Sonata Mulattica: Poems

About this book

In a book-length lyric narrative inspired by history and imagination a much celebrated poet re-creates the life of a nineteenth-century virtuoso violinist. The son of a white woman and an African Prince George Polgreen Bridgetower (17801860) travels to Vienna to meet bad-boy genius Ludwig van Beethoven. The great composers subsequent sonata is originally dedicated to the young mulatto but George exuberant with acclaim offends Beethoven over a woman. From this crucial encounter evolves a grandiose yet melancholy poetic tale.