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Thumbnail for Florence Foster Jenkins : the remarkable story of America's best-known and least-talented soprano

Florence Foster Jenkins : the remarkable story of America's best-known and least-talented soprano

2016
Books, Manuscripts
Despite having no pitch, no rhythm and no tone, Florence Foster Jenkins became one of America's best-known sopranos, giving a sell-out concert at Carnegie Hall. Born in Pennsylvania in 1868, Florence Foster adored music and as a girl was a talented pianist, but her wealthy father refused to allow her to study in Europe. In retaliation she eloped with Dr Frank Jenkins but the marriage soon foundered, not least because the 18-year-old bride contracted syphilis on their wedding night. Moving to New York, Florence became a piano teacher, but after her father's death in 1909 she inherited a considerable sum and it was then that she vowed to become a great soprano and began to take singing lessons. That same year she met the man who would become first her manager and then her common-law husband, St Clair Bayfield.
Main title:
Author:
Imprint:
London : Pan Books, 2016.London : Pan Books, 2016.
Collation:
330 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (black and white, and colour) ; 20 cm
Notes:
Film tie-in.Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN:
9781509824687 (pbk)
Dewey class:
782.1092BIOGRAPHY 782.1092782.1092 JEN
Local class:
B JEN
Language:
English
BRN:
2310993
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