Sarah Bernhardt (Women in the Arts (Philadelphia, Pa.).)

A biography of the French actress, Sarah Bernhardt. Sarah Bernhardt, the Divine Sarah, was one of history's greatest dramatic actors. For decades she dazzled critics and reduced audiences to tears with her bell-like voice, her consummate grace, and her deep sensitivity to tragedy. Long before the celebrities of today, she was mobbed by frenzied fans. Long before the divas of today, she was studied, satirized, criticized, and worshipped. As charismatic off the stage as on, Bernhardt was notorious throughout the world for fifty years. She embellished the many stories, true and false, that were told of her eccentric behavior, though most required no embellishment. She worked long hours to perfect every performance, and she agreed to backbreaking tour schedules on multiple continents, even after the amputation of her leg. It was during her difficult childhood that Bernhardt adopted the French phrase "quand mme" as her personal motto--"despite it all"--and, despite it all, she owned the nineteenth-century stage. Contents......Page 8 Introduction......Page 9 1: "The Bernhardt"......Page 13 2: Childhood......Page 25 3: Learning to Act......Page 39 4: Rising Star......Page 53 5: Bernhardt's Conquest of London......Page 65 6: The First American Tour......Page 77 7: Actress and Manager......Page 91 8: Curtain Calls......Page 105 Chronology......Page 121 Works by Sarah Bernhardt......Page 123 Bibliography......Page 125 Further Reading......Page 126 Index......Page 128 Credits......Page 136 Contributors......Page 137