Just as Nicholas had, at last, embraced his poetic muse and begun publishing his own works to some acclaim, Clara knew that her children would have their own paths to follow. No matter what their parents might think, or demand.
“Well.” Darien folded the newspaper away and took a sip of his coffee—a taste she had never managed to acquire. “The reviewers liked our concert well enough.”
“I don’t care what the reviews say. It’s the audience that matters.”
She smiled at him. It had been over a dozen years and hundreds of successful concerts since their marriage, yet his features were still most beloved to her. The brush of silver at his temples and the lines at the corners of his eyes bespoke the years passing, but when they played, time had no meaning. Together, they reached the pure, perfect heart of the music.
And together, they always would.
HISTORICAL NOTE
Sonata for a Scoundrel is set in 1830-31, midway through the era now called the Romantic period in arts and music (roughly 1800-1850).
Although a few women composed music during that time, they did not have the societal approval to do more than “dabble.” Penning a few small pieces was acceptable, but it was unthinkable for a woman to aspire to become a professional composer.
Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847) was actively discouraged from composing by her father, who believed that being a housewife was the only suitable calling for a woman. Musical scholar David Montgomery has said of Fanny: “Only the lack of compulsion (or perhaps opportunity) to publish more often seems to have prevented her skills from developing to match those of any major European composer of the day.” In other words, Fanny Mendelssohn may well have been one of the most talented composers of her era, had her gifts been allowed to flourish.
Like Clara, Fanny allowed her compositions to be published under her brother, Felix’s, name. The story of the near-scandal alluded to in Sonata for a Scoundrel is true, although I took some artistic license by placing the siblings a decade early. Felix Mendelssohn was a great favorite of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and the queen made a show of learning and performing one of his songs. After she sang, Felix confessed that the composition was actually his sister’s, and only his high standing with the royals allowed him to emerge unscathed from this social blunder.
Clara’s namesake, Clara Schumann (1819-1896), might also have been a great composer had she lived in a different time. Her husband, famed composer Robert Schumann, wrote in his diary: “Clara has composed a series of small pieces, which show a musical and tender ingenuity such as she has never attained before. But to have children, and a husband who is always living in the realm of imagination, does not go together with composing. She cannot work at it regularly, and I am often disturbed to think how many profound ideas are lost because she cannot work them out.”
It was not until the early 1900s that women composers began to be recognized as capable of creating more than small-scale parlor music. Even today, the musical contributions of women throughout history are often overlooked, and there are still only a handful of internationally renowned women composers.
Darien Reynard is loosely based on one of the most famous violinists to grace the stages of Europe, Niccolo Paganini (1782-1840). Paganini was such a master on his instrument that he was frequently accused of selling his soul to the devil in exchange for his musical brilliance.
Unlike Dare, Paganini was also a talented composer. For decades, his music was thought unplayable due to the immense difficulty of his pieces. It is only with intensive modern violin techniques that performers are able to attempt Paganini’s works.
Clara’s compositions are partially inspired by the music of Frederic Chopin, who came to prominence about a decade after this novel is set. Baroness Dudevant, whom Clara observes at the salon in Paris, is the famous novelist George Sand, who carried on a tumultuous affair with Chopin from 1837 until shortly before the composer’s death from tuberculosis in 1849.
Franz Lizst is also introduced at the salon. He was, indeed, a halfhearted player, until he was inspired by a meeting with Paganini in 1832. From that point on, he applied himself to his practice and composition, and became one of the great musical superstars of his age.
Pieces mentioned in the novel include:
Beethoven Violin Sonata No. 9 (Kreutzer), played at Darien’s first concert in London.
Telemann Fantasia No. 7, played in Brighton.
Handel Chaconne in G minor, also performed in Brighton.
Beethoven Sonata in D major Four Hands, Opus 6, played by Clara and Nicholas at the inn.
Amis, la matinee est belle from La Muette de Portici by Daniel Auber, performed by Henri at the inn.
Tartini Sonata in G minor, Varga’s opening piece for the duel.
Mozart Sonata in E minor K. 304, Varga’s second piece.
Telemann Canonic Sonatas, played by Darien and his daughter Annabel, mentioned in the epilogue.
Bach Prelude and Fugue BWV849, played by Darien and Clara’s son, Benedict, mentioned in the epilogue.
Additional composers recommended for listening:
Fanny Mendelssohn
Clara Schumann
Paganini (especially his Caprices)
Frederic Chopin
Felix Mendelssohn
Robert Schumann
Franz Liszt
Hector Berlioz
THANK YOU!
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OTHER WORKS
Discover all of Anthea’s historical romances on Amazon!
FULL-LENGTH NOVELS
PASSIONATE – A finalist for both the Golden Heart and the prestigious RWA RITA award, this Victorian-set novel takes the reader on a romantic adventure from the ballrooms and parlors of London through the Mediterranean to the exotic valleys of Tunisia. Fans of Julia Quinn and Connie Brockway will enjoy this witty foray into the outer edges of civilization – and propriety.
“A lush, exotic tale of romance and adventure.” – Sally MacKenzie, USA Today bestselling author
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ALL HE DESIRES – Self-exiled on the Isle of Crete, an English doctor with a troubled past meets the one woman who can bring him out of the shadows and into the light.
“Lawson, a RITA-nominated husband-and-wife writing team, deftly combines danger, desire, and a deliciously different Victorian setting into a sexy version of Victoria Holt’s classic gothic romances.” –Booklist Reviews
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SHORT STORIES, NOVELLAS, & COLLECTIONS
Maid for Scandal – Miss Anna Harcourt disguises herself as a maid to be near the man she thinks she loves, but little does she know how far this charade will lead her ... or how close to scandal.
~An Amazon Top 100 Regency Romance Bestseller for over two months~
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Five Wicked Kisses – To pay a debt, Juliana Tate must accept five kisses from the Earl of Eastbrook ... but she never suspects how wicked each kiss will be.
~Five months on the Top 100 Romance Short Story bestseller list~
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To Wed the Earl – Miss Miranda Price detests her neighbor Edward Havens, the rakish Earl of Edgerton - but when he catches her breaking into his library at midnight, secrets are revealed that will change the course of their lives... forever.
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The Piano Tutor – Encouraged by her scandalous friend to take a lover, Lady Diana W
averly finds that the new piano tutor is more than he seems -- especially when it comes to passion.
This spicy Regency-set short story originally appeared in the Mammoth Book of Regency Romance.
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The Worth of Rubies – A Victorian-set short mystery. Noble ladies are falling victim to a string of brazen public jewelry robberies, but the inquisitive Miss Isabelle Strathmore suspects more is afoot than mere theft...
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Kisses & Rogues – A collection of Anthea’s shorter romance fiction. Includes the titles above, with the exception of The Worth of Rubies.
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COMING SOON!
A Countess for Christmas – From the upcoming Fiction River anthology, Christmas Ghosts. Publisher’s Weekly called this traditional Regency Christmas story a “standout.” Coming December 2013
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Anthea also writes YA Fantasy as Anthea Sharp - visit her website or author page on Amazon
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This book owes much to the music teachers I’ve had over the years, and a childhood filled with music—including the long symphony rehearsals and concerts my brother and I were forced to sit through. Though some of it might have felt torturous at the time, my life has been immeasurably enriched as a result. Thank you: Mom, Kathie Jarrett, Willa Dean Howell, Shelley Clark, Dale Kempter and Ron Teare, Jim Bonnell, Betty Whiton, Tim Brock, Robin Boomer and all the founding members of the OCO, and the many musicians I’ve had the pleasure of playing with over the years.
The novel itself was greatly improved by the input of my critique partner Peggy, my editor Laurie Temple, my beta readers Chassily, Sean, and Ginger, and the copy-editing skills of Arran Nichols at Editing 720. Additional thanks go to Anne Victory’s Oops Detection service.
Once again, Kim Killion proves her incomparable talent in cover design. Many thanks for a gorgeous cover, and thanks, too, to models Jimmy Thomas and Jax Turyna for a romantic pose that perfectly captures Dare and Clara.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anthea Lawson’s first two novels were co-written by Anthea and Lawson, a husband and wife creative team living in the Pacific Northwest. Their first novel, Passionate, was released from Kensington books in October 2008, and was a finalist for the prestigious RWA RITA award for Best First Book. Booklist has named Anthea one of the “new stars of historical romance.”
Since 2010, Anthea has branched out solo, continuing to write historical romance, as well as award-winning YA urban fantasy under the pen name Anthea Sharp. Anthea is still happily married and living in the Northwest with her husband and daughter, where the rainy days and excellent coffee fuel her writing.
Discover more at anthealawson.com and on Facebook. To find out about Anthea’s upcoming releases, please subscribe to her mailing list. Thank you!
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