Bedrich Smetana: A Study of His Life and Work

Czech-Jewish lawyer and music historian Jan L饖enbach (1880-1972) wrote this biography of nineteenth-century Czech composer Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884) while living in New York in the 1940s, after fleeing the Nazi occupation of his homeland. Intended to highlight Czech cultural achievements and promote national independence, the book remained unpublished following the 1948 Communist coup in Czechoslovakia. Unlike later English-language biographies of Smetana, L饖enbach's work explicitly engages major early twentieth-century Czech scholarship on the composer and offers a uniquely informed perspective. As a "native informant," L饖enbach dispels long-standing nationalistic myths, while providing insightful commentary on Smetana's complete oeuvre, an engaging narrative of his life, and a thoughtful account of the broader social and cultural context. This edition, based on several Czech and English typescripts preserved at San Diego State University, presents a meticulous reconstruction and new translation of L饖enbach's text. With added references to recent scholarship, it stands as both an essential primary document and a rich resource for anyone interested in Czech music--scholars and general readers alike.