''Nélida'' is a novel by

Marie d'Agoult Marie Catherine Sophie, Comtesse d'Agoult (born de Flavigny; 31 December 18055 March 1876), was a French romanticism, romantic author and historian, known also by her pen name, Daniel Stern. Life Marie was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, w ...

, a "thinly disguised fictional account" of her affair with composer

Franz Liszt Franz Liszt (22 October 1811 – 31 July 1886) was a Hungarian composer, virtuoso pianist, conductor and teacher of the Romantic music, Romantic period. With a diverse List of compositions by Franz Liszt, body of work spanning more than six ...

that lasted from about 1834 to 1844, and a ''

succès de scandale ''Succès de scandale'' ( French for "success from scandal") is a term for any artistic work whose success is attributed, in whole or in part, to public controversy surrounding the work. In some cases the controversy causes audiences to seek o ...

'' when first published in 1846. Marie later wrote several more novels as well as a distinguished history of the

French Revolution of 1848 The French Revolution of 1848 (), also known as the February Revolution (), was a period of civil unrest in France, in February 1848, that led to the collapse of the July Monarchy and the foundation of the French Second Republic. It sparked t ...

. The film ''

Lisztomania Lisztomania or Liszt fever was the intense fan frenzy directed toward Hungarian composer Franz Liszt during his performances. This frenzy first occurred in Berlin in 1841 and the term was later coined by Heinrich Heine in a feuilleton he wrote o ...

'' was based in part on director

Ken Russell Henry Kenneth Alfred Russell (3 July 1927 – 27 November 2011) was a British film director, known for his pioneering work in television and film and for his flamboyant and controversial style. His films were mainly liberal adaptations of ...

's interpretation of the novel. *''Nélida''. Brussels: Meline, Cans et Compagnie, 1846.

Plot summary

Nelida is a story about a beautiful, fragile woman who is based on Marie d'Agoult. When Nelida is young, she is fascinated by a man named Gummerman, who is based on Franz Liszt. Gummerman believes that art is a religion and he is passionate about it. When Nelida grows up, she meets Gummerman again. Gummerman is now a handsome young man who is driven by his passions. Nelida falls for him and they have a passionate kiss. Nelida then finds out that Gummerman is living with another woman. Depressed, Nelida marries whom she was engaged to, Timoleon, only to find out he bedded an Italian marquise. Seeing how heart broken Nelida is, Gummerman lives with her and falls in love with her. They go to different countries to perform. However, Gummerman seeks fame rather than art and in doing so, beds the Italian marquise. Nelida then breaks up with him. Realizing he failed, he dies in pity. Only then does Nelida come back to him.

References

"Marie d'Agoult"
at ''Encyclopedia of 1848 Revolutions'' * 1846 French novels Roman à clef novels French novels adapted into films {{1840s-novel-stub