Jenny Lind (1820–87) was one of Europe's most famous opera singers. Known as the 'Swedish Nightingale', she first rose to prominence in an 1838 performance of Weber's Freischütz. Despite her immense success over the next ten years, she retired from the stage at the age of twenty-nine. Seeking financial security to pursue her charitable interests, in 1850 she accepted the invitation of impresario P. T. Barnum to undertake a tour of the United States; this was another succession of triumphs. Henry Scott Holland (1847–1918), the theologian and social reformer, and music writer William Smith Rockstro (1823–95) used Lind's own documents, letters and diaries as the basis of this two-volume memoir, published in 1891, which focuses on the first thirty-one years of her life. Volume 1 covers Lind's Swedish childhood and early singing career. Volume 2 discusses her most memorable performances in Europe and the reasons for her retirement.

Table of Contents:
Volume 1: Preface; Book I. Anticipation: 1. Introduction; 2. Childhood; 3. Pupilage; 4. Career; 5. Discovery; 6. Character; 7. Pilgrimage; Book II. Aspiration: 1. In Paris, 1841; 2. The Maestro di Canto; 3. The student; 4. Within sight of the goal; 5. Under which king?; 6. The return; Book III. Achievement: 1. Home: and after?; Book IV. Mastery: 1. In Dresden; 2. At the court of Berlin; 3. The new opera house; 4. The début; 5. Das Feldlager in Schlesien; 6. The Bunn contract; 7. Homage to Weber (Euryanthe); 8. In the concert room; 9. At home once more; 10. In presence of the Queen; 11. With the Danes; 12. The Bunn contract (continued); 13. The return to Berlin (Don Juan); 14. Der Freischütz; 15. 'The Greatest of these is Love'; 16. At the Gewandhaus; 17. Die Vestalin; 18. At Weimar; 19. Les Huguenots; 20. Auf Widersehen!; Book V. Progress: 1. At the Gewandhaus once more; 2. The début at Vienna; 3. Correspondence with Mendelssohn; 4. Correspondence with Mendelssohn (continued); 5. The Lower Rhine musical festival; 6. In via requies; 7. Contract with Mr. Lumley. Volume 2: Book VI. Work and Friends: 1. In Munich; 2. South Germany; 3. The return to Vienna; 4. Vielka; 5. The shadow; Book VII. Supremacy: 1. Managerial difficulties; 2. Suspense; 3. Triumph; 4. At Clairville; 5. La Sonnambula; 6. La Figlia del Reggimento; 7. The Queen's state visit to the opera; 8. La Tempesta; 9. I Masnadieri; 10. Le Nozze di Figaro; 11. By command of the Queen; 12. In the provinces; 13. At Norwich; 14. At Norwich (continued); Book VIII. The Goal: 1. New triumphs at Berlin; 2. Home again; 3. The re-appearance at Her Majesty's Theatre; 4. I Puritani; 5. Concert for the Brompton Hospital; 6. The close of the season; 7. Elijah; 8. For charity; 9. The stage and the drama; 10. The last opera; 11. The method; 12. Friends in England; Book IX. Fruition: 1. How did Jenny Lind come to leave the stage?; 2. Wanderings at ease; 3. Lübeck; 4. Home once more; 5. Departure; Last words; Index.