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Dancing star : a novel / by Berta Ruck. 1923 [Leather Bound]
Leather Binding on Spine and Corners with Golden Leaf Printing on round Spine (extra customization on request like complete leather, Golden Screen printing in Front, Color Leather, Colored book etc.) Reprinted in 2022 with the help of original edition published long back [1923]. This book is printed in black & white, sewing binding for longer life, Printed on high quality Paper, re-sized as per Current standards, professionally processed without changing its contents. As these are old books, we processed each page manually and make them readable but in some cases some pages which are blur or missing or black spots. If it is multi volume set, then it is only single volume, if you wish to order a specific or all the volumes you may contact us. We expect that you will understand our compulsion in these books. We found this book important for the readers who want to know more about our old treasure so we brought it back to the shelves. Hope you will like it and give your comments and suggestions. - English, Pages 356. EXTRA 10 DAYS APART FROM THE NORMAL SHIPPING PERIOD WILL BE REQUIRED FOR LEATHER BOUND BOOKS. COMPLETE LEATHER WILL COST YOU EXTRA US$ 25 APART FROM THE LEATHER BOUND BOOKS. {FOLIO EDITION IS ALSO AVAILABLE.} Complete Dancing star : a novel / by Berta Ruck. 1923 Ruck, Berta, -.
356 pages, Leather Bound
First published January 1, 1923
8 people want to read
About the author
Berta Ruck
132 books16 followersAmy Roberta Ruck was born on 2 August 1878 in Murree, Punjab, India, one of eight children by Eleanor D'Arcy and Colonel Arthur Ashley Ruck, a British army officer. Her family moved to Wales, where she went to school in Bangor. On 1909, she married novelist (George) Oliver Onions (1873-1961), and they had two sons: Arthur (b. 1912) and William (b. 1913). Berta died only nine days after her 100th birthday.
From 1905, she began to contribute short stories and serials to magazines, and on 1914, her first novel "His Official Fiancée" was published. She wrote over eighty romance novels. She also wrote an autobiography and two memoir-style works.
From 1905, she began to contribute short stories and serials to magazines, and on 1914, her first novel "His Official Fiancée" was published. She wrote over eighty romance novels. She also wrote an autobiography and two memoir-style works.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 11, 2020
I think I just found my favorite Berta Ruck novel.
It wasn't quite as romantic as In Another Girl's Shoes and it didn't express inexpressible things as articulately as The Boy with Wings. As for subtlety, well, let's just say it gives Sweethearts Unmet a run for its money.
But honestly, this was such a satisfying novel. And for a book from 1923, the theme feels like it could belong to any number of novels over the last hundred years because it explores the balance between family and career. Or, as this book begins:
"Here is a story of the conflict between Love and Ambition. An old conflict? Old for men. Fairly modern, however, for women."
The plot follows Ripple Meredith, a gifted dancer caught between her traditional family and fiancé (Love) and her passion for dancing (Ambition.) But other themes also come into play, including sacrifice, passion, purpose, and "getting a chance." Ripple's mother sacrifices so her daughter can "get a chance" before settling down with the first nice young man to make eyes at her.
It is a fascinating exploration of the changing roles in British society after WW1 (Nice Young Ladies did not become Chorus Girls...except apparently now they do) and the call of vocation. The book constantly shifts between the "older generation" who expected women to remain at home and men to seek leisurely lives on their estates to the "new generation" where both men and women pursue their passion. (Again....we're talking 1923!)
This is a different tone even from His Official Fiancee, the Berta Ruck novel from 1914. There we see women entering the workforce for a variety of reasons (financial need, boredom, etc.) but not because secretarial work is their passion.
But the war is now over and a new social identity has been formed. This is full-blown "feminism" where previously Berta Ruck only hinted.
We also see a shift in "romance" and a change in the type of man who becomes the romantic lead. Victor (the fiancé) fulfills all the manly virtues of the previous generation. He can financially surround his wife with all the comforts in the world and he frequently showers her with kisses and proclamations of everlasting devotion. But Ripple has this wonderful line where she realizes why that can't be enough:
"It is all very well for men to put us on a pedestal, but it is a pedestal that has not got your own name on it. They inscribe the pedestal 'To my own little girl,' 'To my own dear mother,' To perfect womanhood.' And it is all their own idea of that. It isn't us...I don't see Victor putting me up on a pedestal marked 'To Ripple, the Dancer,' which is, after all, what I am."
And then there is Steve, the boy who chucked a successful career to pursue his passion (motorcycles!) And of him the narrator says,
"He looked at women, not up to them, set on pedestals that bore alien, symbolic names--not down upon them as charming creatures--comforts, without sense of humor, honour, or "Abstract Justice which no women understands"--but at them, in blithe friendliness. He could be the friend as well as the admirer. Also, he could be the lover as well as the friend."
But compared to other Berta Ruck novels I've read, Steve plays a surprisingly unimportant role. He isn't sidelined, like in the modern YA fantasy novel, to arm candy. Instead, he is a steady, charming side-character who helps the heroine in her time of need and supports her in her self-discovery. (I've got a bit of a book crush on him myself.)
Besides an entertaining and charming hero, the book also stars interesting side-characters. I absolutely loved Ripple's brothers, particularly Ultimus. He was hilarious. It was fun to see her family's support (and dismissal! One might achieve Fame but siblings will never care.)
I do recommend this one--as I would recommend all Berta Ruck novels. She writes romances that express so much about the changing identity of the turn of the century. And this one is just as delightful as the others, if not more so because I actually particularly appreciated the love interest!
It wasn't quite as romantic as In Another Girl's Shoes and it didn't express inexpressible things as articulately as The Boy with Wings. As for subtlety, well, let's just say it gives Sweethearts Unmet a run for its money.
But honestly, this was such a satisfying novel. And for a book from 1923, the theme feels like it could belong to any number of novels over the last hundred years because it explores the balance between family and career. Or, as this book begins:
"Here is a story of the conflict between Love and Ambition. An old conflict? Old for men. Fairly modern, however, for women."
The plot follows Ripple Meredith, a gifted dancer caught between her traditional family and fiancé (Love) and her passion for dancing (Ambition.) But other themes also come into play, including sacrifice, passion, purpose, and "getting a chance." Ripple's mother sacrifices so her daughter can "get a chance" before settling down with the first nice young man to make eyes at her.
It is a fascinating exploration of the changing roles in British society after WW1 (Nice Young Ladies did not become Chorus Girls...except apparently now they do) and the call of vocation. The book constantly shifts between the "older generation" who expected women to remain at home and men to seek leisurely lives on their estates to the "new generation" where both men and women pursue their passion. (Again....we're talking 1923!)
This is a different tone even from His Official Fiancee, the Berta Ruck novel from 1914. There we see women entering the workforce for a variety of reasons (financial need, boredom, etc.) but not because secretarial work is their passion.
But the war is now over and a new social identity has been formed. This is full-blown "feminism" where previously Berta Ruck only hinted.
We also see a shift in "romance" and a change in the type of man who becomes the romantic lead. Victor (the fiancé) fulfills all the manly virtues of the previous generation. He can financially surround his wife with all the comforts in the world and he frequently showers her with kisses and proclamations of everlasting devotion. But Ripple has this wonderful line where she realizes why that can't be enough:
"It is all very well for men to put us on a pedestal, but it is a pedestal that has not got your own name on it. They inscribe the pedestal 'To my own little girl,' 'To my own dear mother,' To perfect womanhood.' And it is all their own idea of that. It isn't us...I don't see Victor putting me up on a pedestal marked 'To Ripple, the Dancer,' which is, after all, what I am."
And then there is Steve, the boy who chucked a successful career to pursue his passion (motorcycles!) And of him the narrator says,
"He looked at women, not up to them, set on pedestals that bore alien, symbolic names--not down upon them as charming creatures--comforts, without sense of humor, honour, or "Abstract Justice which no women understands"--but at them, in blithe friendliness. He could be the friend as well as the admirer. Also, he could be the lover as well as the friend."
But compared to other Berta Ruck novels I've read, Steve plays a surprisingly unimportant role. He isn't sidelined, like in the modern YA fantasy novel, to arm candy. Instead, he is a steady, charming side-character who helps the heroine in her time of need and supports her in her self-discovery. (I've got a bit of a book crush on him myself.)
Besides an entertaining and charming hero, the book also stars interesting side-characters. I absolutely loved Ripple's brothers, particularly Ultimus. He was hilarious. It was fun to see her family's support (and dismissal! One might achieve Fame but siblings will never care.)
I do recommend this one--as I would recommend all Berta Ruck novels. She writes romances that express so much about the changing identity of the turn of the century. And this one is just as delightful as the others, if not more so because I actually particularly appreciated the love interest!
March 9, 2022
I think this is my second favorite book by Berta Ruck, besides Miss Million's Maid of Romance. In this book she focuses on a girl who chooses a career because she actually likes it and is passionate about her work, versus being forced into it by lack of money.
I liked the main character Ripple, and loved the descriptions of the stage and the life of a dancer. She did an excellent job of describing scenes so you felt like you were in the theater watching everything happen in the moment.
I liked the main character Ripple, and loved the descriptions of the stage and the life of a dancer. She did an excellent job of describing scenes so you felt like you were in the theater watching everything happen in the moment.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews