She was a free-spirited, passionate person who cared absolutely nothing about what others thought of her. Her works portrayed women as strong and independent, striving for freedom and fulfilment. Throughout her life, George Sand (real name Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin) defended herself and her work.
As a child, Aurore felt so lonely that she created an imaginary friend named Corambe, who became her counsellor, confidant, and guardian angel. Despite Aurore's intelligence and beauty, aristocratic society rejected her due to her mother's background. Her grandmother, Countess Dupin, didn't find her granddaughter a groom: the woman died when Aurora was 17 years old.
Years would pass, and she would be credited with having affairs with almost the entire literary beau monde of France, but today, we delve into the poignant love story with virtuoso pianist Frédéric Chopin, a relationship that left a profound mark on Aurore's soul.
A fragile young man, hailed as a musical genius with impeccable manners, and a determined woman donning a man's suit with a cigar in her teeth, writing under a male pseudonym... Their paths crossed in 1836 at a social gathering. A few months later the couple began to meet openly, and at the end of 1838 they travelled to Majorca with Aurore's children as a family. There, Chopin composed at least two dozen preludes and other musical pieces while Sand began work on a new novel. However, Chopin's battle with tuberculosis forced them to vacate their rented flat abruptly, facing challenges in returning home. Eventually, they secured passage on a ship, reaching France in a cabin adjacent to a pigsty. Two years post their Majorcan adventure, George Sand penned a book titled "A Winter in Majorca."
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As time passed, the lovers' relationship deteriorated due to persistent differences, leading to ongoing conflicts. In 1847, their relationship reached its end when Chopin disappeared from Aurore's life. The breakup had a profound impact on both individuals. The last time Chopin and Sand met by chance - a year and a half before the composer's death. Although he did not engage in conversation with his former lover, he maintained warm relations with her daughter until the end of his life. On his deathbed, he said, "She promised that I would die in her arms."
