 Curiosities quiz Your current score...
7. Bach and Handel
J.S. Bach and George Frederick Handel were born only 130 km (80 miles) and one month apart, but never met, in part because Handel lived and worked abroad for much of his life. There was, however, an interesting connection between the two men, namely:
A) Both were awarded gold medals by the British parliament
B) Both were married to daughters of famous sculptors
C) Both were operated on by the same surgeon ü
D) Both were plagued by nightmares of drowning
Bach and Handel both suffered from blindness in later life, and both sought the help of a surgeon named John Taylor. Not only did he fail to help either composer, but — though he had managed to have himself appointed eye doctor to George II — he was a notorious quack, described by Samuel Johnson as “an instance of how far impudence will carry ignorance”.
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