Editing Diabelli Variations (section)

== Dedication ==
Although some commentators find significance in the work's dedication to Mme. [[Antonie Brentano|Antonie von Brentano]], offering it as evidence that she was Beethoven's "[[Immortal Beloved]]",<ref>For example, Solomon, Maynard, ''Beethoven'', 1977.</ref> she was not Beethoven's first choice. His original plan was to have the work sent to England where his old friend, [[Ferdinand Ries]], would find a publisher. Beethoven promised the dedication to Ries's wife ("You will also receive in a few weeks 33 variations on a theme dedicated to your wife". Letter, April 25, 1823). A delay in the shipment to England caused confusion. Beethoven explained to Ries in a later letter, "The variations were not to appear here until after they had been published in London, but everything went askew. The dedication to Brentano was intended only for Germany, as I was under obligation to her and could publish nothing else at the time. Besides, only Diabelli, the publisher here, got them from me. Everything was done by [[Anton Schindler|Schindler]], a bigger wretch I never knew on God's earth—an arch-scoundrel whom I have sent about his business—I can dedicate another work to your wife in place of it ..."<ref>{{Harvnb|Forbes|1967|pp=855–56}}</ref>