Mozart's Vienna. A crucible for scientific experimentation and courtly intrigue, as Europe's finest minds vie for imperial favour.
In a colourful, chaotic private hospital that echoes with the shrieks of hysterical patients, Franz Anton Mesmer is developing a series of controversial cure-alls for body and mind.
When he is asked to help restore the sight of a blind musical prodigy favoured by the Empress herself, he senses that fame, and even immortality, is within his grasp. Mesmer knows that he will have to gain her trust if he is to open her eyes. But at what cost to her fragile talent? And will their intimacy result in scandal?
Mesmerized
and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more. |
Book Description
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Review
'subtle and finely wrought ... I was intrigued, captivated' The Times.
'Ingenious' Die Zeit.
'The wait is finally over: Mesmerized is a subtle, gentle, touching text and an outstanding novel' Die Presse.
'Mesmerized's magical language excites sensations with every line - a truly indulging read' NDR Kultur.
'Ingenious' Die Zeit.
'The wait is finally over: Mesmerized is a subtle, gentle, touching text and an outstanding novel' Die Presse.
'Mesmerized's magical language excites sensations with every line - a truly indulging read' NDR Kultur.
From the Inside Flap
Mozart's Vienna. A crucible for scientific experimentation and courtly intrigue, as Europe's finest minds vie for imperial favour. In a chaotic private hospital that echoes with the shrieks of hysterical patients, Franz Anton Mesmer is developing a series of controversial cure-alls for body and mind. When asked to help restore the sight of a blind musical prodigy sponsored by the Empress herself, he senses that fame, even immortality, is within his grasp. But what if the girl's blindness is the source of her fragile talent? Mesmer knows he cannot treat her without first gaining her trust: with his methods already the subject of salacious gossip, will their intimacy result in scandal? Mesmerized is a sensual, startling novel set during one of history's great flowerings of art and culture - about a man whose outlandish life and theories lent the English language a new word.
--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Customer Reviews
There are no customer reviews yet on Amazon.co.uk.
5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.0 out of 5 stars
1 review
4.0 out of 5 stars
A fine literary novel about Mesmerism!
3 July 2012
By Great Historicals
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
In the 18th century Vienna, Dr. Franz Friedrich Anton Mesmer, gained fame by creating a process to induce a trances in people as a cure or remedy for various illnesses. This powerful process became known as mesmerism, but Mesmer preferred to call it animal magnetism. Many or most of his patients were women, as his trances were believed to help cure them of "hysterics".
Mesmer was asked to cure a young pianist, Marie Paradis, of her blindness. He convinces her parents to move Marie into his hospital that housed his other patients. Despite their reservations, and because of their desperation to improve the life of their talented child, they agreed provided Mesmer allowed Marie plenty of access to his piano. What follows is a fascinating glimpse into Mesmer's unusual methods, colorful patients, and personal family life.
Through the use of magnets, Mesmer believed he could alter the magnetism within a body. Although colleagues disputed this belief, it was his ability to put his patients into a trance that garnered the most attention and made him famous. Because his method required "touching" his patients, especially in the case of young women, he attracted scandalous attention.
This is a historical literary novel, and as such, the writing style takes a bit of getting used to. The sentences are often very short. Numerous point of view changes between characters sometimes occurred without transition, but once used to the unique voice and delivery, the story truly was fascinating. The story depicts Mesmer's dedication and passion for his work, as well as his distress at being considered a quack. A colorful cast of characters add much interest to the story - a screaming hysterical female patient, Anna - his jealous wife, and an odd maid who keeps his secrets. There is a very entertaining twist near the ending, too.
For readers who like to read books with a touch of the odd and unusual, this novel certainly fits the bill. It accurately depicts some of the scientific beliefs of the era, along with a glimpse into the endurance of the human spirit in the quest to be perfect. Well worth reading!
Mesmer was asked to cure a young pianist, Marie Paradis, of her blindness. He convinces her parents to move Marie into his hospital that housed his other patients. Despite their reservations, and because of their desperation to improve the life of their talented child, they agreed provided Mesmer allowed Marie plenty of access to his piano. What follows is a fascinating glimpse into Mesmer's unusual methods, colorful patients, and personal family life.
Through the use of magnets, Mesmer believed he could alter the magnetism within a body. Although colleagues disputed this belief, it was his ability to put his patients into a trance that garnered the most attention and made him famous. Because his method required "touching" his patients, especially in the case of young women, he attracted scandalous attention.
This is a historical literary novel, and as such, the writing style takes a bit of getting used to. The sentences are often very short. Numerous point of view changes between characters sometimes occurred without transition, but once used to the unique voice and delivery, the story truly was fascinating. The story depicts Mesmer's dedication and passion for his work, as well as his distress at being considered a quack. A colorful cast of characters add much interest to the story - a screaming hysterical female patient, Anna - his jealous wife, and an odd maid who keeps his secrets. There is a very entertaining twist near the ending, too.
For readers who like to read books with a touch of the odd and unusual, this novel certainly fits the bill. It accurately depicts some of the scientific beliefs of the era, along with a glimpse into the endurance of the human spirit in the quest to be perfect. Well worth reading!
›
Go to Amazon.com to see the review
4.0 out of 5 stars
Was this review helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Fiction > Historical
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
