Sarah Bernhardt
The Divine and Dazzling Life of the World's First Superstar
Published on 18. February 2021
Book
Hardback
192 pages
978-1-328-55750-6 (ISBN)
Description
Sarah Bernhardt was a French stage actor who became a global superstar in the late nineteenth century-the Lady Gaga of her day-and is still considered to be one of the greatest performers of all time. This fast-paced account of her life, filled with provocative detail, brilliantly follows the transformation of a girl of humble origins, born to a courtesan, into a fabulously talented, wealthy, and beloved icon. Not only was her acting trajectory remarkable, but her personal life was filled with jaw-dropping exploits, and she was extravagantly eccentric, living with a series of exotic animals and sleeping in a coffin. She grew to be deeply admired around the world, despite her unabashed and public promiscuity at a time when convention was king; she slept with each of her leading men and proudly raised a son without a husband. A fascinating and fast-paced deep dive into the world of the divine Sarah. Illustrated with more than sixty-five photos of Bernhardt on stage, in film, and in real life.
Reviews / Votes
? "A captivating biography possessing as much verve as its inimitable subject." -Kirkus, STARRED review "Reef provides insight into the legend in an account that smartly takes both Bernhardt's theatrical art and her self-publicizing seriously....Reef does a particularly fine job of conveying the nineteenth century worlds in which Bernhardt moved and blossomed; she's also tactful but clear in her acknowledgment of Bernhardt's being a highly unreliable reporter of her own life....Overall it's an intriguing introduction to an early global celebrity, and many readers will want to read more, lured in by the Divine Sarah a century on." -Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "The easy-to-read text paints a striking picture of 19th and early 20th century Paris....A strong addition to any biography collection." -School Library Journal "In this concise, well-researched biography, Reef faithfully separates the documented from the speculative in tracing Bernhardt's life....this is a solid introduction to an unconventional feminist and international idol." -Publishers Weekly -More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Target group
Young adult
US School Grade: Seventh Grade and over, Interest Age: From 12 to 99 years
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
With dust jacket
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 159 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
538 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-328-55750-6 (9781328557506)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
06/2020
Clarion Books
€16.99
Available for download
Person
Catherine Reef is the author of more than 40 nonfiction books, including many highly acclaimed biographies for young people. She lives in College Park, Maryland. www.catherinereef.com.