Scipio's amanuensis, who is taking the great man's dictation, tells his own story at the same time.

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This inevitably raises the question of what proportion of the resulting composition is by the revered genius and what by his latter-day amanuensis.

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On the other hand, didn't Goethe encourage Johann Peter Eckermann, the tireless amanuensis he met in 1823 whom he knew was recording his words for posterity?

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He has found his amanuensis.

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Glikman, a theater critic and historian (and eventually an advisor on film projects), was a devoted friend, serving as amanuensis for articles Shostakovich was obliged to write, always eager to convey scores or recordings for the composer, and sharing his taste in literature and music.

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