New book examines the controversy about Frédéric Chopin’s Heart.

What was the illness that ultimately killed Frédéric Chopin?  Most have presumed the beloved composer succumbed to tuberculosis in 1849, but now a research team boldly claims his disease was cystic fibrosis, and they aim to prove it by opening up the long-sealed glass urn in Warsaw that contains his heart.  Their proposal recently triggered a worldwide controversy and led to a prompt thumbs-down by the Polish authorities. Now, on the 200th anniversary of the musician’s birth, Dr. Steven Lagerberg delves into the riddle of Chopin’s illness and the challenges this scientific investigation poses in “Chopin’s Heart - The Quest to identify the Mysterious Illness of the World’s Most Beloved Composer” (ISBN: 145640296X).

The book explores a leading Polish researcher’s claim that Chopin’s official cause of death was bungled from the beginning and then uncritically accepted by his many biographers.  Dr. Lagerberg and Professor Cichy, a recognized expert in the field of cystic fibrosis, currently contend that cystic fibrosis could well have killed Chopin - and are fighting to break open the crystal urn that has held Chopin’s heart for more than 150 years.  In “Chopin’s Heart,” Dr. Lagerberg also follows this relic as it has passed through countless hands over the years, and reveals m any little-known secrets, such as the fact that the heart was used during WWII as a powerful propaganda tool by the Nazis.

The author explores the 39-year life of Chopin, looking for any telltale clues that might explain his mysterious illness, discusses the scientific, ethical and religious issues of any investigation, and explores the under-appreciated effect the composer’s chronic illness had on his highly praised compositional style.  The book outlines Dr. Lagerberg’s extensive research into these many medical and historical details throughout his travels in Poland, France, and the United States. 

About the author:  Dr. Steven Lagerberg is an experienced physician, founder of the Northwest Council of the United States, and an amateur musicologist.  Along with Dr. Wojciech Cichy, he is pursuing access to Chopin’s preserved heart in an attempt to unravel the mystery surrounding the composer’s illness.  Dividing his time between Paris and Seattle, Dr. Lagerberg currently assists talented young pianists as they aspire to a professional career. 

“Chopin’s Heart” is available for online sales at Amazon.com, Kindle, Barnes & Noble.com, Amazon.uk.com, and at major bookstores.  Review copies and interviews are also available.  Contact: stevenlagerberg@gmail.com