The Mephisto Waltz

Originally trained as a concert pianist, Mr. Stewart drew on this background for his first novel, “The Mephisto Waltz” (Coward-McCann), published in 1969. (The publicity materials for the book included a 45-r.p.m. recording of Mr. Stewart playing the title piece, by Liszt.) In 1971, the book became a film with Alan Alda as a young writer whose body is usurped by an aging pianist.