Fanny and Adelaide: The Lives of the Remarkable Kemble Sisters

by Ann Blainey

It would be difficult to find, in European civilization in the last two centuries, two sisters who achieved more success across the arts and professions than Fanny and Adelaide Kemble, the subjects of Ann Blainey’s engrossing twin biography. Born in 1809 to a celebrated theatrical family, Fanny was the most famous English-speaking actress of her day before she left the stage to marry the Philadelphia slave-owner Pierce Butler. For more than sixty years she was seldom out of the public eye, acting in plays, writing books (her classic account of slavery during a stay on a Georgia plantation is still in print), reading Shakespeare in front of large audiences, and fighting for the abolition of the slave system. Her searing intellect and indomitable personality made people love her or hate her; no one could ignore her. Her sister Adelaide, five years her junior, ranks among the finest of English-born opera singers. Making her debut in Venice in the exacting role of Norma—and singing nothing but a leading role thereafter—she won acclaim across Italy and at two brilliant seasons at London’s Covent Garden before marrying the rich Edward Sartoris. The real love of her life, however, was Count Francis Thun, son of one of the great families of the Austrian Empire; her love for Francis hovered over her marriage like a cloud. Fanny never quite forgave Adelaide her success. As Fanny’s own marriage disintegrated, her jealousy surged, and her biased appraisals of her sister’s singing have unfairly tarnished Adelaide’s opera reputation. In many ways, however, as Ms. Blainey shows, the sisters loved each other fiercely. Their complex and fascinating relationship is one of the major themes of this grand biography, based in part on hundreds of family letters to which the author had exclusive access. With 8 pages of black-and-white illustrations.

352 pages, Hardcover

First published May 25, 2001

Reviews

[She's Always Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

I applauded at the end of this book. It felt like the conclusion of a very satisfying movie or play. The lives of these two fascinating and talented women were vividly illuminated by author Ann Blainey, who took great pains to thoroughly research letters and other primary sources to offer readers the truest

American history has been curated to a point where the same few heroes and fewer heroines are revered year and after, whilst others are relegated to the shadows. Fanny Kemble is one of those shadow people. She is not celebrated like Lucretia Mott, Harriet Beecher Stowe or other female abolitionists. In fact, I had never heard of her until her life was mentioned in a Christian devotion I read last month.

Luckily, Ann Blaine had written this volume on her life. And Ms. Kemble apparently has left quite a number of her own writings behind that clearly detail her thoughts, opinions, and feelings on a variety of topics.

Fanny Kemble was modern showgirl in a time when show biz was still questioned as being "respectable". She carved out a life for herself on the stage in the shadow of her show biz family, a long line of seasoned Shakespearean actors and actresses, who often performed for the aristocracy and the royal family. Fanny exhibited a typical troubled and conflicted personality of many multi-talented people. She loved and loathed her career. She was subject to moodiness. Her actions often contradicted prior opinions. Raised by a domineering (and artistically gifted) mother and a melodramatic father, Fanny had to find herself, develop her talent and strike that balance between independent woman and respectable woman - not an easy feat to accomplish in 19th century England and even more difficult in 19th century America, which harbored incredibly stoic prejudices against single, career women.

But this book is not just about Fanny, but her younger sister, the opera singer, Adelaide Kemble (Sartoris). I appreciated the author's ability to blithely swing between both Fanny and Adelaide's rise to fame and attendant personal troubles. Broken hearts, money woes, a veritable who's who of influential 19th century artists and musicians became their society.

I was most interested in Fanny's surprising marriage to an American slave owner and their sordid relationship as it slowly and painfully broke down. The scandal that ensued in both America and England even raised my eyebrows. You can't help but cheer for Fanny. Despite her obvious poor judgment in marrying a man so contradictory to her core values, her misery is so palpable in this book that any woman who has been in a bad break up can commiserate.
Certainly women who have been involved in custody battles will recognize the horrible tactics Fanny's ex, Pierce Butler, used to poison her daughters' minds against her.

Her life parallels the trajectory of so many modern celebrities that she seemed doomed no matter what.

Her first hand account of the dreadful conditions of Black slaves are terribly vivid and serve to further condemn a horrendous practice that forever sullied America's reputation as a land of free men.

The author spells out family troubles and jealousies so clearly that you often feel that you are at their dinner table, watching them duke it out (Shakespearean style) as to who's to blame for the most recent bankruptcy or personal problem.

I feel the author may have overreached artistic license by supposed certain feelings Adelaide and Fanny had towards other people without always supporting her view with a letter or other first hand account. It is not always responsible to decide what someone ultimately felt about another person, especially a personage from long ago who is not here to settle the matter.

This book is a must read because it offers a richer perspective on the lives of female artists than you will ever get from a history or art class. Further, the specific focus on the Kembles, a family of true characters with prominent personalities adds a historically authentic personal touch.

You will be drawn in to the world of theater, celebrity, love - lost and won- as you become intimately entangled in the Lives of the Remarkable Kemble Sisters.

[Wayne Laney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an amazing pair of sisters. Their circle of acquaintances is almost a who's who of 19th century Europe, including artists, writers, composers, and politicians. Their connections crossed the Atlantic as well when one of their sons married the daughter of then president U.S. Grant. Ms. Blainey has done a remarkable job weaving together the stories of these fascinating people.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing sisters, one an actress, the other an opera star. They rubbed shoulders with Franz Liszt, Mendelssohn, Chopin and many other musicians, authors and famous people of the time.