Jacqueline Du Pre: Her Life, Her Music, Her Legend [Hardcover]

Elizabeth Wilson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 155970490X | ISBN-13: 978-1559704908 | Publication Date: March 7, 1999 | Edition: 1st

The definitive biography of a beautiful musical genius, one of the best-lovedmusicians of the 20th century. 24 illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This biography of the cellist Jacqueline du Pré, who died in 1987 after a long struggle against multiple sclerosis, has been written with the full support of her husband, the musician and conductor Daniel Barenboim. At first sight it could be construed as something of a counterweight to books critical of Barenboim written by du Pré's brother and sister--in particular A Genius in the Family. But while Barenboim does present his side of the story--in relation to both du Pré's illness and the strains it put upon their marriage--Elizabeth Wilson has in fact presented a balanced portrait of du Pré not only as a woman but also as an artist. And this is the book's real strength.

Wilson, a cellist herself, knew du Pré in her playing days and has paid as much attention to the music as to the offstage emotional dramas. She burst upon the music scene as a phenomenally talented 16-year-old, and ever since, du Pré's fame and tragic life story have made the task of stripping the myth from the reality no easy task. In fact, Elizabeth Wilson has done a professional job in unraveling du Pré's enigmatic life and legacy, but most of all, she reminds us that du Pré became famous in the first place because of her genius as a musician. --Nick Wroe, Amazon.co.uk

From Publishers Weekly

The classical cellist, who flourished briefly as the brightest young star in the firmament in the 1960s and early '70s, only to see her career ended before she was 30 by multiple sclerosis, still causes a stir a dozen years after her premature death. Unlike the rather controversial memoir by du Pr?'s brother and sister that became the basis of the recent, well-received movie Hilary and Jackie, Wilson's thorough and carefully considered work evidences no such sensationalism. As someone who knew the subject for much of her life (and as a cellist herself), Wilson is in an unusually strong position of being able to write from both personal knowledge and professional expertise. Her evocation of du Pr?'s performance abilitiesAher great strengths, occasional excesses and her close attention to the still largely available recorded legacyAis invaluable. As to the more scandalous aspects of her subject's life, involving an affair with her sister's husband and seeming neglect of the parents who had done so much for her, Wilson finds that these elements occupied only a brief period of du Pr?'s life, when she was in a state of great nervous and mental confusion as her illness began to take its toll. It does seem clear that du Pr?, a remarkably unschooled and innocent person to have achieved such a degree of fame when barely into her 20s, was out of her depth in the high-powered, jet-setting crowd of musicians who hung out with her new husband, pianist-conductor Daniel Barenboim, and that this may have exacerbated her anxieties. In any case, this account of her legacy, as musician, teacher and benefactress to those similarly stricken, is notably the definitive one. Photos.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: Arcade Publishing; 1st edition (March 7, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155970490X
• ISBN-13: 978-1559704908
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #726,298 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #88 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Arts & Literature > Composers & Musicians > Classical

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Biography Jacueline du Pre Deserves, January 14, 2000

By 

D. A Wend (Arlington Heights, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jacqueline Du Pre: Her Life, Her Music, Her Legend (Hardcover)

Elizabeth Wilson knew Jacueline du Pre and while such a relationship may not produce a good biography, this is an excellent one. This book is much needed, particularly following the film "Hilary and Jackie." This book answers all the questions about Ms. du Pre and gives us clear insight into who she was and how she came to be the woman who was unquestionably one of the great instrumentalists of the 20th century. I found myself reading this book and listening to recordings of Ms. du Pre play; an unbeatable combination.

24 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, balanced biography, October 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Jacqueline Du Pre: Her Life, Her Music, Her Legend (Hardcover)

Wilson's book about J. DuPre provides a balance to Wilson's and to Hilary DuPre's books. This book is a tribute to her musical genius, her inspiration to female cellists. With the author being both a cellist and a friend of J. DuPre, the depth of the book exceeds what the others pretend to offer. After reading the book, I listened to DuPre's performance of the Schumann and Elgar Concertos and marveled at her talent. The tragedies in her life and her relationship with her family should not overshadow her genius. I am eager now to view the documentaries produced by C. Nupen about this musical treasure whose life was cut short way too early.

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very complete, very "British" book, January 21, 2001

By 

Ed Ting (Amherst, NH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jacqueline Du Pre: Her Life, Her Music, Her Legend (Hardcover)

Du Pre-philes are going to be flush with pleasure after reading this. It's a scholarly work that seemingly pins down every concert that Du Pre ever played, often with mini-reviews of the performances. It's far preferable to the trashy "Hilary and Jackie" and does far better service to Du Pre's life and art. Thankfully, the ending segments dealing with Du Pre's illness are short and to the point.

American readers should be aware that this is a VERY "British" book. Wilson uses British spelling and grammar throughout, and assumes a knowledge of the local geography. Like many British writers, Wilson has a charming ignorance of America, and even goes as far as to "correct" our spelling - "The Lincoln Centre (sic)", "Pittsburg (sic)", "The Carnegie Hall (sic)". On page 300, a truck stop in the Midwest is hilariously referred to as a "highway transport cafe."

Recommended for Du Pre's many fans.