My life with Jancek - Zdenka Janckov

Zdenka Janckov's memoirs were considered too personal for publication at the time of her death in1937. She tells the tale of her extraordinary life with Jancek, from her years as his young piano pupil (when the composer was 23) to his sudden death at the age of 74. Her story provides a first-hand - and not always flattering - account of Jancek's day-to-day life. Its many dramatic revelations include an account of his tempestuous affair with the singer Gabriela Horvtov, Zdenka's subsequent suicide attempt and her strange 'divorce' from her husband (they continued to live together until his death). Among other striking passages are her harrowing description of the long illness and painful death of their daughter Olga and a forthright account of Jancek's increasing infatuation during his late years with his 'muse' Kamila Stsslov and of the events surrounding his death.Zdenka's compelling and startlingly frank story is a moving document in its own right, written unashamedly to set the record straight and it paints a fascinating picture of the changing times during which the composer lived with its woman-in-the street's perspective of the First World War and the break-up of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.