Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of August 17, 1872

Overview

A novel about the wars of 1866 impresses them with its lifelike detail, even to the point that familiar figures seem almost photographed onto the page. R. feels unwell but enjoys the book, and later Niemann and Levi visit, with music and gossip turning to financial inducements and operatic plans. News from Bavaria darkens the mood further, especially the prospect of political shifts that seem ominous to them.

Content

Saturday, August 17:

We read the novel Um Scepter und Kronen yesterday and were astonished by the truthfulness of its descriptions; two people whom we know, Klindworth and Beckmann, could have been photographed. Also the motivation for the events of ’66 seems very plausible. R. not very well, amuses himself with the book.

In the afternoon Herr Niemann and Herr Levi, the conductor; the former goes through part of Siegmund with R.; the latter tells us about a letter from Herr Weissheimer, offering him 1,000 thalers and wine for life if he would bring out Körner in Karlsruhe.

Bad news of Bavaria; the King did not see the German Crown Prince when he passed through, and they say that Herr Windthorst, the leading Catholic, may become minister for Bavaria. Very bad.