MICHAEL White, states that Unsterbliche Geliebte in Beethoven's love letter "strictly translates as `Eternally Beloved' " ("An Amadeus for Ludwig", 19 March). This is not so. Unsterbliche is an adjective whose feminine ending agrees with the noun Geliebte and, translated literally, is "immortal" (from the verb sterben, to die). "Eternally Beloved" would be Ewig Geliebte.
Beethoven not only thought of his Beloved as immortal, but, like Shakespeare's Dark Lady, she has proved to be so, and for similar reasons.
Doreen Stanfield
London NW5
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments