I fell in love with this elegantly-written book from the moment I began reading an advance copy several months ago. Whether or not you are a classical music expert, it is worth joining LaFarge on a wonderful journey that begins with her personal experiences as an amateur pianist and goes on to illuminate Chopin as a man and composer, explain the technological evolution of the piano, and offer a modern-day appreciation of Chopin’s music in shaping history and culture over the past few centuries. A review in The New York Times calls Chasing Chopin a “charming and loving new book.” Making the reading experience even richer is that Lafarge has assembled a wonderful companion website, www.whychopin.com with links to relevant pieces of music that can be listened to chapter by chapter.
