GASPARIN

At 17 Valérie, brought up in a staunch Protestant family, fell in love with a young violinist. To get over him, her parents took her to Paris, where she had lessons from the young Liszt. Mme. Boissier's notes of these lessons (in 'Liszt Pédagogue') are of the greatest interest. In 1837 she married Agénor, Comte de Gasparin, 1810-1871, a prominent Huguenot. In 1847-1848 they travelled to Greece, Syria, the Holy Land and Egypt, and Valérie published an account in 3 volumes. Their maid Jeannette, who was well educated, also left a diary, and recently Sylvie Marguier, in 'Miracle des Jours', 2003, has composed a novel describing the journey from their servants' point of view. After Napoleon III came to power they went to live at her old home in Valleyres.