| | Illustrations | p. xiii |
| | Acknowledgments | p. xv |
| | Introduction | p. xvii |
| | The Warsaw Years (1810-1830) | |
| | The First Contemporaries: Chopin's Family in His Formative Years | p. 3 |
| | The First Intimate Friends: Jan Bialoblocki, Jan Matuszynski, Julian Fontana, and Tytus Woyciechowski | p. 17 |
| | Music Teacher and Mentor: Jozef Elsner | p. 53 |
| | The First "Love": Konstancja Gladkowska | p. 69 |
| | The Paris Years (1831-1849) | |
| | The Most Intimate Non-Polish Friend: Auguste Franchomme | p. 81 |
| | Moja bieda: Maria Wodzinska | p. 91 |
| | A Most Trusted Confidant: Woyciech Grzymala | p. 109 |
| | Fellow Pianist and Composer: Franz Liszt | p. 127 |
| | An Artistic Devotee: Pauline Viardot | p. 151 |
| | A Tender Attachment: Solange Sand | p. 165 |
| | Epilogue | p. 175 |
| | Notes | p. 181 |
| | Bibliography | p. 215 |
| | Index | p. 221 |