their children were:
- Blandine Rachel (1835–1862): She married Émile Ollivier, who later became a French prime minister. Sadly, Blandine died at only 26 years old.
- Francesca Gaetana Cosima (1837–1930): She first married a pianist and conductor named Hans von Bülow. Later, she married the famous composer Richard Wagner.
- Daniel (1839–1859): He was a very promising pianist and a smart student. He passed away from tuberculosis when he was young.
Marie d'Agoult died in Paris in 1876, at the age of 70. She was buried in Père Lachaise Cemetery.
Marie d'Agoult's Writings
Marie d'Agoult wrote many different types of works. She used the pen name Daniel Stern for her most famous historical work.
Here are some of her notable works:
- Her first stories: Hervé, Julien, and Valentia (published 1841–1845).
- Histoire de la révolution de 1848 (History of the 1848 Revolution): This was her best-known work, published in three volumes from 1850 to 1853 under her pen name Daniel Stern.
- Nélida: A novel (1846).
- Lettres Républicaines (Republican Letters): Part of a collection of articles called Esquisses morales et politiques (1849).
- Trois journées de la vie de Marie Stuart (Three Days in the Life of Mary Stuart) (1856).
- Florence et Turin (Florence and Turin) (1862).
- Histoire des commencements de la république aux Pays-Bas (History of the Beginnings of the Republic in the Netherlands) (1872).
- A Catholic Mother Speaks to Her Children (published after her death in 1906).
- Mes souvenirs (My Memories) (published after her death in 1877).
- She also had a lot of correspondence (letters) with Franz Liszt.
- Mémoires, souvenirs et journaux de la Comtesse d'Agoult (Memoirs, Souvenirs, and Journals of the Comtesse d'Agoult), published in 1990.
