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The First Actress
"This novel about Sarah Bernhardt, the iconic French actress, is both a riveting portrait of the artist as a passionate young woman and a luscious historical novel full of period detail."--Melanie Benjamin, New York Times bestselling author of Mistress of the Ritz and The Aviator's Wife
From her beginnings as the daughter of a courtesan to her extraordinary transformation into the most celebrated actress of her era, Sarah Bernhardt is brought to life by an internationally bestselling author praised for his historical novels featuring famous women.
Sarah's highly dramatic life starts when she returns to Paris after her convent schooling and is confronted by her mother's demand to follow in the family trade as a courtesan. To escape this fate, Sarah pursues a career onstage at the esteemed Com�die-Fran�aise, until her rebellious acting style leads to her scandalous dismissal. Only nineteen years old and unemployed, Sarah is forced to submit to her mother's wishes. But her seductive ease as a courtesan comes to an abrupt end when she discovers she is pregnant. Unwilling to give up her child, Sarah defies social condemnation and is cast adrift, penniless and alone.
With her striking beauty and innovative performances in a bohemian theater, Sarah catapults to unexpected success; suddenly, audiences clamor to see this controversial young actress. But her world is torn asunder by the brutal 1870 siege of Paris. Sarah refuses to abandon the ravaged city, nursing wounded soldiers and risking her life.
Her return to the Com�die and her tempestuous affair with her leading man plunge Sarah into a fierce quest for independence. Undeterred, she risks everything to become France's most acclaimed actress, enthralling audiences with her shocking portrayals of female and male characters. Sarah's daring talent and outrageous London engagement pave her path to worldwide celebrity, with sold-out tours in Europe and America.
Told in her own voice, this is Sarah Bernhardt's incandescent story--a fascinating, intimate account of a woman whose unrivaled talent and indomitable spirit has enshrined her in history as the Divine Sarah.
From her beginnings as the daughter of a courtesan to her extraordinary transformation into the most celebrated actress of her era, Sarah Bernhardt is brought to life by an internationally bestselling author praised for his historical novels featuring famous women.
Sarah's highly dramatic life starts when she returns to Paris after her convent schooling and is confronted by her mother's demand to follow in the family trade as a courtesan. To escape this fate, Sarah pursues a career onstage at the esteemed Com�die-Fran�aise, until her rebellious acting style leads to her scandalous dismissal. Only nineteen years old and unemployed, Sarah is forced to submit to her mother's wishes. But her seductive ease as a courtesan comes to an abrupt end when she discovers she is pregnant. Unwilling to give up her child, Sarah defies social condemnation and is cast adrift, penniless and alone.
With her striking beauty and innovative performances in a bohemian theater, Sarah catapults to unexpected success; suddenly, audiences clamor to see this controversial young actress. But her world is torn asunder by the brutal 1870 siege of Paris. Sarah refuses to abandon the ravaged city, nursing wounded soldiers and risking her life.
Her return to the Com�die and her tempestuous affair with her leading man plunge Sarah into a fierce quest for independence. Undeterred, she risks everything to become France's most acclaimed actress, enthralling audiences with her shocking portrayals of female and male characters. Sarah's daring talent and outrageous London engagement pave her path to worldwide celebrity, with sold-out tours in Europe and America.
Told in her own voice, this is Sarah Bernhardt's incandescent story--a fascinating, intimate account of a woman whose unrivaled talent and indomitable spirit has enshrined her in history as the Divine Sarah.
448 pages, Paperback
First published May 26, 2020
307 people are currently reading
8608 people want to read
About the author
C.W. Gortner
18 books2,513 followersBestselling author C.W. Gortner holds an MFA in Writing, with an emphasis in Renaissance Studies. Raised in Spain and half Spanish by birth, he currently lives in Northern California. His books have been translated in over 20 languages to date.
He welcomes readers and is always available for reader group chats. Please visit him at www.cwgortner.com for more information.
He welcomes readers and is always available for reader group chats. Please visit him at www.cwgortner.com for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 301 reviews
June 21, 2020
Worthy of every star!
Thank you, Random House, for the gifted ARC. I also purchased a finished copy for my favorites shelf.
My friends who love historical fiction, this one’s for you. This book, The First Actress? It’s hist fic gold. I can’t tell you how emotional I felt when I finished this book. I was dreading the ending for a couple days, even when I was less than halfway through. I did not want to step out of Sarah’s world.
C.W. Gortner is a gifted storyteller. You know how sometimes when you read hist fic, there can be drier parts, or characters you like more, or sometimes you just feel the books are too long? I could have read 400 more pages about Sarah Bernhardt’s life if Gortner was telling the story. I absolutely loved Sarah Bernhardt. She was fighting for women before women’s activism had a name. She had a child out of wedlock and kept him, as taboo as it was at the time, and not only did she parent him, she adored him. She was quirky, passionate, loud, brash, and she LIVED.
The daughter of a courtesan who entertained men in her salon, and sent away to be raised by a stranger and later to a convent for school, Sarah blazed her own trail and lit her own fire when nothing was going well around her. I don’t think I’ve done this book a bit of justice with my words, but I hope you know it gets my highest recommendation. I’ve read other books by C.W. Gortner and loved them but now I have to make sure I read them all. This type of storytelling is exactly why I treasure historical fiction.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Thank you, Random House, for the gifted ARC. I also purchased a finished copy for my favorites shelf.
My friends who love historical fiction, this one’s for you. This book, The First Actress? It’s hist fic gold. I can’t tell you how emotional I felt when I finished this book. I was dreading the ending for a couple days, even when I was less than halfway through. I did not want to step out of Sarah’s world.
C.W. Gortner is a gifted storyteller. You know how sometimes when you read hist fic, there can be drier parts, or characters you like more, or sometimes you just feel the books are too long? I could have read 400 more pages about Sarah Bernhardt’s life if Gortner was telling the story. I absolutely loved Sarah Bernhardt. She was fighting for women before women’s activism had a name. She had a child out of wedlock and kept him, as taboo as it was at the time, and not only did she parent him, she adored him. She was quirky, passionate, loud, brash, and she LIVED.
The daughter of a courtesan who entertained men in her salon, and sent away to be raised by a stranger and later to a convent for school, Sarah blazed her own trail and lit her own fire when nothing was going well around her. I don’t think I’ve done this book a bit of justice with my words, but I hope you know it gets my highest recommendation. I’ve read other books by C.W. Gortner and loved them but now I have to make sure I read them all. This type of storytelling is exactly why I treasure historical fiction.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
May 15, 2020
Absolutely fantastic!
Love her, or hate her, Sarah Bernhardt was definitely a woman before her time. Spoiled, defiant, and utterly unapologetic in her quest for fame she was her own worst enemy and not an easy character to like. However, something about her tenaciousness made it very difficult not to root for her. Gortner has done an amazing job of bringing her to brilliant 3-dimensional life. Highly recommend.
Love her, or hate her, Sarah Bernhardt was definitely a woman before her time. Spoiled, defiant, and utterly unapologetic in her quest for fame she was her own worst enemy and not an easy character to like. However, something about her tenaciousness made it very difficult not to root for her. Gortner has done an amazing job of bringing her to brilliant 3-dimensional life. Highly recommend.
July 1, 2020
French actress Sarah Bernhardt had a complicated life. She was the oldest child of a courtesan who was not really suited to motherhood. Sarah became an acclaimed actress, part-time courtesan, painter and sculptor. She had many patrons and lovers but never seemed to care about any of them. Her sole marriage is covered briefly in an Afterword to this book. Her devotion to her son and 2 younger sisters was consistent throughout her life. The book also covers the way in which Sarah revolutionized theater with a more naturalistic approach to acting. In addition, she turned a theater in Paris into an infirmary during the Franco-Prussian war.
Unfortunately, the book didn’t succeed in making me care about the details of Sarah’s life. I was most interested in the acting part, but that is really hard to convey in writing. You need to see or at least hear the actor. I also didn’t particularly like Sarah, who was a drama queen both on and off the stage. If I truly wanted to learn about Sarah I’d read a biography, but I don’t feel compelled to seek one out. 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
Unfortunately, the book didn’t succeed in making me care about the details of Sarah’s life. I was most interested in the acting part, but that is really hard to convey in writing. You need to see or at least hear the actor. I also didn’t particularly like Sarah, who was a drama queen both on and off the stage. If I truly wanted to learn about Sarah I’d read a biography, but I don’t feel compelled to seek one out. 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
May 1, 2020
Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923) was a French stage actress and the world’s first modern actress and international celebrity. She did what she set out to do. She made a name for herself. After sold-out performances, she emerges as “a passionate revelation.”
This story vividly explores her character. A ferocious woman with unparalleled determination. She is the epitome of what freedom means. She goes through her lows and highs, but she always remembers what fits her spirited character the most – freedom from any constrictions, freedom to be able to express her artistry the way she feels it.
In 1853, Sarah’s mother is forced to bring her daughter back to Paris. She is a high-class courtesan. She is cold and has no interest in raising her daughter. Thus, her younger sister, aunt Rosine assumes charge of Sarah.
Her education continues at convent, where to her surprise she finds unconditional love and befriends a girl of “uncertain provenance,” like her. There, at eleven years old, she is preparing for her first role for the upcoming annual Nativity play. “That applause … it was like music to me.”
After her education at convent comes to an end, she wants to be independent. She doesn’t want to marry. What else is there for a woman of her time? Especially, with such temper. Performing on stage opens the door for her to be independent.
She is accepted to “the most prestigious training academy for the dramatic arts.” And with a contract at Comedie comes a warning. “If you fail here, there are no second chances. Music halls or back-alley cabarets are all you can look forward to – if that. (…) Performing must be your entire life.”
Her career takes a bit different path from her preferred one. But her innovation leads her to even better greatness. Only to have it torn by the Prussian invasion of Paris.
Sarah is a very strong headed woman. She is so opposite of her mother. She vows to never follow her mother’s path, even if she sidesteps her preferred path. Every time an obstacle comes her way, she gets much stronger and even more driven. You can feel the fire that drives her. She is fervently tuned to her cause, giving her strength to propel herself forward.
The character of Alexander Dumas, a celebrated writer, is also very touching. When she is in dire need, his support is unmatched.
The writing is incredible. The heroine is so fleshed-out, full of emotions. She is so real. You can feel her pain and her joy. Whatever she does passion shines through it.
The story is intensely imagined. The trials and triumphs of the heroine are heartfelt, making the story highly engrossing.
Loved the talented prose injected with humor: “…class, which was taught by an effeminate remnant of the Second Empire, replete with the lace-trimmed sleeve cuffs and rouged lips.”
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This story vividly explores her character. A ferocious woman with unparalleled determination. She is the epitome of what freedom means. She goes through her lows and highs, but she always remembers what fits her spirited character the most – freedom from any constrictions, freedom to be able to express her artistry the way she feels it.
In 1853, Sarah’s mother is forced to bring her daughter back to Paris. She is a high-class courtesan. She is cold and has no interest in raising her daughter. Thus, her younger sister, aunt Rosine assumes charge of Sarah.
Her education continues at convent, where to her surprise she finds unconditional love and befriends a girl of “uncertain provenance,” like her. There, at eleven years old, she is preparing for her first role for the upcoming annual Nativity play. “That applause … it was like music to me.”
After her education at convent comes to an end, she wants to be independent. She doesn’t want to marry. What else is there for a woman of her time? Especially, with such temper. Performing on stage opens the door for her to be independent.
She is accepted to “the most prestigious training academy for the dramatic arts.” And with a contract at Comedie comes a warning. “If you fail here, there are no second chances. Music halls or back-alley cabarets are all you can look forward to – if that. (…) Performing must be your entire life.”
Her career takes a bit different path from her preferred one. But her innovation leads her to even better greatness. Only to have it torn by the Prussian invasion of Paris.
Sarah is a very strong headed woman. She is so opposite of her mother. She vows to never follow her mother’s path, even if she sidesteps her preferred path. Every time an obstacle comes her way, she gets much stronger and even more driven. You can feel the fire that drives her. She is fervently tuned to her cause, giving her strength to propel herself forward.
The character of Alexander Dumas, a celebrated writer, is also very touching. When she is in dire need, his support is unmatched.
The writing is incredible. The heroine is so fleshed-out, full of emotions. She is so real. You can feel her pain and her joy. Whatever she does passion shines through it.
The story is intensely imagined. The trials and triumphs of the heroine are heartfelt, making the story highly engrossing.
Loved the talented prose injected with humor: “…class, which was taught by an effeminate remnant of the Second Empire, replete with the lace-trimmed sleeve cuffs and rouged lips.”
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 21, 2020
Sarah Bernhardt. Quelle femme sauvage!
I knew very little about her, and almost nothing about France during the era in which she lived. I was captivated by every page of this novel. Sarah lived a fascinating, unconventional life, cultivating friendships (and sometimes a little more) with famous men like Alexandre Dumas, Victor Hugo, Oscar Wilde, and Prince Bertie of Wales.
Gortner brings it all to life here---childhood, love, hate, war, death, intrigue, sex, and of course, theater. An exquisitely enjoyable reading experience.
I will post a more thorough review closer to the publication date in May.
Thank you ever so much to Ballantine Books and Net Galley for allowing me to read an advance copy.
I knew very little about her, and almost nothing about France during the era in which she lived. I was captivated by every page of this novel. Sarah lived a fascinating, unconventional life, cultivating friendships (and sometimes a little more) with famous men like Alexandre Dumas, Victor Hugo, Oscar Wilde, and Prince Bertie of Wales.
Gortner brings it all to life here---childhood, love, hate, war, death, intrigue, sex, and of course, theater. An exquisitely enjoyable reading experience.
I will post a more thorough review closer to the publication date in May.
Thank you ever so much to Ballantine Books and Net Galley for allowing me to read an advance copy.
May 26, 2020
Rating: 5 dramatic stars
I am a bit of a Historical Fiction junkie, and this author, C. W. Gortner, is one of my top go-to authors in this genre. Once again, he has written a book that was compelling and full of historical tidbits that I had no idea about before reading this book. This book is about the French stage actress, Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923). She scrapped her way to the premier actress slot in multiple acting companies by modernizing the way actors presented material to their audiences.
This book encompasses most of Mademoiselle Bernhardt’s life. She certainly led an unconventional life. She followed her own path and fought to change how the moribund classical theater operated in France. She was the daughter of or a Parisian courtesan. She even was a courtesan herself for a time when she was young. Her son Maurice was a product of that time, and in defiance of her mother, she retained custody of Maurice and raised him as a single mother.
One of the things that I learned about in the book was the Siege of Paris (1870-1871). The siege was part of the Franco-Prussian War. The siege by the Prussians decimated Paris and its population. Sarah was instrumental in converting the Odeon Theater (the theater she was starring at before the siege) into a hospital for soldiers wounded in the battles outside the city. This was a very grim time where food and heating shortages were very real. It sounded quite a bit like sieges of other cities, Leningrad for instance, during WWII.
After the siege ended, Sarah continued to forge her own path in the world. She eventually started touring the world, and formed her own theater company. As the book’s Afterword explained, she was always on the cutting edge of technology and was involved in making sound recording, and films as both these forms of communication were emerging. She was a pioneer in so many ways.
It is sometimes hard for me to give works of Historical Fiction a five-star rating. Great writing in this genre does not employ any whiz-bang plot twists, or fantastical visions. I think that those elements can drive up the ratings in other book genres. Good Historical Fiction has to work within the confines of history. It attempts to bring the subject to life within historical strictures. How well the author accomplishes that is the basis for my review ratings for Historical Fiction.
Mr. Gortner nailed it! This was an engaging book in which I learned true historical facts about Sarah Bernhardt, and the era in which she lived. I would heartily recommend this for readers who enjoy Historical Fiction, and for readers who would like to learn more about Paris, and theaters in the mid to late 1800’s.
‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; the publisher, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books; and the author, C. W. Gortner, for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I am a bit of a Historical Fiction junkie, and this author, C. W. Gortner, is one of my top go-to authors in this genre. Once again, he has written a book that was compelling and full of historical tidbits that I had no idea about before reading this book. This book is about the French stage actress, Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923). She scrapped her way to the premier actress slot in multiple acting companies by modernizing the way actors presented material to their audiences.
This book encompasses most of Mademoiselle Bernhardt’s life. She certainly led an unconventional life. She followed her own path and fought to change how the moribund classical theater operated in France. She was the daughter of or a Parisian courtesan. She even was a courtesan herself for a time when she was young. Her son Maurice was a product of that time, and in defiance of her mother, she retained custody of Maurice and raised him as a single mother.
One of the things that I learned about in the book was the Siege of Paris (1870-1871). The siege was part of the Franco-Prussian War. The siege by the Prussians decimated Paris and its population. Sarah was instrumental in converting the Odeon Theater (the theater she was starring at before the siege) into a hospital for soldiers wounded in the battles outside the city. This was a very grim time where food and heating shortages were very real. It sounded quite a bit like sieges of other cities, Leningrad for instance, during WWII.
After the siege ended, Sarah continued to forge her own path in the world. She eventually started touring the world, and formed her own theater company. As the book’s Afterword explained, she was always on the cutting edge of technology and was involved in making sound recording, and films as both these forms of communication were emerging. She was a pioneer in so many ways.
It is sometimes hard for me to give works of Historical Fiction a five-star rating. Great writing in this genre does not employ any whiz-bang plot twists, or fantastical visions. I think that those elements can drive up the ratings in other book genres. Good Historical Fiction has to work within the confines of history. It attempts to bring the subject to life within historical strictures. How well the author accomplishes that is the basis for my review ratings for Historical Fiction.
Mr. Gortner nailed it! This was an engaging book in which I learned true historical facts about Sarah Bernhardt, and the era in which she lived. I would heartily recommend this for readers who enjoy Historical Fiction, and for readers who would like to learn more about Paris, and theaters in the mid to late 1800’s.
‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; the publisher, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books; and the author, C. W. Gortner, for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 17, 2024
Esu skaičiusi viską, ką parašė C.W. Gortner. Pirmoji perskaityta knyga buvo „Kotrynos Mediči išpažintis“ ir nuo tada viskas - užsikabinau. Man patiko pasakojimo gyvumas, teisingas kiekis dramos, žmogiškai atskleistos praeities žmonių asmenybės ir įsimenančiai nušviečiamas istorinis kontekstas. Gortner visada atlieka savo namų darbus - ištyrinėja ne tik epochą, bet ir perskaito krūvas šaltinių apie žmogų, apie kurį rašys romaną. Ir taip, jis neslepia, kad knygos nėra faktiškai tikslios: jis leidžia sau pridėti ir atimti, pagražinti ir paslėpti. Bet visą tai padaręs, jis vis tiek lieka prie puikaus galutinio rezultato - įdomios knygos apie įdomią moterį ir jos unikalų gyvenimą.
Šį kartą jo akiratyje viena garsiausių pasaulio aktorių Sarah Bernhardt. Nieko apie ją nežinojau, tik vardą buvau girdėjusi. O perskaičiusi knygą, puoliau googlint ir prie kompiuterio nemenką laiką prasėdėjau žiūrinėdama jos įrašus ir skaitydama straipsnius. O skaityt apie ką tikrai buvo. Kurtizanės dukra, kurios motina ir taip nemylėjo, nuo pat vaikystės priešinosi viskam, ką 19 amžiaus moterims sakydavo daryt visuomenė. Aikštinga, drąsi, talentinga ir tvirtos nuomonės Sarah visiems kėlė problemų, tačiau jos siekis tapti aktore buvo stipresnis už baimę nepritapti. Nors, tiesą pasakius, tokios baimės ji niekada neturėjo. Ji arė kaip jautis, nes siekė būti tobula. Bet ir tobulumo jai neužteko - ji norėjo būti dar ir išskirtinė. O čia stengtis ne taip labai ir reikėjo: ji tiesiog buvo kitokia. Vieniša mama, moteris neslepianti savo ambicijų, aktorė vaidinanti vyrus, auginusi pumą, smauglį ir miegojusi karste, karo metu slaugiusi sužeistuosius - visa puokštė įdomybių dėl kurių anais laikais Sara buvo tiesiog baimę kelianti keistuolė. Bet labai talentinga keistuolė.
Sarah yra laikoma pirmąją modernia įžymybe, prie kurių šiandien mes jau daugiau nei pratę. Ji pirmoji stengėsi išgarsėti ne tik talentu, bet ir skandalais, kuriuos kartais pati sąmoiningai kurdavo, o kartais jie tiesiog nutikdavo. Kai anais laikais žinomi žmonės stengėsi daryti tik tai kas priimtina, išlaikyti savo reputaciją ir nenukrypti nuo normų, Bernhardt išbandė visas technologijų naujienas vardan savo vardo garsinimo: balso įrašymą, fotografiją, demonstravimąsi plakatuose ir atvirukuose. Ji buvo pirmoji pasaulyje aktorė suvaidinusi Hamletą ir viena pirmųjų moterų vaidinusių nebyliojo kino juostose. Nerealu kiek anais laikais standartų ji sulaužė, o Gortner labai talentingai jos gyvenimą suspaudė į vieną romaną. Labai patiko knyga. Absoliučiai neprailgo skaitymas, o ir sužinojau daugybę naujų dalykų.
Šį kartą jo akiratyje viena garsiausių pasaulio aktorių Sarah Bernhardt. Nieko apie ją nežinojau, tik vardą buvau girdėjusi. O perskaičiusi knygą, puoliau googlint ir prie kompiuterio nemenką laiką prasėdėjau žiūrinėdama jos įrašus ir skaitydama straipsnius. O skaityt apie ką tikrai buvo. Kurtizanės dukra, kurios motina ir taip nemylėjo, nuo pat vaikystės priešinosi viskam, ką 19 amžiaus moterims sakydavo daryt visuomenė. Aikštinga, drąsi, talentinga ir tvirtos nuomonės Sarah visiems kėlė problemų, tačiau jos siekis tapti aktore buvo stipresnis už baimę nepritapti. Nors, tiesą pasakius, tokios baimės ji niekada neturėjo. Ji arė kaip jautis, nes siekė būti tobula. Bet ir tobulumo jai neužteko - ji norėjo būti dar ir išskirtinė. O čia stengtis ne taip labai ir reikėjo: ji tiesiog buvo kitokia. Vieniša mama, moteris neslepianti savo ambicijų, aktorė vaidinanti vyrus, auginusi pumą, smauglį ir miegojusi karste, karo metu slaugiusi sužeistuosius - visa puokštė įdomybių dėl kurių anais laikais Sara buvo tiesiog baimę kelianti keistuolė. Bet labai talentinga keistuolė.
Sarah yra laikoma pirmąją modernia įžymybe, prie kurių šiandien mes jau daugiau nei pratę. Ji pirmoji stengėsi išgarsėti ne tik talentu, bet ir skandalais, kuriuos kartais pati sąmoiningai kurdavo, o kartais jie tiesiog nutikdavo. Kai anais laikais žinomi žmonės stengėsi daryti tik tai kas priimtina, išlaikyti savo reputaciją ir nenukrypti nuo normų, Bernhardt išbandė visas technologijų naujienas vardan savo vardo garsinimo: balso įrašymą, fotografiją, demonstravimąsi plakatuose ir atvirukuose. Ji buvo pirmoji pasaulyje aktorė suvaidinusi Hamletą ir viena pirmųjų moterų vaidinusių nebyliojo kino juostose. Nerealu kiek anais laikais standartų ji sulaužė, o Gortner labai talentingai jos gyvenimą suspaudė į vieną romaną. Labai patiko knyga. Absoliučiai neprailgo skaitymas, o ir sužinojau daugybę naujų dalykų.
May 3, 2022
I read this book for two reasons. First, I knew next to nothing about Sarah Bernhardt, except for a Mucha poster that I had seen. Secondly, my great friend who taught drama to college students had written a musical play for the theater, so I wanted to know more from that standpoint. This book satisfied my SB quest.
The novel was good, and I did want to find out what would happen next, but it was not quite riveting. Mme Bernhardt was not a very likable character, being very narcissistic, much like her mother. I wouldn’t want to be the friend or the child of either one. My dislike for her may have colored my enjoyment of the book.
I had known that her mother had been a courtesan in Paris. I didn’t know anything about the theaters of the day. I hadn’t known that Bernhardt was of Jewish heritage and that she faced discrimination. I didn’t know that she was friends with both Dumas or Oscar Wilde. The book did ring true when describing the difficulties women would face if trying to attempt to do anything other than marriage and motherhood. All of this was interesting.
Google the full image of George Clairin’s portrait of Bernhardt, a portion of which is on the dust jacket of the hardback book. It is quite good. She indeed does look like quite a fascinating woman. Clairin was one of her artist friends.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
The novel was good, and I did want to find out what would happen next, but it was not quite riveting. Mme Bernhardt was not a very likable character, being very narcissistic, much like her mother. I wouldn’t want to be the friend or the child of either one. My dislike for her may have colored my enjoyment of the book.
I had known that her mother had been a courtesan in Paris. I didn’t know anything about the theaters of the day. I hadn’t known that Bernhardt was of Jewish heritage and that she faced discrimination. I didn’t know that she was friends with both Dumas or Oscar Wilde. The book did ring true when describing the difficulties women would face if trying to attempt to do anything other than marriage and motherhood. All of this was interesting.
Google the full image of George Clairin’s portrait of Bernhardt, a portion of which is on the dust jacket of the hardback book. It is quite good. She indeed does look like quite a fascinating woman. Clairin was one of her artist friends.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
April 2, 2020
THE FIRST ACTRESS
BY C.W. GORTNER
This was very interesting to me because although I have always known of Sarah Bernhardt I didn't have a comprehensive understanding of what a true trail blazer she was in the ways she influenced and changed how acting was done. This book was written in the first person and made me feel like I knew Sarah intimately. I never knew what a hard life that she lived and I have grown to love and appreciate Sarah. She was very controversial in her lifetime for always living her life authentically on her own terms. Modern acting today really owes Sarah recognition for her efforts in going against tradition to bringing emotion and the way actors interact towards each other rather than saying their lines towards their audience.
Sarah never knew her father and her date of birth isn't known because the records housing those details have been destroyed in a fire. Her mother's name was Julie and she was very cruel to Sarah. Her mother was a courtesan in France and she wanted to marry off Sarah to a man Julie picked out. Sarah attended a convent and although she was Jewish she converted to catholic religion probably because of the years she spent with the nuns in the convent. In the convent Sarah received a good education although she was versed only in speaking french in her early formative years. Sarah knew she was born to be an actress so she clashed with her mother's plans for her prearranged marriage. She attended France's acting school. After attending her training she had an iron will not to follow in her mother's footsteps to become a courtesan or get married to a man her mother chose for her.
Sarah was close with her maternal Aunt Rosine but she was also a courtesan. Madame G. as she was endearing to be called by Sarah was more of a mother to Sarah as she was kinder and became a life long helper in Sarah's own household. In order to attain her dowry for the much needed money Sarah needed to support herself before she became an actress, she made a deal with her mother to attend the opera and attract a male to pay for Sarah to have a sexual relationship with. In that capacity, to raise the funds needed for Sarah to pay for her own apartment she agreed to have sex with an aristocrat with whom she became pregnant with her only child she named Maurice. Sarah went against everybody's wishes to abort her baby. When she approached the aristocrat who was the father of her unborn child he didn't want to take responsibility and he refused to give Sarah any money to raise the child. They made an agreement to never bring up the subject again. Even though he was rich and could afford to help finance Sarah's much needed financial support.
Her mother Julie had two more daughter's who were also illegitimate. The second daughter was Julie's golden child who followed in Julie and Rosine's footsteps to become a courtesan. Julie's youngest daughter was treated as unwanted and Sarah and Madame G. took care of her and loved her. Sarah started out as a struggling actress that got lesser roles despite her training and talent. She first worked for the Comedie until she was fired because of an altercation with the older and more established actress Nathalie. Sarah then went to a more notorious playhouse where she acted in roles that held little passion for her. She then went back to the more higher regarded theater the Comedie where she became well known for her outstanding roles. I felt badly for Sarah because she was treated with scorn and jealousies from her fellow female actresses. Sarah was a kind person and I was so moved by how her son Maurice was her most beloved relationship and she didn't act at all like her own mother who had rejected Sarah and thought her efforts and deep passion for acting was foolish.
This work of historical fiction was inspired by a more scholarly author who used many non-fiction books to depict a real life fleshed out human being that Sarah Bernhardt embodied. I think he stuck to factual aspects as much as possible. My experience of reading this volume of Sarah's life was to grow to love her just as I suspect C.W. Gortner did. He crafted a narrative that was always sympathetic to Sarah no matter how unconventional her actions were in the world during the time that she lived. She met Oscar Wilde and she called him her poet. He accompanied her during her performances in England for royalty. This work about Sarah Bernhardt's many amazing accomplishments felt more academic than other historical fiction novels I have read. It almost had a biographical feel to it even though Sarah's voice told her story herself. I really think the author did a fantastic job of recreating a woman who never felt an ounce of self pity. She modernized acting and her fame grew against all of the obstacles a woman faced during the time period she lived. I highly recommend reading this outstanding narrative to those who enjoy the genre of historical fiction with a biographical feel. You will learn and expand your mind even if you aren't interested in the origins of actors and operas.
Thank you to Net Galley, the scholarly writer C.W. Gortner and Ballantine Publishing for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. The pleasure was all mine and all opinion's are my own.
Publication Date: May 26, 2020
#TheFirstActress #CWGortner #BallantineBooksPublishing #NetGalley
BY C.W. GORTNER
This was very interesting to me because although I have always known of Sarah Bernhardt I didn't have a comprehensive understanding of what a true trail blazer she was in the ways she influenced and changed how acting was done. This book was written in the first person and made me feel like I knew Sarah intimately. I never knew what a hard life that she lived and I have grown to love and appreciate Sarah. She was very controversial in her lifetime for always living her life authentically on her own terms. Modern acting today really owes Sarah recognition for her efforts in going against tradition to bringing emotion and the way actors interact towards each other rather than saying their lines towards their audience.
Sarah never knew her father and her date of birth isn't known because the records housing those details have been destroyed in a fire. Her mother's name was Julie and she was very cruel to Sarah. Her mother was a courtesan in France and she wanted to marry off Sarah to a man Julie picked out. Sarah attended a convent and although she was Jewish she converted to catholic religion probably because of the years she spent with the nuns in the convent. In the convent Sarah received a good education although she was versed only in speaking french in her early formative years. Sarah knew she was born to be an actress so she clashed with her mother's plans for her prearranged marriage. She attended France's acting school. After attending her training she had an iron will not to follow in her mother's footsteps to become a courtesan or get married to a man her mother chose for her.
Sarah was close with her maternal Aunt Rosine but she was also a courtesan. Madame G. as she was endearing to be called by Sarah was more of a mother to Sarah as she was kinder and became a life long helper in Sarah's own household. In order to attain her dowry for the much needed money Sarah needed to support herself before she became an actress, she made a deal with her mother to attend the opera and attract a male to pay for Sarah to have a sexual relationship with. In that capacity, to raise the funds needed for Sarah to pay for her own apartment she agreed to have sex with an aristocrat with whom she became pregnant with her only child she named Maurice. Sarah went against everybody's wishes to abort her baby. When she approached the aristocrat who was the father of her unborn child he didn't want to take responsibility and he refused to give Sarah any money to raise the child. They made an agreement to never bring up the subject again. Even though he was rich and could afford to help finance Sarah's much needed financial support.
Her mother Julie had two more daughter's who were also illegitimate. The second daughter was Julie's golden child who followed in Julie and Rosine's footsteps to become a courtesan. Julie's youngest daughter was treated as unwanted and Sarah and Madame G. took care of her and loved her. Sarah started out as a struggling actress that got lesser roles despite her training and talent. She first worked for the Comedie until she was fired because of an altercation with the older and more established actress Nathalie. Sarah then went to a more notorious playhouse where she acted in roles that held little passion for her. She then went back to the more higher regarded theater the Comedie where she became well known for her outstanding roles. I felt badly for Sarah because she was treated with scorn and jealousies from her fellow female actresses. Sarah was a kind person and I was so moved by how her son Maurice was her most beloved relationship and she didn't act at all like her own mother who had rejected Sarah and thought her efforts and deep passion for acting was foolish.
This work of historical fiction was inspired by a more scholarly author who used many non-fiction books to depict a real life fleshed out human being that Sarah Bernhardt embodied. I think he stuck to factual aspects as much as possible. My experience of reading this volume of Sarah's life was to grow to love her just as I suspect C.W. Gortner did. He crafted a narrative that was always sympathetic to Sarah no matter how unconventional her actions were in the world during the time that she lived. She met Oscar Wilde and she called him her poet. He accompanied her during her performances in England for royalty. This work about Sarah Bernhardt's many amazing accomplishments felt more academic than other historical fiction novels I have read. It almost had a biographical feel to it even though Sarah's voice told her story herself. I really think the author did a fantastic job of recreating a woman who never felt an ounce of self pity. She modernized acting and her fame grew against all of the obstacles a woman faced during the time period she lived. I highly recommend reading this outstanding narrative to those who enjoy the genre of historical fiction with a biographical feel. You will learn and expand your mind even if you aren't interested in the origins of actors and operas.
Thank you to Net Galley, the scholarly writer C.W. Gortner and Ballantine Publishing for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. The pleasure was all mine and all opinion's are my own.
Publication Date: May 26, 2020
#TheFirstActress #CWGortner #BallantineBooksPublishing #NetGalley
August 22, 2020
Sarah Bernhardt was a trailblazer of a woman, revolutionizing theatre and launching the celebrity culture. Unconventional and driven, she was a woman desperate for fame and unapologetic in her pursuit of it. This was an engaging read, and the author does an exceptional job bringing such a complex woman to life on the page. My issue with the story was that so much time was spent in her childhood. With such a fascinating woman, it felt like much of the tale was prologue and scene setting. As such, I was less interested in her rather textbook evolution of character than I was in reading about late nineteenth century France and the Siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War.
August 26, 2020
Overall: This book is exactly what good historical fiction is! A captivating heroine, great storyline, wonderful writing, and completely enrapturing. Highly recommend 5/5
Summary: This novel follows the story of actress Sarah Bernhardt’s life. Sarah is the illegitimate child of a Jewish courtesan and is raised in Brittany until she is sent by her unloving mother to boarding school in Versailles in 1852. She shines in one of the school plays and this causes one of her mother's to take an interest in her and help support her theatrical training and career. Sarah is quite a character and goes from one theater to the other throughout her career and has a unique approach to acting. She also has a child out of wedlock early on and keeps the child and raises him as a single mom. The novel follows Sarah's incredible life and tells the incredible story of her.
The Good: This book has all the makings of a great novel: a dynamo heroine that you can't help but root for, an interesting plot line that keeps you engaged from the beginning, interesting supporting characters, great writing, and a quick pace. Loved everything about it and enjoyed learning about this incredible woman.
The Bad: Nothing.
Favorite Quotes:
"Energy creates energy. It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich."
Summary: This novel follows the story of actress Sarah Bernhardt’s life. Sarah is the illegitimate child of a Jewish courtesan and is raised in Brittany until she is sent by her unloving mother to boarding school in Versailles in 1852. She shines in one of the school plays and this causes one of her mother's to take an interest in her and help support her theatrical training and career. Sarah is quite a character and goes from one theater to the other throughout her career and has a unique approach to acting. She also has a child out of wedlock early on and keeps the child and raises him as a single mom. The novel follows Sarah's incredible life and tells the incredible story of her.
The Good: This book has all the makings of a great novel: a dynamo heroine that you can't help but root for, an interesting plot line that keeps you engaged from the beginning, interesting supporting characters, great writing, and a quick pace. Loved everything about it and enjoyed learning about this incredible woman.
The Bad: Nothing.
Favorite Quotes:
"Energy creates energy. It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich."
February 15, 2021
This breathtaking book tells of Sarah Bernhardt, the daughter of a courtesan, who rose to become on of the most celebrated actress of the late 19th century. Readers will revel in this journey through scandal, intrigue, upheaval and triumph.
October 10, 2021
Не можех просто да легна и да заспя, преди да съм споделила това , което спонтанно ми идва в главата , независимо че е доста късно вече.
Бунтарките - това са точно жените , които ме вдъхновяват и ме карат да се гордея , че съм жена.
И Сара Бернар е една от тях. Минала през толкова жестоки трудности, меко казано, през всички кръгове на ада, но бореща се до сетния си дъх.
Заслужила напълно наградата да бъде наречена Божествената.
Широко скроена , освободена, отхвърлила повечето ограничения, които времето в което е живяла , е налагало. Не , че много от тях са се променили и сега.
Невероятна жена.
Избрала свободата, пред това да бъде просто придатък на някой мъж.
"Защото позволи ли да я издържат, независимо дали е любовница или съпруга, жената вече не е свободна."
Това ,разбира се , важи за всеки, който се продава за пари .
Бунтарките - това са точно жените , които ме вдъхновяват и ме карат да се гордея , че съм жена.
И Сара Бернар е една от тях. Минала през толкова жестоки трудности, меко казано, през всички кръгове на ада, но бореща се до сетния си дъх.
Заслужила напълно наградата да бъде наречена Божествената.
Широко скроена , освободена, отхвърлила повечето ограничения, които времето в което е живяла , е налагало. Не , че много от тях са се променили и сега.
Невероятна жена.
Избрала свободата, пред това да бъде просто придатък на някой мъж.
"Защото позволи ли да я издържат, независимо дали е любовница или съпруга, жената вече не е свободна."
Това ,разбира се , важи за всеки, който се продава за пари .
May 25, 2020
3.5 stars
The entire time I read this I couldn't stop thinking of the Michael Jordan documentary, "The Last Dance". It is apparent to me that to be at the very top of your profession you have to be so focused that nothing else matters- family, friends, other people. You expect everybody to be as disciplined as you are and are disappointed when they are not. You may be the very best at what you do but you pay a stiff price.
Sarah Bernhardt was not a nice person. I would not have liked to be around her. She had an extremely rough upbringing but didn't seem to learn a thing from it. She wasn't nice to anyone around her although the author tries to paint a picture of a few people she was nice to. I don't buy it. Her sister she was supposedly devoted to was quite ill and she sent for the doctor twice. When the doctor said she needed a spa for breathing, Sarah never managed to arrange it. Her care was left to a devoted friend. Sarah had no time for it. She was too busy being the best actress alive.
The book dragged in spots for me. The discussion of roles was especially tiresome for me as I have not seen them so the very detailed discussion wasn't that interesting to me but overall this was a very thorough look at her life and I learned a great deal. It was so fascinating to see the price of fame and what the "stars" sacrifice to get to the top.
Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair review.
The entire time I read this I couldn't stop thinking of the Michael Jordan documentary, "The Last Dance". It is apparent to me that to be at the very top of your profession you have to be so focused that nothing else matters- family, friends, other people. You expect everybody to be as disciplined as you are and are disappointed when they are not. You may be the very best at what you do but you pay a stiff price.
Sarah Bernhardt was not a nice person. I would not have liked to be around her. She had an extremely rough upbringing but didn't seem to learn a thing from it. She wasn't nice to anyone around her although the author tries to paint a picture of a few people she was nice to. I don't buy it. Her sister she was supposedly devoted to was quite ill and she sent for the doctor twice. When the doctor said she needed a spa for breathing, Sarah never managed to arrange it. Her care was left to a devoted friend. Sarah had no time for it. She was too busy being the best actress alive.
The book dragged in spots for me. The discussion of roles was especially tiresome for me as I have not seen them so the very detailed discussion wasn't that interesting to me but overall this was a very thorough look at her life and I learned a great deal. It was so fascinating to see the price of fame and what the "stars" sacrifice to get to the top.
Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair review.
February 28, 2020
The daughter of a cold and calculating courtesan, Gortner depicts Sarah Bernhardt’s struggle to become an actress of great acclaim and focuses mainly on the first thirty odd years of her life. Independent, fierce, and loyal, Bernhardt is also shrill, strident, petty and petulant. In order to further herself in the theater, she had friendships and the occasional romp in the sack with several famous men of the era. Her passion for life, her art, and her success are vividly portrayed.
July 11, 2021
An entertaining, if somewhat episodic, novel based on the one & only Sarah Bernhardt. Prior to this I knew very little about Sarah’s life, so it was interesting to read the author’s speculations based on what (conflicting) info we can glean from available sources. I also like how Gortner doesn’t try to whitewash Sarah’s less pleasant traits—her melodramatic reactions, her workaholic tendencies, her continual dissatisfaction & drive for an ever-more-unreachable echelon of success. Despite these glaring flaws (not uncommon amongst career performers?), Gortner still manages to make her an appealing & sympathetic narrator; her frustrations, resentments, & moody periods all contrast well with her determined can-do attitude, irreverent playfulness, & passion for the arts, as well as genuine love for her animals & family (horrible mother Julie excepted, & rightly so).
This is a good companion read to Alexander Chee’s QUEEN OF THE NIGHT. Both cover the same period with similar MCs (Chee’s heroine is an opera singer), & they balance out each other’s weaker points—QUEEN better shows the siege & occupation of Paris, whereas this book glosses over much of those horrors, but QUEEN also drones on & on with an overwrought operatic feel, whereas this is more tightly contained with an earthier, grounded voice. Neither is perfect, but together they paint a vivid portrait of the era in terms of women who survived via sex & stage.
Solid 4 stars. My biggest critique is how Sarah & Louise’s liaison wasn’t addressed; I’d have liked more exploration of Sarah’s possible bisexuality, which was hinted at & then dropped without resolution. I’d also have liked more about Sarah & her sister Régine; we don’t often get to see them together, so their attachment feels more told than shown. But overall it was a fun read featuring Gortner’s usual sense of detail & quality prose. :)
This is a good companion read to Alexander Chee’s QUEEN OF THE NIGHT. Both cover the same period with similar MCs (Chee’s heroine is an opera singer), & they balance out each other’s weaker points—QUEEN better shows the siege & occupation of Paris, whereas this book glosses over much of those horrors, but QUEEN also drones on & on with an overwrought operatic feel, whereas this is more tightly contained with an earthier, grounded voice. Neither is perfect, but together they paint a vivid portrait of the era in terms of women who survived via sex & stage.
Solid 4 stars. My biggest critique is how Sarah & Louise’s liaison wasn’t addressed; I’d have liked more exploration of Sarah’s possible bisexuality, which was hinted at & then dropped without resolution. I’d also have liked more about Sarah & her sister Régine; we don’t often get to see them together, so their attachment feels more told than shown. But overall it was a fun read featuring Gortner’s usual sense of detail & quality prose. :)
May 11, 2020
This ended up being completely different from the book I thought it would be. First of all, it's not much about Sarah being an actress at all. In fact, there is very little mention (some, but not enough for me) of her becoming a successful actress for the first half of the book, which leads me into my second issue. The book starts way too early. I really despise books where the main character is a child for a large percent of the book and this was no exception. I don't think there was anything that happened in the first 20 years of Sarah's life that we needed to see. The book easily could have started when she was already an adult and the few little nuggets of important information in her early life could have been given to us in another way. There was so much focus on Sarah hating her mother for her profession but then Sarah turns right around and does that exact same thing for the rest of her life. I don't see why we needed to read all about that early hatred. It didn't add anything to the novel.
Really if this book just had a different title, I think I would have liked it better. It's so little about Sarah acting. It's much more about all the other (often fairly interesting) things she did with her life. I was most interested in her crazy fashion choices and how she shaped the fashion world, etc, but I would have never known that was in this book by the cover, title, or description I read. There is much more to Sarah than just being an actress, which makes for an interesting novel at times, but it's not at all what I thought this book would be. Both a good and a bad thing. I wished for more info about her acting career, especially in the first 70% of the book, but I also think if this were marketed more as a tale of an exceptional, modern woman living in the mid/late nineteenth century that it would find more readers and leave more readers happy. Instead, I really missed out on the acting stuff for much of the book because that's what I expected. I would have given this book four stars if it started with Sarah as a teen or young adult and went further into her life. It seemed to end right when things were starting to get interesting and included a lot of uninteresting stuff at the beginning.
If you're reading this book currently and are finding yourself bored by the first 35% or so, feel free to skim for a little while. It really does get better once Sarah starts succeeding at acting.
TL;DR: This is really a story about a unique woman living in Paris during the Second and Third Republics. She lived a crazy, interesting life which involved acting but didn't always revolve around acting. If you're interested in late nineteenth century Paris, this book is for you. If you are super interested in the history of acting, it's probably not what you're looking for.
I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Really if this book just had a different title, I think I would have liked it better. It's so little about Sarah acting. It's much more about all the other (often fairly interesting) things she did with her life. I was most interested in her crazy fashion choices and how she shaped the fashion world, etc, but I would have never known that was in this book by the cover, title, or description I read. There is much more to Sarah than just being an actress, which makes for an interesting novel at times, but it's not at all what I thought this book would be. Both a good and a bad thing. I wished for more info about her acting career, especially in the first 70% of the book, but I also think if this were marketed more as a tale of an exceptional, modern woman living in the mid/late nineteenth century that it would find more readers and leave more readers happy. Instead, I really missed out on the acting stuff for much of the book because that's what I expected. I would have given this book four stars if it started with Sarah as a teen or young adult and went further into her life. It seemed to end right when things were starting to get interesting and included a lot of uninteresting stuff at the beginning.
If you're reading this book currently and are finding yourself bored by the first 35% or so, feel free to skim for a little while. It really does get better once Sarah starts succeeding at acting.
TL;DR: This is really a story about a unique woman living in Paris during the Second and Third Republics. She lived a crazy, interesting life which involved acting but didn't always revolve around acting. If you're interested in late nineteenth century Paris, this book is for you. If you are super interested in the history of acting, it's probably not what you're looking for.
I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2021
4.5/5 Stars
When this book first came out I was hoping I'd get the ARC of it, but alas... they turned me down. But fear not, as it waited patiently on my wish list there was a price drop and I was able to get a copy. That I found a window to read it, is even more surprising. But I'm really glad I did. Find out more in my review on my blog here. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2021/08/1...
When this book first came out I was hoping I'd get the ARC of it, but alas... they turned me down. But fear not, as it waited patiently on my wish list there was a price drop and I was able to get a copy. That I found a window to read it, is even more surprising. But I'm really glad I did. Find out more in my review on my blog here. https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2021/08/1...
July 6, 2022
Content Warning: violence, death, rape, sexual harassment, anti-Semitism, misogyny, racism, animal death, animal cruelty, war.
For more of my reviews, check out my blog!
Born to a courtesan who wants nothing to do with her, Sarah Bernhardt starts her early years running wild on a farm in Brittany. When her mother comes to take her back to Paris, Sarah gets her first taste of the hardships that will plague her for the rest of her life. Forced to choose between a life on the stage, which she disdains as a little better than her mother's career, and marrying a man who she neither knows nor loves, she gambles on the theater -- and finds, unexpectedly, that she loves it. Sarah is ready to take on the world, but the question is: is the world prepared for her?
Sarah Bernhardt is someone I have known of for a long time. I've always admired her ambition, her bravery, and above all, the way that she stood up for herself and others. Despite the fact that she had quite the reputation for a temper, it's obvious now that she was fighting constantly against the odds -- she was a Jewish woman in a profession that, at the time, was considered improper. I think that this novel captures her spirit, and gives her a fresh voice in a generation that is no longer familiar with her or her accomplishments.
Gortner's prose immediately caught me. It's vivid, rather lush, with a dry humor that suits Sarah perfectly. It's crushing to read the neglect and abuse she experiences at the hands of her mother, the relationship she craves with an absent father, and the many obstacles she's forced to overcome even as a young girl. Sarah is written with complexity, and it's the duality of her character that makes her come to life with such clarity. Gortner does an excellent job of making her likable without ever sacrificing her occasionally difficult personality.
I loved reading about Sarah's life behind-the-scenes, and I also longed to be there in the wings, watching her perform. Despite the fact that this is a book, Gortner makes you feel as if you are there, listening to her so-called "golden voice," watching her rend the hearts of her audience. It's moving to go through her life as she fights not only for her own future, but for the future of acting as we now know it.
I did expect there to be a portion that detailed her first and only marriage, and so I was a bit surprised that Gortner skipped over it. At first, I was a bit confused as to why, when he so fastidiously covers the rest of her life, but by the end, I actually found that it made sense. This, ultimately, is Sarah's story, and I liked that after seeing her struggle for so long, it is her eventual triumph that Gortner focuses on.
Highly recommended!
For more of my reviews, check out my blog!
Born to a courtesan who wants nothing to do with her, Sarah Bernhardt starts her early years running wild on a farm in Brittany. When her mother comes to take her back to Paris, Sarah gets her first taste of the hardships that will plague her for the rest of her life. Forced to choose between a life on the stage, which she disdains as a little better than her mother's career, and marrying a man who she neither knows nor loves, she gambles on the theater -- and finds, unexpectedly, that she loves it. Sarah is ready to take on the world, but the question is: is the world prepared for her?
Sarah Bernhardt is someone I have known of for a long time. I've always admired her ambition, her bravery, and above all, the way that she stood up for herself and others. Despite the fact that she had quite the reputation for a temper, it's obvious now that she was fighting constantly against the odds -- she was a Jewish woman in a profession that, at the time, was considered improper. I think that this novel captures her spirit, and gives her a fresh voice in a generation that is no longer familiar with her or her accomplishments.
Gortner's prose immediately caught me. It's vivid, rather lush, with a dry humor that suits Sarah perfectly. It's crushing to read the neglect and abuse she experiences at the hands of her mother, the relationship she craves with an absent father, and the many obstacles she's forced to overcome even as a young girl. Sarah is written with complexity, and it's the duality of her character that makes her come to life with such clarity. Gortner does an excellent job of making her likable without ever sacrificing her occasionally difficult personality.
I loved reading about Sarah's life behind-the-scenes, and I also longed to be there in the wings, watching her perform. Despite the fact that this is a book, Gortner makes you feel as if you are there, listening to her so-called "golden voice," watching her rend the hearts of her audience. It's moving to go through her life as she fights not only for her own future, but for the future of acting as we now know it.
I did expect there to be a portion that detailed her first and only marriage, and so I was a bit surprised that Gortner skipped over it. At first, I was a bit confused as to why, when he so fastidiously covers the rest of her life, but by the end, I actually found that it made sense. This, ultimately, is Sarah's story, and I liked that after seeing her struggle for so long, it is her eventual triumph that Gortner focuses on.
Highly recommended!
October 16, 2022
"Божествената" е книга, описваща живота на незабравимата актриса Сара Бернар. Тя е млада еврейка, плод на "работата" на своята майка - куртизанка, слабо вълнуваща се от нейното съществуване. Сара е незабравима френска актриса с буен характер, оставяща правилата на заден план, поставяща рамки само там, където го чувства със сърцето си. Актриса, представител на така известния театър "Комеди Франсез" и множество разнообразни прояви, както в други театри, така и в представления от частен характер.⚡️
December 5, 2020
This is right up there with The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict. Loved this! What a strong, confident woman! Great writing from a new author to me!
February 12, 2020
Up until now, I never knew more about Sarah Bernhardt than her name and profession, but I recognized her portrait on the cover at first glance. This was an engrossing novel about an illegitimate daughter of a courtesan who saw her as little more than a liability. Sarah reciprocated her mother’s feelings, and throughout her life their awkward relationship made a huge impact on how she saw—and rebelled against—the world. On occasion, when her financial situation demanded it, she was obliged to follow in her mother’s footsteps, though she was soon to learn how fickle her wealthy suitors could be. And when she chose to keep the inevitable child, she had to raise the boy herself; by now her family included two other bastard sisters as well. It was a struggle, but once she chose her acting career, nothing was going to stop her. Talented enough to get away with breaking all the rules, Sarah took plenty of unorthodox detours that would have proved disastrous for less talented actresses. But due to her beauty and spunk, she was helped along the way by some of France’s great writers, including Victor Hugo and Alexandre Dumas. The establishment looked down their noses at her, but nobody could deny that the audiences loved her. Highly recommended.
February 10, 2020
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC of this magnificent novel.
I'm not sure the life of Sarah Bernhardt can be completely captured in one simple book, but the author does a fantastic job of creating an indelible portrait of this amazing woman. Bernhardt was a woman ahead of her time, a woman who knew what she wanted and let nothing and no one stop her from achieving her goals.
Her early life as the daughter of a courtesan in Paris may have relegated her to a similar life, but her stubbornness and gifts took her to the pinnacle of fame during the late 1800's. She was touted a the "Divine Sarah " in England, America and her beloved France.
The author brilliantly brings Sarah to life in the pages of this book. Though fiction, much of what is written here is based in historical fact.
I highly recommend this book. I have loved every book I have read by CW Gortner.
I'm not sure the life of Sarah Bernhardt can be completely captured in one simple book, but the author does a fantastic job of creating an indelible portrait of this amazing woman. Bernhardt was a woman ahead of her time, a woman who knew what she wanted and let nothing and no one stop her from achieving her goals.
Her early life as the daughter of a courtesan in Paris may have relegated her to a similar life, but her stubbornness and gifts took her to the pinnacle of fame during the late 1800's. She was touted a the "Divine Sarah " in England, America and her beloved France.
The author brilliantly brings Sarah to life in the pages of this book. Though fiction, much of what is written here is based in historical fact.
I highly recommend this book. I have loved every book I have read by CW Gortner.
June 24, 2020
I so wanted to like this book! My family's childhood nickname for me was "Sarah" in honour of the drama-queen, so I have always been fascinated by her life. This book sounded like a great way to learn more while being entertained since this is a fictionalized version of her story. Unfortunately, this turned out to not be a good fit for my interests and I did not finish it.
I feel like the writing was very good, and the characters came to life through the author's handling of them. This could have been a very enjoyable read, if the early years of Sarah's life had been more condensed to allow for getting the reader to her adult years, which is what, I think, most readers of a book about Sarah Bernhardt are looking for.
Instead, the book drones on and on about the very early years of her life. I assume this is to set up who she is and becomes with the "why". For myself, I didn't need 10+ chapters of her childhood dramas to give me that background. I was bored and annoyed, and when we got to chapter 10 and Sarah is only in her teens, I just couldn't stand wading through any more of the "pre-Sarah" years.
Possibly, once we get through all this background set-up, the story of the Sarah I have previously read about heats up, and the book became more of what I was expecting, but I guess I am just not patient enough to get there. Considering how long this book is, I presumed that the whole rest of the book would be amounts of detail on every little thing that was just more than I cared about.
I gave up at chapter 10 because nothing that was interesting to me had happened yet. This book could have benefitted - in my opinion - from tighter editing to keep the story flowing and get to the adult Sarah's life more quickly. If you can't draw me in by chapter 10, this book isn't for me.
I feel like the writing was very good, and the characters came to life through the author's handling of them. This could have been a very enjoyable read, if the early years of Sarah's life had been more condensed to allow for getting the reader to her adult years, which is what, I think, most readers of a book about Sarah Bernhardt are looking for.
Instead, the book drones on and on about the very early years of her life. I assume this is to set up who she is and becomes with the "why". For myself, I didn't need 10+ chapters of her childhood dramas to give me that background. I was bored and annoyed, and when we got to chapter 10 and Sarah is only in her teens, I just couldn't stand wading through any more of the "pre-Sarah" years.
Possibly, once we get through all this background set-up, the story of the Sarah I have previously read about heats up, and the book became more of what I was expecting, but I guess I am just not patient enough to get there. Considering how long this book is, I presumed that the whole rest of the book would be amounts of detail on every little thing that was just more than I cared about.
I gave up at chapter 10 because nothing that was interesting to me had happened yet. This book could have benefitted - in my opinion - from tighter editing to keep the story flowing and get to the adult Sarah's life more quickly. If you can't draw me in by chapter 10, this book isn't for me.
September 10, 2020
Another win for C.W. Gortner! Whenever a author writes about History, and decides to write it a little differently to true history. It's always a bit of a worry, that the story may upset a few people. I think with authors like Gortner, you have to accept that they may not write the way it was 100%. I can deal with that.
What I really love about Gortner's book is that, every person he writes about. It makes you go "Did this really happen", so then you can go and actually go and find information about that person. Gortner always gives you a little run down of the truth at the end of the book. However, I always go and look up that character for more information.
What I really love about Gortner's book is that, every person he writes about. It makes you go "Did this really happen", so then you can go and actually go and find information about that person. Gortner always gives you a little run down of the truth at the end of the book. However, I always go and look up that character for more information.
September 14, 2020
This is a colorful portrait of a very unique historical figure and is an interesting look into 19th century theater as well as the world of courtesans during this. A good read for those interested in learning more about Sarah Bernhardt or fans of historical romance..
July 31, 2020
Another hit!
C.W. Gortner has become one of my favorite authors.his books have never failed to delight me and always seem to spur my on to reading excellent no - fiction.
Sarah Bernhardt. Of courseI knew her name, but had never really thought know any more about her life. Just as he has always done, Mr. Gortner’s research is impeccable. As I read his books I always fact check and, true to form, his fiction closely follows fact.
What a woman Sarah Bernhardt was! What a remarkable life she led. Far ahead of her time! Admirers included soon-to-be-king Bertie of England, in the wayward Oscar Wilde, the Rothschilds and many leading actors, actresses, writers, artists and notables of her time. She was a patriot, an artist and had an indomitable spirit.
As always too, I was sorry when the book came to the final pages...always filled with pages about the facts upon which the fiction is based (a favored section for me)! Thanks for bringing Sarah to my attention...and how long must I wit for your next book Mr. Gortner?!
C.W. Gortner has become one of my favorite authors.his books have never failed to delight me and always seem to spur my on to reading excellent no - fiction.
Sarah Bernhardt. Of courseI knew her name, but had never really thought know any more about her life. Just as he has always done, Mr. Gortner’s research is impeccable. As I read his books I always fact check and, true to form, his fiction closely follows fact.
What a woman Sarah Bernhardt was! What a remarkable life she led. Far ahead of her time! Admirers included soon-to-be-king Bertie of England, in the wayward Oscar Wilde, the Rothschilds and many leading actors, actresses, writers, artists and notables of her time. She was a patriot, an artist and had an indomitable spirit.
As always too, I was sorry when the book came to the final pages...always filled with pages about the facts upon which the fiction is based (a favored section for me)! Thanks for bringing Sarah to my attention...and how long must I wit for your next book Mr. Gortner?!
May 3, 2025
Sarah Bernhardt could very well be the most fascinating women that ever lived.
Born to a Paris Courtesan mother, she battled all odds to become a famous actress, not only in her native France but internationally, quite a feat in the 1890’s. The book is a fictional retelling of her live, well research and beautifully told. It does not follow her as she peruses international success but end when she decides to leave Europe to peruse her career in the USA.
Acknowledged as the first modern actress she abandoned the establish method of “narrating to the audience” to inhabiting her characters, perhaps the first method actor. She led a fascinating live, had a host of famous and interesting friends and followed her heart at all times.
A captivating read, well researched and beautifully imagined. I had almost more fun reading up on Sarah and comparing some of those facts to the authors interpretation.
Highly recommended.
Born to a Paris Courtesan mother, she battled all odds to become a famous actress, not only in her native France but internationally, quite a feat in the 1890’s. The book is a fictional retelling of her live, well research and beautifully told. It does not follow her as she peruses international success but end when she decides to leave Europe to peruse her career in the USA.
Acknowledged as the first modern actress she abandoned the establish method of “narrating to the audience” to inhabiting her characters, perhaps the first method actor. She led a fascinating live, had a host of famous and interesting friends and followed her heart at all times.
A captivating read, well researched and beautifully imagined. I had almost more fun reading up on Sarah and comparing some of those facts to the authors interpretation.
Highly recommended.
April 28, 2024
Tai puiki knyga, kai norisi ko nors neįpareigojančio ir lengvo, bet taip pat ir ne ko nors kvailo ar kokio meilės romano. Tai tikrais faktais paremta ir tikrais šaltiniais remta istorija apie žymią XIXa. aktorę Sarą Bernard, kuri, pasirodo, oho kokia išskirtinė asmenybė buvo. Man labai patinka, knygos, kurios remiasi tikromis istorijomis, nes taip ne tik maloniai praleidi laiką su knyga, bet ir sužinai tikrų faktų, kas yra labai įdomu.
Apie Sarą Bernard tikrai nedaug žinojau iki šios knygos, veikiau net jos vardą nelabai su kažkuo siejau. Tačiau ši istorija mane labai įkvėpė, ką reiškia kovoti dėl savo pašaukimo, dėl savo kelio, dėl buvimo kitokia, dėl buvimo savimi, net jei ir niekas tavimi netiki ir skatina įlysti į rėmus. Turbūt nedaug tokių žmonių per istoriją gimsta, bet jie tikrai tampa didžiais menininkais.
Apie Sarą Bernard tikrai nedaug žinojau iki šios knygos, veikiau net jos vardą nelabai su kažkuo siejau. Tačiau ši istorija mane labai įkvėpė, ką reiškia kovoti dėl savo pašaukimo, dėl savo kelio, dėl buvimo kitokia, dėl buvimo savimi, net jei ir niekas tavimi netiki ir skatina įlysti į rėmus. Turbūt nedaug tokių žmonių per istoriją gimsta, bet jie tikrai tampa didžiais menininkais.
September 20, 2020
I knew very little about Sarah Bernhardt going into this book, so I wasn't sure what to expect. When I read a fictional book about a real person I always wonder how much is actually true and what was added by the author. While I loved reading about her childhood, since those details definitely seem to have shaped her into the woman she became, there was much more of the book spent in that part of her life than in her later successful years. The last part of the book felt rushed compared to the first 2/3, but I did enjoy it overall. I admire her fierce independence and her decision to keep her son and raise him on her own in spite of the hardships she would face!
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